Indiana Southwestern Railway 912 & 806 at Harwood Yard in Evansville, Indiana


December 26, 2017 – Pioneer Lines PREX 912 (GP9) and 806 (GP8) sit idle in the yard at the Indiana Southwestern Railway at their Harwood Yard in Evansville, Indiana the day after Christmas. I hadn’t been to this location before fellow railfan William Crupper took me by there today. I’m sure someone’s mentioned it before though, perhaps Ryan Scott?

I’d love to catch them out working in the Evansville area sometime. Can anyone tell me when they run their trains and any sort of a schedule when I might catch them leaving? Also, any info on industries they pick-up at would be nice to know as well!

According to Wikipeda: Indiana Southwestern Railway (reporting mark ISW) is a subsidiary of Pioneer Railcorp, operator of several short-line railroad companies. The ISW is a Class III railroad, and operated on 17 miles of track from Evansville, Indiana, northward to Cynthiana, Indiana. That track is currently out of service but switching still occurs in ISW’s yard and surrounding industries.

The line was originally operated as part of an Illinois Central Railroad line that ran all the way to Newton, Illinois. Illinois Central sold off the line south of Browns, Illinois, to Indiana Hi-Rail Corporation; the line went through a succession of operators, all of which had to contend with the line’s ancient bridge over the Wabash River near Grayville, Illinois. The bridge suffered damage from floods on more than one occasion, and one span finally collapsed completely around 1999.

Pioneer bought the line and its Evansville shops in 2000 from the Evansville Terminal Railway. However, when Pioneer stopped shipping grain, the track had to be dismantled and salvaged at the close of 2011. Only the small stretch from the interchange northwest of Evansville to just north of their yard is still used, a distance of about 4 miles.

The dates back to 1881 as part of the Evansville and Peoria Railroad, which then became part of the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railway through a series of purchases. The PD&E became part of Illinois Central in 1900. The ISW is currently the only remaining in-service segment of the PD&E south of Mattoon, Illinois.

NS 8104 Lehigh Valley at Squaw Creek Mine, Boonville, Indiana

December 26, 2017 – “Twas the night before Christmas” when empty Norfolk Southern coal train D435-24, with Lehigh Valley Heritage Unit 8104 pulled to a stop outside the Squaw Creek Mine at Booneville, Indiana, where it still sits the day after Christmas, waiting for a crew to take it on into the mine for loading. With the holidays over crews across the nation will soon once again begin to move their trains.

CSX Q513 with SunRail 110 SB at Nortonville, Ky


December 15, 2017 – CSX Q513 heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Nortonville, Ky with SunRail Commuter Service unit 110 trailing as the fifth unit. Ties are finally being laid for the connection of the sidings at Romney and Nortonville to produce about a six mile stretch of a new two track main.

According to Wikipedia: SunRail is a commuter rail system in the Greater Orlando, Florida area. Service began on May 1, 2014. Phase 1 comprises 31 miles (50 km) with 12 stations along the former CSX Transportation “A” Line connecting Volusia County and Orange County through Downtown Orlando. The extensions proposed for Phase 2 would add a new northern terminus at DeLand and four more stations southward, terminating at Poinciana in Osceola County. It is expected to be fully completed sometime in 2017. Formerly known as “Central Florida Commuter Rail”, the SunRail system is financed by the state and Federal governments and the counties it serves. SunRail is Florida’s second commuter rail system after South Florida’s Tri-Rail.

SunRail opened on May 1, 2014 with over 10,000 passengers riding the trains on opening day. In 2015 the system saw 957,800 passenger trips, for an overall average of 3,800 paying riders per weekday.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

January 5, 2017 – Norfolk Southern’s 167 crew sits on 8046 as they wait for a crew bus to pick them up from the middle of the yard at Princeton, Indiana as CN unit train 319 sits next to them, also with a crew waiting for pickup, after arriving with their eastbound manifest train.

CSX C026-20 Ballast Train at new south Nortonville, Nortonville, Ky

December 20, 2017 – CSXT 6044 heads up ballast train C026-20 as it slowly pulls through the new interlocking at Nortonville, Ky after dropping ballast on a section of the new track 2 being installed, connecting the sidings at Romney and Nortonville into a two track main.

CSX J726-20 on MH&E at Drakesbrough, Ky

December 20, 2017 – A light rain falls as CSXT 4319 (GP38-2) & 2046 (GP38-3) on CSX J726-20 heads north to run around its train at the Harsco, Black Beauty Abrasives yard in Drakesboro, Ky on CSX’s MH&E Branch. This is the only train that currently runs on the MH&E and up until a few weeks ago it only ran during darkness. Now it runs on Monday and Wednesday, leaving out of Madisonville’s Atkinson Yard in the morning, giving an opportunity to photograph rail action on the branch.

CSX Q647-21 SB with New Haven 6699 at Hopkinsville, Ky

December 21, 2017 – Connecticut DOT locomotive 6699, in New Haven paint scheme, trails as the last locomotive on CSX Q647-21 as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Hopkinsville, Ky. From what I can find out it’s headed for a rebuild and from I’m told it’s supposed to be going to NRE in Mount Vernon, Indiana. Why it wasn’t dropped in Evansville, Indiana for the Evansville Western to Pickup I’m not sure. If anyone knows I’d appreciate info in a comment! It looks like it’s a ex-CSXT 2189/SBD 6280/CRR 2009(GP38).

CSX J726-14 waits for Q026 to pass at Anaconda, Sebree, Ky

December 14, 2017 – CSX local J726-14 prepares to back onto Main 2 as it backs out of the Anaconda Spur after picking up two car loads of aluminum ingots at Century Aluminum in Sebree, Ky, as intermodal CSX Q026-14 heads north on the Henderson Subdivision from Main 1. The new two track main that runs from Sebree, Ky to Robards is now open and running traffic.

iPhone Black and White Challenge Photos December 16-25, 2017

December 16, 2017 – Day 47 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Xavier – When photographing children, including some of their favorite toys can make for a better photo, plus a nice memory in years to come!

December 17, 2017 – Day 48 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Elaina’s Eyes – The eyes can make the picture!! When photographing a portrait or closeup of someone, always do you best to make the eyes sharp!!

December 18, 2017 – Day 49 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Looking Up – A different viewpoint can help make a more interesting photograph, as with this shot of my nephew Damion looking up from the chair he was hiding behind.

December 19, 2017 – Day 50 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Elvis – Well, in this instance he hasn’t left the building! LOL This fiberglass figure of the king was shot in one of our local eating establishments. Keep an eye out for interesting photos no matter where you’re at, when you have your iPhone with you!

December 20, 2017 – Day 51 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Crossing – Anyone that knows me, understands that I photograph a lot of trains!!! Here I’m waiting for the train that is way down the end of the tracks. Look closely and you can see the headlight! Have a passion in your life? If so, photograph it!!

December 21, 2017 – Day 52 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Little House – When you’re out driving around keep an eye out for interesting things you think might make a good picture. The little shack in the middle of sea oats provided me with just that!

December 22, 2017 – Day 53 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Fan – This is what happens when you spend the day inside and remember when you lay down to go to bed that you haven’t shot your picture for the day! Pictures are all around you! You just need to see them!

December 23, 2017 – Day 54 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Hay Bale – Found this hay bale in a field that was overgrown with new hay and liked the textures of how it looked in the late evening. Don’t be afraid to shoot photos with your smart phone after the sun has set! It may take a little more patience, but the rewards can be worth it.

December 24, 2017 – Day 55 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Making Memories – Christmas Eve the family and kids gathered at my niece Jeanne’s home, as we do most years. Her husband had his O Scale train setup, so the kids could run it around the tree and as you can see from Xavier’s expression, they all love it! Makes for a pretty good picture as well! Making memories!!

December 25, 2017 – Day 56 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Tabatha – One of my cats, Tabatha, has curled up on my niece Elaina’s bed next to her blankets and stuffed animals. Elaina adores both my cats and Tabatha epically. Seeing scenes like this I often wonder if the cats feel the same way about her and cuddle up next to her things that smell like her.

December 15, 2017 – Day 46 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Help!!

December 15, 2017 – Day 46 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Help!! – I’ve passed this bale of hay several times till today I couldn’t stand it anymore and stopped to take the picture! Finding a picture that evokes an emotion can help add impact to your pictures, be it humor, sadness, love or the countless other ways to show emotion.

The last light on the L, Chicago, IL

December 8, 2017 – A Chicago Transit Authority train stops in a station on the elevated tracks know as the “L” in Chicago, Illinois among the tall canyons between the downtown buildings as the last light fades from the sky.

CSX Q513 with SunRail 110 SB at Mortons Gap, Ky

December 15, 2017 – CSX Q515 heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Ky with SunRail Commuter Service unit 110 trailing as the fifth unit.
According to Wikipedia: SunRail is a commuter rail system in the Greater Orlando, Florida area. Service began on May 1, 2014. Phase 1 comprises 31 miles (50 km) with 12 stations along the former CSX Transportation “A” Line connecting Volusia County and Orange County through Downtown Orlando. The extensions proposed for Phase 2 would add a new northern terminus at DeLand and four more stations southward, terminating at Poinciana in Osceola County. It is expected to be fully completed sometime in 2017. Formerly known as “Central Florida Commuter Rail”, the SunRail system is financed by the state and Federal governments and the counties it serves. SunRail is Florida’s second commuter rail system after South Florida’s Tri-Rail.
SunRail opened on May 1, 2014 with over 10,000 passengers riding the trains on opening day.[6] In 2015 the system saw 957,800 passenger trips, for an overall average of 3,800 paying riders per weekday.

CTA State-Lake L Station, Chicago, IL

December 7, 2017 – It’s a cold and windy winter’s night as a CTA train pulls into the State/Lake Street “L” station in Downtown Chicago, Illinois as bundled up workers begin their commute home from the downtown area.

The L at Night from Kimball Station, Chicago, IL

December 8, 2017 – A Chicago Transit Authority train stops in a station on the elevated tracks know as the “L” in downtown Chicago, Illinois as the light fades from the sky and the city begins to light up for the night.

Leaving a Blue Line Station, Chicago, IL

December 8, 2017 – It’s not always about the train!!! Here a slow shutterspeed provides an interesting view from the last car of a CTA Blue Line Train as it leaves the station in Chicago, IL.

CTA Holiday Train at Cumberland Station bound for O’Hare, Chicago, IL

December 8, 2017 – The motorman and his elves on Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) “Holiday Train,” Santa’s Express, keep a watchful eye as passengers come and go from the train at the Cumberland CTA Station on the Blue Line in Chicago, Illinois, before their last stop of the day at O’Hare International Airport.

December 14, 2017 – Day 45 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Patterns

December 14, 2017 – Day 45 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Patterns – Today’s shot is of patterns made by stacked logs outside at a sawmill south of Sebree, Ky. Patterns are another way of adding depth and interest to your photographs! They’re all around us, you just have to pay attention and find a way to incorporate them into your pictures!

December 13, 2017 – Day 44 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Buddy

December 13, 2017 – Day 44 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – Buddy – My niece and her husband David are out of town this weekend and we’re watching their dog Buddy. I’ve been in the house all day and hadn’t got my photo for the day. I was looking around for something here at the house that I thought would make an interesting shot when I spotted Buddy sitting outside my sister’s bedroom door watching or protecting her? I was trying to sneak up behind him and you can tell how successful I was!

December 12, 2017 – Day 43 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – The Chair

December 12, 2017 – Day 43 – iPhone Daily B&W Photo Challenge – The Chair – While waiting this morning to talk to someone at the bank I sat down in a chair in the waiting area and this mirrored chair was across from me and this is the resulting picture. Always keep aware of the simple things around you that can make for a good photograph!