CSXT 3194, Honoring our Law Enforcement Locomotive, is dwarfed by the coal pile at Calvert City Terminal, as it leads a loaded coal train into the loop, next to the Tennessee River, at Calvert City, Kentucky, on May 8th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 130.
CSX a southbound loaded coal train, C031, pulls under the Paducah and Louisville Railway, just south of East Diamond at Madisonville, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision Cuttoff, on April 28th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.
Saturday Infrared photo of An empty BNSF 4 Rivers empty coal train heads north on April 21st, 2023, on the UP Marion/BNSF Beardstown Subdivision at Goreville, Illinois approaching the Side Street overpass.
Tech Info: Fuji XT1 converted to 720nm, Nikon 10-24 @ 16mm, f/4, 1/250, ISO 400.
An empty BNSF 4 Rivers empty coal train passes over the bridge next to the Southern Illinois Stone Company as it heads north on April 21st, 2023, on the UP Marion/BNSF Beardstown Subdivision at Goreville, Illinois, under stormy skies.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/240 sec, ISO 120.
Hot intermodal CSX I025 passes a loaded coal train at Sebree, Kentucky as the coal trains conductor performs a roll-by inspection of the intermodal on April 8th, 2023, as they pass the Tyson Foods Grain facility. This intermodal runs with autoracks loaded with Teslas, bound for Florida.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec, ISO 100.
Empty coal train CSX E302 passes the Hopkinsville Elevator Company on Skyline Drive as they make their way north on April 5th, 2023, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Hopkinsville, Ky.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 320, ISO 110.
Norfolk Southern 8092, 3619 and 3613 lead a loaded coal train as they pull onto the lead, headed for the Duke Energy power Gibson plant, just outside of East Mount Carmel, Indiana on April 8th, 2023.
According to Wikipedia: The Gibson Generating Station was originally built as a two-unit coal-fired power plant in 1972 by Public Service Indiana (PSI) with initial plans to build 8 units. The 1970s saw the addition of Units 3, 4. However, environmental regulations prevented the construction of the two remaining additional units in the original plan. In 1982, Unit 5 was constructed, and two more stacks were added. In the 1990s, number 4 was separated from number 3’s stack, and each was given its own stack, while Units 1 and 2 continued to share a stack.
Cinergy took over PSI in 1995. After the merger, all five units were fitted with new Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) equipment, mounted on the back of each unit. During this construction, one of the largest cranes in the world was erected at Gibson Station. Despite this, the station only had 4 stacks for 5 units. Units 1 & 2 still shared a single flue stack and Unit 3 was still using the old 3 & 4 stack. (Both stacks have since been removed bringing the number of visible stacks back down to four).
Duke Energy took over Cinergy in May 2006.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 5000, ISO 230.
On June 24th, 2022, I caught Norfolk Southern Heritage unit 8114 “Norfolk Southern” as it prepared to begin loading at the Warrior Coal Loop outside Nebo, Kentucky! It’s one of 20 locomotives painted as Heritage units by NS. It’s been just over 10 years since the first engine rolled out and I’ve been fortunate to have photographed all 20 of them out working on the road!
According to the NS website: As part of its 30th anniversary celebration in 2012, NS painted 20 new locomotives in the color schemes of predecessor railroads. The commemorative units quickly became known as NS’ Heritage Locomotives.
Since the 1820s, hundreds of railroad companies were built, merged, reorganized, and consolidated into what eventually became Norfolk Southern, itself created from the consolidation of Southern Railway and Norfolk and Western Railway in 1982. In 1999, Norfolk Southern acquired a portion of Conrail. The Heritage Locomotives represent railroads that played significant roles in Norfolk Southern’s history. The first unit, Conrail 8098, rolled out of Altoona, Pa., March 15, and the final one, Lackawanna 1074, rolled out of Muncie, Ind., on June 27, 2012.
Each paint scheme was modified to fit contemporary locomotives while staying as true as possible to the original designs. Norfolk Southern employees in Altoona and Chattanooga, Tenn., painted GE ES44AC locomotives, while the EMD SD70ACe units were painted at Progress Rail Services’ facility in Muncie, Ind. The Heritage Locomotives are used in freight service across Norfolk Southern’s 19,500-mile, 22-state network.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 130.
Digital Photo Art – Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Louisville locomotive 2013 approaches the US 70 overpass, near Bremen, Kentucky as it heads north with a load of coal for the Louisville, Gas and Electric power plant, outside of Louisville, Kentucky on January 19th, 2023.
Tech Info: iPhone 14 Pro, 6.9 (24mm) Lens at 4x Zoom, f/1.8, 1/90, ISO 20, in 4K video Mode.
Evansville Western Railway 4510 and Paducah & Louisville Railway 4523 lead empty coal train WYX3 as it passes through the wetlands area on the way to pickup another load of coal at the Warrior Coal Mine loop outside of Nebo, Kentucky, on February 13th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.
Evansville Western Railway 4510 and Paducah & Louisville Railway 4523 lead empty coal train WYX3 as it passes through the wetlands area on the way to pickup another load of coal at the Warrior Coal Mine loop outside of Nebo, Kentucky, on February 13th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.
Paducah and Louisville 4512 brings up the DPU end of empty coal train WYX3 as it passes through a wetlands area on the way to pickup another load of coal at the Warrior Coal Mine loop outside of Nebo, Kentucky, as the train is reflected in the calm waters on February 13th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 110.
Indiana Southern Railroad locomotive 3382 leads an empty coal train through downtown Linton, Indiana as the Indiana Railroad Santa train sits on the main so Santa can pay a visit to the kids in the community.
The ISRR empty coal train is headed to Bear Run Mine, just outside Dugger, IN for another load of coal.
According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 130.
CSX C002 crosses over the diamond at Trident on the Henderson Subdivision, after coming off the Morganfield Branch after picking up a load of coal from Warrior Coal mine, as they head into CSX Atkinson Yard at Madisonville, Ky on January 25th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 100.
Savatrans SVTX 1981 and Evansville Western 4519 head up an empty coal train as it snakes through the countryside at the Sitran Dock at West Franklin, Indiana as the train waits for a relief crew to show up to take it to the Sugar Camp Mine in Akin IL for another load on February 4th, 2023.
The Chris Cline Group are owners of the company “Savatrans” which purchased three ES44AC locomotives that operate from Sugar Camp Mine in Akin, IL to West Franklin, IN near the Mount Vernon/West Franklin area.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 200.
CSX C002 crosses over the diamond at Trident on the Henderson Subdivision, after coming off the Morganfield Branch after picking up a load of coal from Warrior Coal mine, as they head into CSX Atkinson Yard at Madisonville, Ky on January 25th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/120, ISO 120.
BNSF 8211 and NS 1075 bring up the rear of a loaded Norfolk Southern coal train as it heads north on the Paducah and Louisville Railway line at Madisonville, Kentucky on January 24th, 2023. The line and train is crossing over the location referred to as Monarch on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 140.
My Railroad Photography as Art
My niece Kelly R Gates has nominated me to share my artwork for 10 days and to nominate another artist to do the same. My take on this challenge is to create what I consider photographic Art pieces from some of my railroad photography.
Now, I realize there are now AI programs out there these days that can create just about any type of art pieces for you with just words, but as most of you know I’m a visual person and all the pieces I post over the next 10 days will be created in Photoshop by me from photographs I have shot, not with AI Software.
I know that this type of art isn’t for everyone, but I do like to get outside the box and my comfort zone from time to time, as I think it’s good for my creative eye. I’d appreciate your constructive thoughts and comments!
For today’s digital photographic art piece, I’ve selected this shot from September 4, 2019 – A BNSF local works on picking up cars at BNSF’s Rices Point Yard in Duluth, Minnesota.
On Day 6 I nominate fellow railfan photographer Travis Dewitz to share his art (whatever type he wants to share) ~ I know he has plenty as he hopefully joins in on the 10-day art challenge!!!!
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @550mm, f/7.1, 1/500, ISO 640, Available for purchase in my store at https://pixels.com/featured/digital-art-bnsf-6353-leads-coal-train-jim-pearson.html
CSXT 3011 and 428 lead loaded coal train C002 through the countryside as they head south on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on January 23rd, 2023, just north of Kelly, Ky.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 120.
CSXT 813 pulls past the old C&O Depot at Thurmond, West Virginia as it heads east with loaded coal train C206 on the New River Subdivision on November 3rd, 2022.
According to Wikipedia: Thurmond is a town in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States, on the New River. The population was five at the 2020 census. During the heyday of coal mining in the New River Gorge, Thurmond was a prosperous town with several businesses and facilities for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.
The C&O passenger railway depot in town was renovated in 1995 and Amtrak stops there 3 times a week. The entire town is a designated historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.
Most of Thurmond is owned by the National Park Service for the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
Thurmond is the least-populous municipality in West Virginia. During the June 14, 2005, city elections six of the city’s seven residents sought elected office.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 130.
Norfolk Southern Heritage 1072 “Illinois Terminal” locomotive and Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky locomotive 4522, brings up the rear of a loaded coal train as they head north at Central City, Kentucky on June 24th, 2022, with a load for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant, outside Louisville, KY.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 110.