Paducah and Louisville Railway unloads at Calvert City Terminal, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railways specialty painted University of Kentucky unit 2012 leads a loaded coal train through the unloading pit at Calvert City Terminal as it prepares to unload its coal on May 7th, 2021 at Calvert City, Kentucky. Calvert City Terminal is located at Mile 14 on the lower Tennessee River, near its confluence with the Ohio River, Calvert City Terminal is strategically located on the Paducah and Louisville Railroad in a large industrial park at Calvert City, Kentucky. This central location provides ready access to BNSF, CNIC, UP, NS, and CSX railroads, as well as the Tennessee, Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville Railway unloads at Calvert City Terminal, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railways specialty painted University of Kentucky unit 2012 leads a loaded coal train through the unloading pit at Calvert City Terminal as it prepares to unload its coal on May 7th, 2021 at Calvert City, Kentucky.

Calvert City Terminal is located at Mile 14 on the lower Tennessee River, near its confluence with the Ohio River, Calvert City Terminal is strategically located on the Paducah and Louisville Railroad in a large industrial park at Calvert City, Kentucky. This central location provides ready access to BNSF, CNIC, UP, NS, and CSX railroads, as well as the Tennessee, Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

On National Train Day PAL 2013 and 4518 Load at Warrior Coal, Nebo, KY Paducah and Louisville Railway 2013 (University of Louisville Unit) and 4518 lead the Louisville Gas and Electric (LG1) as it snakes its way out of the Warrior Coal loadout on May 8th, 2021 at Nebo, Kentucky on the 2021 National Train Day. According to the Web: National Train Day is a holiday that’s honors the history of the train in the U.S and promotes rail travel for all Americans. It’s observed annually on the Saturday closest to the 10th of May every year and is an opportunity for everyone to learn about how trains have revolutionized civilization and united a country at the same time. National Train Day was invented in May of 2008 by Amtrak. They wanted a way to promote rail travel, to spread information about trains to the public, and to reiterate the history of trains, so they invented this holiday. In 2011, Amtrak used the holiday as a part of its 40th-anniversary celebration. Amtrak discontinued National Train Day in 2015 to replace it with Amtrak Train Days, but people all over the world continue to celebrate this holiday as it was originally imagined. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.

On National Train Day PAL 2013 and 4518 Load at Warrior Coal, Nebo, KY

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2013 (University of Louisville Unit) and 4518 lead the Louisville Gas and Electric (LG1) as it snakes its way out of the Warrior Coal loadout on May 8th, 2021 at Nebo, Kentucky on the 2021 National Train Day.

According to the Web: National Train Day is a holiday that’s honors the history of the train in the U.S and promotes rail travel for all Americans. It’s observed annually on the Saturday closest to the 10th of May every year and is an opportunity for everyone to learn about how trains have revolutionized civilization and united a country at the same time.

National Train Day was invented in May of 2008 by Amtrak. They wanted a way to promote rail travel, to spread information about trains to the public, and to reiterate the history of trains, so they invented this holiday. In 2011, Amtrak used the holiday as a part of its 40th-anniversary celebration. Amtrak discontinued National Train Day in 2015 to replace it with Amtrak Train Days, but people all over the world continue to celebrate this holiday as it was originally imagined.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.

Northbound Paducah and Louisville Railway LG1 at Rosine, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway 4516 and 2012 lead a loaded Louisville Gas and Electric (LG1) loaded coal train through the cut just north of Rosine, Kentucky as it makes its way toward Louisville on April 14th, 2021. According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The 270-mile line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100.

Northbound Paducah and Louisville Railway LG1 at Rosine, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway 4516 and 2012 lead a loaded Louisville Gas and Electric (LG1) loaded coal train through the cut just north of Rosine, Kentucky as it makes its way toward Louisville on April 14th, 2021.

According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The 270-mile line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100.

Waiting for a crew at the TVA Shawnee Power Plant, West Paducah, KY An empty Burlington Northern Santa Fe coal train, with BNSF 6098 leading, sits tied down at the gate to the TVA Shawnee Power Plant, West Paducah, KY after dropping off a load of coal to the plant on April 3rd, 2021. Now it waits for a fresh crew to take the empty train back for another load of coal. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 250.

Waiting for a crew at the TVA Shawnee Power Plant, West Paducah, KY

An empty Burlington Northern Santa Fe coal train, with BNSF 6098 leading, sits tied down at the gate to the TVA Shawnee Power Plant, West Paducah, KY after dropping off a load of coal to the plant on April 3rd, 2021. Now it waits for a fresh crew to take the empty train back for another load of coal.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 250.

Norfolk Southern 4334 and 4433 Southbound at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky Thanks to a heads up from good friend Bill Grady I found out this southbound NS empty coal train was coming out of Louisville, Ky and heading down the Paducah and Louisville Railway to pickup a load of coal from Warrior Coal at Madisonville, Ky. It left Louisville around midnight and I wasn't sure if I'd catch it on its way to the loadout, but I was fortunate enough to catch it passing over the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Monarch in Madisonville, Ky on April 20th, 2021. I was surprised to see it arrive with a single unit leading the train and the two units on the rear acting as DPUs. They do this from time to time when the train is empty and after it loads, what was the DPUs on the Southbound run become the lead units when it heads back north. One of these days I'll catch a scene here with trains on both tracks! I'm still working on it! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern 4334 and 4433 Southbound at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky

Thanks to a heads up from good friend Bill Grady I found out this southbound NS empty coal train was coming out of Louisville, Ky and heading down the Paducah and Louisville Railway to pickup a load of coal from Warrior Coal at Madisonville, Ky.

It left Louisville around midnight and I wasn’t sure if I’d catch it on its way to the loadout, but I was fortunate enough to catch it passing over the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Monarch in Madisonville, Ky on April 20th, 2021.

I was surprised to see it arrive with a single unit leading the train and the two units on the rear acting as DPUs. They do this from time to time when the train is empty and after it loads, what was the DPUs on the Southbound run become the lead units when it heads back north.

One of these days I’ll catch a scene here with trains on both tracks! I’m still working on it!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville LG1 northbound at Summit, Kentucky I love a spot that allows for good use of leading lines in a photograph, such as this shot! Here, Paducah and Louisville 4516 and 2012 lead loaded coal train LG1 (Louisville Gas & Electric) as they make their way through Summit, Kentucky on April 14th, 2021 on the way to the LG power plant at Louisville, Ky. Judging from the right of way, maintenance of way crews are preparing to replace ties and rails in the curves here, which is a never-ending job on the railroad! From Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The 270-mile line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986. The 223-mile main route runs between Paducah and Louisville with branch lines from Paducah to Kevil and Mayfield, Kentucky, and another from Cecilia to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The PAL interchanges with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Canadian National (CN), formerly Illinois Central Railroad, in Paducah. In Madisonville, the line interchanges with CSX Transportation (CSXT). In Louisville, the line interchanges with the Indiana Railroad (INRD), CSX Transportation (CSXT) and Norfolk Southern (NS). Class III line connections are at Princeton with the Fredonia Valley Railroad (FVRR) and at Louisville with the Louisville and Indiana Railroad (LIRC). The line today carries over 200,000 carloads of traffic on a CTC-controlled mainline with welded rail and even a section of double track nearly 20 miles long between Paducah and just east of Calvert City. This is a huge improvement from the little amount of traffic and poor condition the line was in by the time the ICG had sold it. Today it is a big regional class II railroad connecting with four class I railroads (listed above), as well as the three shortline connections it makes which are also listed above. It has 270 route-miles of track, of which 233 miles are its mainline running between its namesake towns of Paducah and Louisville, as well as branch lines to Mayfield, Kevil, and Elizabethtown. The railroad serves "many chemical plants and other manufacturing companies, several coal mines, numerous clay and stone quarries, lumber and propane distributors, farm [including a few large grain elevators] and mine equipment suppliers, warehouses, transloads, bulk terminals, riverports, and one military base." The parent company of the PAL, P&L Transportation, also operates the Evansville Western Railway and the Appalachian and Ohio Railroad. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 290mm, f/7.6, 1/640, ISO 1800.

Paducah and Louisville LG1 northbound at Summit, Kentucky

I love a spot that allows for good use of leading lines in a photograph, such as this shot! Here, Paducah and Louisville 4516 and 2012 lead loaded coal train LG1 (Louisville Gas & Electric) as they make their way through Summit, Kentucky on April 14th, 2021 on the way to the LG power plant at Louisville, Ky.

Judging from the right of way, maintenance of way crews are preparing to replace ties and rails in the curves here, which is a never-ending job on the railroad!

From Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The 270-mile line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986. The 223-mile main route runs between Paducah and Louisville with branch lines from Paducah to Kevil and Mayfield, Kentucky, and another from Cecilia to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The PAL interchanges with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Canadian National (CN), formerly Illinois Central Railroad, in Paducah. In Madisonville, the line interchanges with CSX Transportation (CSXT).

In Louisville, the line interchanges with the Indiana Railroad (INRD), CSX Transportation (CSXT) and Norfolk Southern (NS). Class III line connections are at Princeton with the Fredonia Valley Railroad (FVRR) and at Louisville with the Louisville and Indiana Railroad (LIRC). The line today carries over 200,000 carloads of traffic on a CTC-controlled mainline with welded rail and even a section of double track nearly 20 miles long between Paducah and just east of Calvert City. This is a huge improvement from the little amount of traffic and poor condition the line was in by the time the ICG had sold it.

Today it is a big regional class II railroad connecting with four class I railroads (listed above), as well as the three shortline connections it makes which are also listed above. It has 270 route-miles of track, of which 233 miles are its mainline running between its namesake towns of Paducah and Louisville, as well as branch lines to Mayfield, Kevil, and Elizabethtown. The railroad serves “many chemical plants and other manufacturing companies, several coal mines, numerous clay and stone quarries, lumber and propane distributors, farm [including a few large grain elevators] and mine equipment suppliers, warehouses, transloads, bulk terminals, riverports, and one military base.”

The parent company of the PAL, P&L Transportation, also operates the Evansville Western Railway and the Appalachian and Ohio Railroad.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 290mm, f/7.6, 1/640, ISO 1800.

First light, first train! I was afraid I'd miss this loaded coal train CSX N302 at first light on the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee as it made its way south on the Henderson Subdivision. I left my house at about 5:30am, much earlier than I'm accustomed to getting out, but I was meeting fellow railfan Cooper Smith at 7am at Guthrie, Kentucky and we were to meet at the CSX yard in Guthrie to do a full day of railfanning in the snow. After stopping to shoot the sun popping over the horizon just north of Trenton, Ky I got back in my nice and toasty SUV after getting my shot in the cold 14 degree weather and headed on south to meet up with Cooper. It was about this time I found out that he was running late and that there was a loaded coal train just ahead of me headed south. This was just after the last big snowfall that swept through the region the day before and even though the Kentucky and Tennessee road crews had do a great job of plowing US 41, which follows the Henderson Subdivision, there was still ice on the roads to contend with so I was worried that I wouldn't make it to this spot and get the drone up before the train got there, but as you can tell, lady luck was smiling in my direction! I arrived at this spot probably about 10 minutes before the train on February 19th, 2021 and the sun was just above the tree line here and was sending that beautiful early morning golden light, raking across the bare trees. A great start to a great day of being trackside, even if it was real early and went till after dark! We both came back with some great shots! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

First light, first train!

I was afraid I’d miss this loaded coal train CSX N302 at first light on the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee as it made its way south on the Henderson Subdivision.

I left my house at about 5:30am, much earlier than I’m accustomed to getting out, but I was meeting fellow railfan Cooper Smith at 7am at Guthrie, Kentucky and we were to meet at the CSX yard in Guthrie to do a full day of railfanning in the snow.

After stopping to shoot the sun popping over the horizon just north of Trenton, Ky I got back in my nice and toasty SUV after getting my shot in the cold 14 degree weather and headed on south to meet up with Cooper. It was about this time I found out that he was running late and that there was a loaded coal train just ahead of me headed south.

This was just after the last big snowfall that swept through the region the day before and even though the Kentucky and Tennessee road crews had do a great job of plowing US 41, which follows the Henderson Subdivision, there was still ice on the roads to contend with so I was worried that I wouldn’t make it to this spot and get the drone up before the train got there, but as you can tell, lady luck was smiling in my direction!

I arrived at this spot probably about 10 minutes before the train on February 19th, 2021 and the sun was just above the tree line here and was sending that beautiful early morning golden light, raking across the bare trees. A great start to a great day of being trackside, even if it was real early and went till after dark! We both came back with some great shots!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Indiana Southern IPL load arrives at Petersburg Generating Station Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train as they pull their loaded coal train into the Petersburg Generating Station on February 13th, 2021. The ISRR repeats this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN. According to Wikipedia: The "Petersburg Generating Station is a major coal-fired power plant in Indiana, rated at 2.146-GW nameplate capacity. It is located on the White River near Petersburg in Pike County, Indiana, just 1 mile upstream from a much smaller coal-fired Frank E. Ratts Generating Station. Petersburg G.S. is owned and operated by Indianapolis Power & Light." 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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012. Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon DX 10-20mm lens @20mm f/4.5, 1/1600, ISO 250.

Indiana Southern IPL load arrives at Petersburg Generating Station

Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train as they pull their loaded coal train into the Petersburg Generating Station on February 13th, 2021. The ISRR repeats this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The “Petersburg Generating Station is a major coal-fired power plant in Indiana, rated at 2.146-GW nameplate capacity. It is located on the White River near Petersburg in Pike County, Indiana, just 1 mile upstream from a much smaller coal-fired Frank E. Ratts Generating Station. Petersburg G.S. is owned and operated by Indianapolis Power & Light.”

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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section.

From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon DX 10-20mm lens @20mm f/4.5, 1/1600, ISO 250.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Petersburg, IN Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on the Petersburg Subdivision as they pull through their yard at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021. They will continue their pull through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant just north of Petersburg, Indiana. They repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN. 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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012. Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Petersburg, IN

Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on the Petersburg Subdivision as they pull through their yard at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their pull through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant just north of Petersburg, Indiana. They repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section.

From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

A snowy meet at Slaughters, Kentucky Another biting cold snow shot from February 17th, 2021 as loaded CSX coal train N302 heads south as empty ethanol train K442 waits in the siding for him to pass at Slaughters, ky on the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 400.

A snowy meet at Slaughters, Kentucky

Another biting cold snow shot from February 17th, 2021 as loaded CSX coal train N302 heads south as empty ethanol train K442 waits in the siding for him to pass at Slaughters, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 400.

CSX dashing through the snow with a full load of coal! Well, along with mostly everyone else it seems around the country we got a lot of snow between Sunday and Monday, at least for our area! I haven't heard the official count, but I'd between 4-8 inches after the first round of the artic front that moved through. They're calling for another round starting tomorrow! Anyway, I had to venture out during the storm and see what I could find moving in the cold, blowing snowfall and I caught CSXT 967 and 116 leading N302 as they head south to hopefully warmer weather on February 15th, 2021 on the Henderson Subdivision at the S curve in Nortonville, Kentucky. It's weather like this that makes me happy I have my all-wheel drive Toyota RAV4!! Just gotta take it slow, bundle up and stay very socially distant from any other vehicles around!! LOL Be careful trackside folks if you decide to get out in this mess! Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-20mm DX Lens @ 22mm f/4.5, 1/1250, ISO 140.

CSX dashing through the snow with a full load of coal!

Well, along with mostly everyone else it seems around the country we got a lot of snow between Sunday and Monday, at least for our area! I haven’t heard the official count, but I’d between 4-8 inches after the first round of the artic front that moved through. They’re calling for another round starting tomorrow!

Anyway, I had to venture out during the storm and see what I could find moving in the cold, blowing snowfall and I caught CSXT 967 and 116 leading N302 as they head south to hopefully warmer weather on February 15th, 2021 on the Henderson Subdivision at the S curve in Nortonville, Kentucky.

It’s weather like this that makes me happy I have my all-wheel drive Toyota RAV4!! Just gotta take it slow, bundle up and stay very socially distant from any other vehicles around!! LOL Be careful trackside folks if you decide to get out in this mess!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-20mm DX Lens @ 22mm f/4.5, 1/1250, ISO 140.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Oakland City, IN Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021. They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN. 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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012. Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Oakland City, IN

Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Northbound load of coal at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 4522 and 2012 power their way north as they cross over the CSX Mainline on the Henderson Subdivision, at the location known as Monarch, in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 9th, 2021. They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky, after picking up a load of coal the Warrior Coal Mine in Nebo, Ky. This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Northbound load of coal at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 4522 and 2012 power their way north as they cross over the CSX Mainline on the Henderson Subdivision, at the location known as Monarch, in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 9th, 2021.

They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky, after picking up a load of coal the Warrior Coal Mine in Nebo, Ky.

This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Waiting for a fresh crew Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) two University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 2012 and 4522 sit tied down on the main at West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 6th, 2021. They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky and are waiting on a fresh crew to take the train onto the Warrior Coal Mine loop at Nebo, Ky for another load of coal. This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture! #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #jimpearsonphotography Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Waiting for a fresh crew

Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) two University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 2012 and 4522 sit tied down on the main at West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 6th, 2021.

They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky and are waiting on a fresh crew to take the train onto the Warrior Coal Mine loop at Nebo, Ky for another load of coal.

This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Northbound DPU at Nortonville, Ky CSXT 3184 peeks over the top of empty coal hoppers as it sits on track 2 approaching the New Salem Church Loop overpass at Nortonville, Kentucky. We're on the Henderson Subdivision on January 30th, 2021, as the train waits for a couple south bounds to pass. Shooting with long lenses at this focal length (600mm) can be a challenge most of the time, but not difficult! For me, I find that using the lens on a good sturdy monopod (I use a manfroto) and turning off the VR when doing so goes a long way in helping with sharpness. Also, keeping your shutterspeed to at least twice your focal length helps getting sharp images and also paying close attention to your focus. In my case, I normally pre-focus where I want to shoot the picture and wait for the train to arrive there. This allows me to also make sure that my focus is good as at 600mm as sometimes the autofocus has to work hard to focus on the spot I want sharp. When this happens I get it close using the AF and then manually turn my focus ring to get it sharp and then wait for the subject arrives at that point. This all works best if you use your focus lock or back focus button. Otherwise if you have your focus set to your front shutter button, when you press the shutter button it'll try to refocus and you may miss the shot you want. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 1250.

Northbound DPU at Nortonville, Ky

CSXT 3184 peeks over the top of empty coal hoppers as it sits on track 2 approaching the New Salem Church Loop overpass at Nortonville, Kentucky. We’re on the Henderson Subdivision on January 30th, 2021, as the train waits for a couple south bounds to pass.

Shooting with long lenses at this focal length (600mm) can be a challenge most of the time, but not difficult! For me, I find that using the lens on a good sturdy monopod (I use a manfroto) and turning off the VR when doing so goes a long way in helping with sharpness. Also, keeping your shutterspeed to at least twice your focal length helps getting sharp images and also paying close attention to your focus.

In my case, I normally pre-focus where I want to shoot the picture and wait for the train to arrive there. This allows me to also make sure that my focus is good as at 600mm as sometimes the autofocus has to work hard to focus on the spot I want sharp. When this happens I get it close using the AF and then manually turn my focus ring to get it sharp and then wait for the subject arrives at that point.

This all works best if you use your focus lock or back focus button. Otherwise if you have your focus set to your front shutter button, when you press the shutter button it’ll try to refocus and you may miss the shot you want.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 1250.

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Coal empties and loads navigate the S curve at Nortonville, Ky I was pleasantly surprised when the loaded coal train made it's way past the empties at Nortonville, Ky as I was expecting a different train all together to come around the hill as I was prepared for a ethanol train to pass the empty coal train here. Somehow the loaded coal train snuck in front of him at Mortons Junction, just a few miles up the line. I could actually hear the difference between the empty and loaded coal trains as they both snaked their way trough the S curve at Nortonville, Kentucky with their wheel flanges squealing away. The empties had a hollow sound of course and the loads being pulled by CSXT 3157 had a smoother sound as 3157 and it's trailing unit #29 were pulling hard, even through there's a relatively level grade, here on the Henderson Subdivision on January 30th, 2021. This is a prime example of why I love long lenses, like my Sigma 150-600mm which was used for this shot! There's no other way to get this shot, with the compression and in your face type of photography. It really adds impact to the image and allows an image that you just can't get without a long lens! When out shooting your pictures always look for unique and different angles and shots to help add impact to your pictures! Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 360mm, f/5.6, 1/800, ISO 820.

Coal empties and loads navigate the S curve at Nortonville, Ky

I was pleasantly surprised when the loaded coal train made it’s way past the empties at Nortonville, Ky as I was expecting a different train all together to come around the hill as I was prepared for a ethanol train to pass the empty coal train here. Somehow the loaded coal train snuck in front of him at Mortons Junction, just a few miles up the line.

I could actually hear the difference between the empty and loaded coal trains as they both snaked their way trough the S curve at Nortonville, Kentucky with their wheel flanges squealing away. The empties had a hollow sound of course and the loads being pulled by CSXT 3157 had a smoother sound as 3157 and it’s trailing unit #29 were pulling hard, even through there’s a relatively level grade, here on the Henderson Subdivision on January 30th, 2021.

This is a prime example of why I love long lenses, like my Sigma 150-600mm which was used for this shot! There’s no other way to get this shot, with the compression and in your face type of photography. It really adds impact to the image and allows an image that you just can’t get without a long lens! When out shooting your pictures always look for unique and different angles and shots to help add impact to your pictures!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 360mm, f/5.6, 1/800, ISO 820.

PAL Blue picking up black coal! Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky (Wildcats) locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead a empty coal under the beltline against the setting sun as they arrive at Warrior Coal Loop in Nebo, Kentucky for another load of black coal on January 23rd, 2021. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm DX Lens @15mm f/4, 1/1000, ISO 180.

PAL Blue picking up black coal!

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky (Wildcats) locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead a empty coal under the beltline against the setting sun as they arrive at Warrior Coal Loop in Nebo, Kentucky for another load of black coal on January 23rd, 2021.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm DX Lens @15mm f/4, 1/1000, ISO 180.

Climbing the grade at Robards, Kentucky On New Years Day, January 1st, 2021, CSX loaded coal train N307 pulls upgrade from the north end of Robards, Kentucky as it makes its way south on the Henderson Subdivision with CSXT 969 leading the way. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @550mm, f/8.5, 1/500, ISO 640.

Climbing the grade at Robards, Kentucky

On New Years Day, January 1st, 2021, CSX loaded coal train N307 pulls upgrade from the north end of Robards, Kentucky as it makes its way south on the Henderson Subdivision with CSXT 969 leading the way.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @550mm, f/8.5, 1/500, ISO 640.

CSXT 3222 heads north on EVWR out of Evansville, Indiana After picking up empty coal train CSX E302 (Stilesboro, GA - Evansville, IN) at Howell Yard, a Evansville Western Railway crew heads north on their railroad as they approach the S curve, just south of the Peerless Road Crossing at in Evansville, Indiana with CSXT 3222 leading the way on New Years Day, January 1st, 2021. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @270mm, f/5.6, 1/320, ISO 5000.

CSXT 3222 heads north on EVWR out of Evansville, Indiana

After picking up empty coal train CSX E302 (Stilesboro, GA – Evansville, IN) at Howell Yard, a Evansville Western Railway crew heads north on their railroad as they approach the S curve, just south of the Peerless Road Crossing at in Evansville, Indiana with CSXT 3222 leading the way on New Years Day, January 1st, 2021.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @270mm, f/5.6, 1/320, ISO 5000.

CSX load of coal SB at Nortonville, Kentucky CSX N302 (Evansville, IN (EVWR) - Stilesboro, GA) passes under the highway 62 overpass at Nortonville, Kentucky as CSXT 3196 leads a loaded coal train along track two as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on a beautiful winter afternoon. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

CSX load of coal SB at Nortonville, Kentucky

CSX N302 (Evansville, IN (EVWR) – Stilesboro, GA) passes under the highway 62 overpass at Nortonville, Kentucky as CSXT 3196 leads a loaded coal train along track two as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on a beautiful winter afternoon.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.