Jim Pearson Photography – Page 2

Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad steam locomotive 2102 pulls away from Port Clinton, Pennsylvania

Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad steam locomotive 2102 pulls away from the station at Port Clinton, Pennsylvania on October 5th, 2024,during its first day of the year of pulling Fall Foliage Excursions.

According to their website: The Reading Company T-1 class #2102 was built in the Reading’s own locomotive shops in 1945. With drivers of 70” diameter, it weighs 404 tons, and its tender holds up to 26 tons of coal, and up to 19,000 gallons of water. After the Reading Steam era was over, the Reading Company used 2102 for the Reading Rambles on several different excursions. The 2102 has had many different owners since it was retired by the Reading Railroad. It is one of only four to survive. The other remaining locomotives are the 2100, 2101, and 2124.

The Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad purchased the 2102 in 1987, and it ran on the Temple to South Hamburg line into the early 1990’s. Once the Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad became the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern, the 2102 ran over Reading & Northern’s rails for a short time before it was removed from service in the early 1990’s.

In 2022, steam locomotive 2102 reentered service on the Reading & Northern. The locomotive has been used actively to pull both passenger excursions and revenue freight trains.

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 135mm, f/5, 1640, ISO 80.

CSX hot intermodal 025, with the 1776 specialty locomotive leading, heads south, just north of Slaughters, Ky

CSX hot intermodal 025, with the 1776 specialty locomotive leading, heads south, just north of Slaughters, Ky, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on February 6th, 2025. All the autoracks behind the power are carrying Tesla’s bound for southern Florida.

According to a press release from CSXT, ES44AH locomotive No. 1776, dubbed “The Spirit of Our Armed Forces,” was unveiled 0n April 30, 2019, at the railroad’s Huntington Heavy Repair shops in West Virginia.

No. 1776, renumbered from No. 3112, wears a combination standard CSX scheme on its cab and a highly detailed digital camouflage paint scheme on its long hood which adorns CSX’s new “Pride in Service” logo. The seals of the five-armed services branches are spread across the rear of the engine’s radiators, and logos for several support organizations for veterans and veterans’ families also appear on the locomotive. A screen-printed American flag covers the side cab windows.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 150.

CSX ballast regulator BR 201409, with a digital camo paint scheme…

CSX ballast regulator BR 201409, with a digital camo paint scheme, works under the north main street overpass at Madisonville, Ky on January 30th, 2025, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: Nikon Z30, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 320mm, f/5.6, 1/2500, ISO 2800.

Paducah and Louisville Railway locomotive 4503 heads up a loaded Louisville, Gas and Electric coal train

Paducah and Louisville Railway locomotive 4503 heads up a loaded Louisville, Gas and Electric coal train as they make their way out of the Warrior Coal loop after picking up a load of coal on January 30th, 2025, at Nebo, Kentucky.

Tech Info: Nikon Z30, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 320mm, f/5.6, 1/2500, ISO 2800.

CSX hot intermodal I128, as it heads northbound out Breton, Ky

CSX hot intermodal I128, as it heads northbound out Breton, Ky, as it crosses over the Green River, just south of Sebree, Ky, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on January 23rd, 2025.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 210.

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam locomotive D&RGW 463 makes its way across High Bridge

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam locomotive D&RGW 463 makes its way across High Bridge with a freight train on the way to Osier, Colorado, during a photo charter by Dak Dillon Photography on October 19th, 2023.

According to their website: the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. At 64-miles in length, it is the longest, the highest and most authentic steam railroad in North America, traveling through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rocky Mountain West.

Owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the train crosses state borders 11 times, zigzagging along canyon walls, burrowing through two tunnels, and steaming over 137-foot Cascade Trestle. All trains steam along through deep forests of aspens and evergreens, across high plains filled with wildflowers, and through a rocky gorge of remarkable geologic formations. Deer, antelope, elk, fox, eagles and even bear are frequently spotted on this family friendly, off-the grid adventure.

According to History Colorado Website: Built in 1903 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Engine No. 463 is one of only two remaining locomotives of the K-27 series originally built for and operated by the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad.

The K-27 series was a departure from the design most prevalent on Colorado’s narrow-gauge lines, resulting in a locomotive with one and one-half times more power. The arrival of this series marked a significant turning point in the operation of the D&RGW’s narrow gauge lines that was to remain in effect until the end of Class I narrow gauge steam locomotion in 1968. The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad restored the engine to operating condition.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

Denver and Rio Grande Western double header steam locomotives 473 and 493 approaching Hermosa, Co

Denver and Rio Grande Western double header steam locomotives 473 and 493 pull a daily passenger train through a S curve as it approaches Hermosa, Colorado on their run between Durango and Silverton, CO, on October 18th, 2023.

According to Wikipedia: The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railway is a federally designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 140.

Saturday Infrared photo, we catch East Broad Tops steam locomotive 16 in the outskirts of Rockhill, Pennsylvania,

In this week’s Saturday Infrared photo, we catch East Broad Tops steam locomotive 16 as it heads into the outskirts of Rockhill, Pennsylvania, on October 6th, 2024.

According to the East Broad Top Website: Locomotive #16 was built in 1916 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

Entering the age of modern steam in 1916, the EBT received its first of three large Mikados. Unlike the previous three smaller locomotives, #16 came with superheaters, piston valves, and Southern valve gear.

One story mentions #16 pulled 60 empty hoppers from Mt. Union to Rockhill in one train, literally clearing out the yard. #16 underwent an overhaul in 1955 and made only a handful of trips in early 1956 before the railroad shut down an overhaul when the EBT shut down. On February 1, 2023, the locomotive returned to service.

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @19mm, f/4.5, 1/2000, ISO 800.

February 8th, 2025 – Episode 110 Railfanning from Pembroke to Hopkinsville, Ky.

February 8th, 2025 – Episode 110 Railfanning from Pembroke to Hopkinsville, Ky Saturday Edited Video from Jim Pearson Photography In this weeks video I’m taking you on a tour of some of my favorite spots to railfan between Pembroke and Hopkinsville, Ky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. Sit back, turn up the sound, expand to full screen and enjoy the trains!! Please like, share, subscribe and thanks for watching!

The Valley Railroad Company #40 sits at the depot at Essex, Connecticut

The Valley Railroad Company #40 sits at the depot at Essex, Connecticut as the conductor is surrounded by steam, on the night of October 8th, 2024, during a photo charter conducted by Dak Dillion Photography.

According to Wikipedia: The Valley Railroad, operating under the name Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, is a heritage railroad based in Connecticut on tracks of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which was founded in 1868. The company began operations in 1971 between Deep River and Essex and has since reopened additional parts of the former Connecticut Valley Railroad line. It operates the Essex Steam Train and the Essex Clipper Dinner Train.

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 24-70 @ 36mm, 2.8, 1/100, ISO 10,000.

A brakeman holds up a lantern at the depot next to The Valley Railroad Company #40

A brakeman holds up a lantern at the depot next to The Valley Railroad Company #40 during a night photo shoot at Essex, Connecticut, on October 8th, 2024, during a photo charter conducted by Dak Dillion Photography.

According to Wikipedia: The Valley Railroad, operating under the name Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, is a heritage railroad based in Connecticut on tracks of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which was founded in 1868. The company began operations in 1971 between Deep River and Essex and has since reopened additional parts of the former Connecticut Valley Railroad line. It operates the Essex Steam Train and the Essex Clipper Dinner Train.

CSX I025 with CSX NC&SL Heritage Unit 1851 leading, heads south at Henderson, Kentucky

CSX I025 with CSX NC&SL Heritage Unit 1851 leading, heads south under the Henderson By-Pass at Henderson, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on January 27th, 2025.

According to a CSX Press Release: September 20, 2024 – Railroads have long played a crucial role in shaping the economic and cultural landscapes of the United States. Among these storied lines is the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis (NC&StL) Railway, a key player in the growth of the Southeast. CSX has unveiled its 19th heritage locomotive, a tribute to the NC&StL Railway, celebrating the rich legacy of a system integral to regional development.

Operating from 1851 to 1957, the NC&StL Railway was a vital freight and passenger route, connecting communities across Tennessee and other Southern states. It facilitated the movement of goods and people, boosting commerce and fostering community development along its routes. The railway’s strategic links between Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis significantly contributed to the urban and industrial growth of these cities, supporting industries such as agriculture, coal, and manufacturing.

To honor the historical significance of the NC&StL Railway, CSX introduced the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis heritage locomotive. This initiative is part of CSX’s broader program to preserve the legacy of railroads that are now part of its extensive network. Each heritage unit is carefully crafted to pay homage to the unique identity and history of its predecessor, featuring colors and designs reminiscent of the original rail lines.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 160.

Lake Superior Railroad Museum Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive

Lake Superior Railroad Museum Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive passes heads toward Palmers Siding on its way north to Twin Harbors from Duluth, Minnesota on the North Shore Scenic Railroad on September 5, 2019.

According to Wikipedia: Duluth & Northeastern 28 (also known as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332) is a restored 2-8-0 (consolidation) locomotive built in 1906 by the Pittsburgh Works of American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was restored to operating condition by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum from 2011-2017, and now operates in excursion service on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, Nikon 70-300 @220mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 360.

Lake Superior Railroad Museum’s Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive

September 5, 2019 – Lake Superior Railroad Museum’s Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive approaches the crossing at Palmers Siding at milepost 16 as it heads north toward Twin Harbors from Duluth, Minnesota. Lake Superior Railroad Museum with an excursion freight.

According to Wikipedia: Duluth & Northeastern 28 (also known as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332) is a restored 2-8-0 (consolidation) locomotive built in 1906 by the Pittsburgh Works of American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was restored to operating condition by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum from 2011-2017, and now operates in excursion service on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 290mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 800.

The Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive from Lake Superior Railroad Museum rounds a curve

September 5, 2019 – The Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive from Lake Superior Railroad Museum rounds a curve under full steam as it heads north toward Two Harbors from Duluth, Minnesota during a 2019 photo charter from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum on the North Shore Line.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 195mm, f/5.6, 1/500, ISO 720.

A passenger train departing the station at Villach, Austria

Film Wednesday – 1993 – Today’s scanned slides were all taken at various places during the time I was deployed during (from Wikipedia) “Operation Deny Flight which was a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operation that began on 12 April 1993 as the enforcement of a United Nations (UN) no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

This is a shot of a passenger train departing the station at Villach, Austria during a long weekend where I was on a train headed to Zermatt, Switzerland. “Villach Hauptbahnhof is the main railway station in Villach, the second largest city in the Austrian state of Carinthia. It primarily serves as a passenger station and is an important junction within the Austrian Federal Railways network.” (Wikipedia)

“The United Nations and NATO later expanded the mission of the operation to include providing close air support for UN troops in Bosnia and carrying out coercive air strikes against targets in Bosnia. Twelve NATO members contributed forces to the operation and, by its end on 20 December 1995, NATO pilots had flown 100,420 sorties.”

Also from Wikipedia: We were also part of “Operation Provide Hope which was a humanitarian operation conducted by the U.S. Air Force starting in 1992 to provide medical equipment to former Soviet republics during their transition to freedom from the USSR until 1994.

The operation was announced by Secretary of State James A. Baker, III on January 22–23, 1992 and the initial shipment of supplies was sent on February 10, 1992. Twelve US Air Force C-5 and C-141 was carrying an estimated 500 tons of bulk-food rations and medicines into Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kyiv, Minsk, and Chișinău from Germany and Yerevan, Almaty, Dushanbe, Ashkhabad, Baku, Tashkent, and Bishkek from Turkey. In total, for nearly two weeks sixty-five missions flew 2,363 short tons (2,144 t) of food and medical supplies to 24 locations in the Commonwealth of Independent States during the initial phase of operation. Much of these supplies were left over from the buildup to the Persian Gulf War.”

For 6-months of this operation I was the photo editor for a Combat Camera team that worked out of Aviano, Italy covering both operations. On the weekends, our schedules allowed us some time to travel and on my days off I traveled and today’s photos, along with many others.

Tech Info: Camera, Nikon F3, Ektachrome Slide Film, no other data recorded, Scanned with a PlusTek 8200i.

A locomotive engineer prepares to depart the station at Villach, Austria

Film Wednesday – 1993 – Today’s scanned slides were all taken at various places during the time I was deployed during (from Wikipedia) “Operation Deny Flight which was a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operation that began on 12 April 1993 as the enforcement of a United Nations (UN) no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

This is a shot of a locomotive engineer prepares to depart the station at Villach, Austria, during a long weekend where I was on a train headed to Zermatt, Switzerland. “Villach Hauptbahnhof is the main railway station in Villach, the second largest city in the Austrian state of Carinthia. It primarily serves as a passenger station and is an important junction within the Austrian Federal Railways network.” (Wikipedia)

“The United Nations and NATO later expanded the mission of the operation to include providing close air support for UN troops in Bosnia and carrying out coercive air strikes against targets in Bosnia. Twelve NATO members contributed forces to the operation and, by its end on 20 December 1995, NATO pilots had flown 100,420 sorties.”

Also from Wikipedia: We were also part of “Operation Provide Hope which was a humanitarian operation conducted by the U.S. Air Force starting in 1992 to provide medical equipment to former Soviet republics during their transition to freedom from the USSR until 1994.

The operation was announced by Secretary of State James A. Baker, III on January 22–23, 1992 and the initial shipment of supplies was sent on February 10, 1992. Twelve US Air Force C-5 and C-141 was carrying an estimated 500 tons of bulk-food rations and medicines into Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kyiv, Minsk, and Chișinău from Germany and Yerevan, Almaty, Dushanbe, Ashkhabad, Baku, Tashkent, and Bishkek from Turkey. In total, for nearly two weeks sixty-five missions flew 2,363 short tons (2,144 t) of food and medical supplies to 24 locations in the Commonwealth of Independent States during the initial phase of operation. Much of these supplies were left over from the buildup to the Persian Gulf War.”

For 6-months of this operation I was the photo editor for a Combat Camera team that worked out of Aviano, Italy covering both operations. On the weekends, our schedules allowed us some time to travel and on my days off I traveled and today’s photos, along with many others.

Tech Info: Camera, Nikon F3, Ektachrome Slide Film, no other data recorded, Scanned with a PlusTek 8200i.

Film Wednesday – 1993 – This is a shot a yard engine building a passenger train at the Milano Centrale

Film Wednesday – 1993 – This is a shot a yard engine building a passenger train at the Milano Centrale railway station in Milan, Italy one of two distinctive disused signal cabins, or control towers as we know them in the USA. From what I found on the web this tower was in operation from 1931 till 1984, after a new Milan metro opens centralised control centre was built and opened.

Today’s scanned slides were all taken at various places during the time I was deployed during (from Wikipedia) “Operation Deny Flight which was a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operation that began on 12 April 1993 as the enforcement of a United Nations (UN) no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

“The United Nations and NATO later expanded the mission of the operation to include providing close air support for UN troops in Bosnia and carrying out coercive air strikes against targets in Bosnia. Twelve NATO members contributed forces to the operation and, by its end on 20 December 1995, NATO pilots had flown 100,420 sorties.”

Also from Wikipedia: We were also part of “Operation Provide Hope which was a humanitarian operation conducted by the U.S. Air Force starting in 1992 to provide medical equipment to former Soviet republics during their transition to freedom from the USSR until 1994.

For 6-months of this operation I was the photo editor for a Combat Camera team that worked out of Aviano, Italy covering both operations. On the weekends, our schedules allowed us some time to travel and on my days off I traveled and today’s photos, along with many others.

Tech Info: Camera, Nikon F3, Ektachrome Slide Film, no other data recorded, Scanned with an PlusTek 8200i.

East Broad Top (EBT) steam locomotive #16 pulls a mixed freight through the early morning fog as they head out of the yard at Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania on October 6th, 2024, during the museum’s Friends of the East Broad top event.

According to the East Broad Top Website: Locomotive #16 was built in 1916 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

Entering the age of modern steam in 1916, the EBT received its first of three large Mikados. Unlike the previous three smaller locomotives, #16 came with superheaters, piston valves, and Southern valve gear. One story mentions #16 pulled 60 empty hoppers from Mt. Union to Rockhill in one train, literally clearing out the yard. #16 underwent an overhaul in 1955 and made only a handful of trips in early 1956 before the railroad shut down. On February 1, 2023, the locomotive returned to service.

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @170mm, f/5.3, 1/640, ISO 125.

steam locomotive, train, railways, vintage, smoke, green hillside, sunlight, iron bridge, transportation, travel, photography of trains, train photography, Jim Pearson Photography, trending photo, East Broad Top Railroad, steam train

East Broad Top steam locomotive #16 pulls a mixed freight through the early morning fog

East Broad Top steam locomotive #16 pulls a mixed freight through the early morning fog as they head out of the yard at Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania on October 6th, 2024, during the museum’s Friends of the East Broad top event.

According to the East Broad Top Website: Locomotive #16 was built in 1916 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

Entering the age of modern steam in 1916, the EBT received its first of three large Mikados. Unlike the previous three smaller locomotives, #16 came with superheaters, piston valves, and Southern valve gear. One story mentions #16 pulled 60 empty hoppers from Mt. Union to Rockhill in one train, literally clearing out the yard. #16 underwent an overhaul in 1955 and made only a handful of trips in early 1956 before the railroad shut down. On February 1, 2023, the locomotive returned to service.

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @170mm, f/5.3, 1/640, ISO 125.

East Broad Top (EBT) steam locomotive 16 moves onto the wye next to the depot at Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania on October 6th, 2024 as they begin to turn the train.

According to the East Broad Top Website: Locomotive #16 was built in 1916 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

Entering the age of modern steam in 1916, the EBT received its first of three large Mikados. Unlike the previous three smaller locomotives, 16 came with superheaters, piston valves, and Southern valve gear. One story mentions #16 pulled 60 empty hoppers from Mt. Union to Rockhill in one train, literally clearing out the yard. #16 underwent an overhaul in 1955 and made only a handful of trips in early 1956 before the railroad shut down an overhaul when the EBT shut down. On February 1, 2023, the locomotive returned to service.

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 64.

#steamtrains #JimPearsonPhotography #eastbroadtop

East Broad Top steam locomotive 16 moves onto the wye next to the depot at Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania

East Broad Top steam locomotive 16 moves onto the wye next to the depot at Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania on October 6th, 2024 as they begin to turn the train.

According to the East Broad Top Website: Locomotive #16 was built in 1916 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

Entering the age of modern steam in 1916, the EBT received its first of three large Mikados. Unlike the previous three smaller locomotives, 16 came with superheaters, piston valves, and Southern valve gear. One story mentions #16 pulled 60 empty hoppers from Mt. Union to Rockhill in one train, literally clearing out the yard. #16 underwent an overhaul in 1955 and made only a handful of trips in early 1956 before the railroad shut down an overhaul when the EBT shut down. On February 1, 2023, the locomotive returned to service.

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 64.

Atlantic Coast Line Heritage Unit CSXT 1871 passes the signals at the north end of Crofton, Ky

Atlantic Coast Line Heritage Unit CSXT 1871 passes the signals at the north end of Crofton, Ky, on January 31st, 2025, as it leads hot intermodal I025 southbound on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. The autoracks behind the power are hauling Tesla’s bound for Florida.

According to a CSX Press Release: November 29, 2023 – The CSX fleet of heritage locomotives is continuing to grow with the introduction of a unit painted in a custom design honoring the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.

Designated CSX 1871, the seventh locomotive in the heritage series was unveiled at the CSX Locomotive Shop in Waycross, Georgia, which has designed and applied the paint schemes for all the heritage units. The latest in the series features the modern CSX design on the head end, transitioning to historic paint scheme and logo of the Atlantic Coast Line at the rear.

The Atlantic Coast Line name first appeared in 1871, and the American Coast Line Railroad (ACL) was officially incorporated in 1900. The ACL extended from Georgia to Richmond, Virginia, and later expanded into Florida. In 1960, the company opened a new headquarters building in Jacksonville, which continues as CSX headquarters to this day. The ACL merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad in 1967 to form the Seaboard Coast Line, which later became part of CSX.

“We do a lot of research on the colors and the schemes just to make sure that we get it right,” said Jeromy Hutchison, CSX carman painter. “We want to make sure we do our heritage justice.”

CSX 1871 will carry the ACL colors in service across the 20,000-mile CSX network, reinforcing employee pride in the history of the railroad that continues to move the nation’s economy with safe, reliable and sustainable rail-based transportation services.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 160.