February 22, 2020 - BNSF 7098 leads an west bound autorack train through Blue Island Junction on the Indiana Harbor Belt line at Blue Island, Illinois as a CSX Intermodal heads east on the Joliet Subdivision District.

BNSF 7098 leads an west bound autorack…

February 22, 2020 – BNSF 7098 leads an west bound autorack train through Blue Island Junction on the Indiana Harbor Belt line at Blue Island, Illinois as a CSX Intermodal heads east on the Joliet Subdivision District.

February 22, 2020 - BNSF 6347 leads an east bound autorack train through Blue Island Junction on the Indiana Harbor Belt line at Blue Island, Illinois. From the web: One of the most fascinating rail hotspots anywhere, it's hard to know where to begin a description of it. Let's start by noting that Broadway crosses the entire maze approximately in the middle. Entering from the southeast is the double track CSX main line (owned by subsidiary Baltimore $amp; Ohio Chicago Terminal) coming from Barr Yard. Entering from the south and running alongside CSX for a short distance is the double track Indiana Harbor Belt line from Blue Island Yard. The CSX line then heads directly north into Chicago, while the IHB runs northwest for several miles before heading due north through the western suburbs of Chicago. There is an important crossover between the two lines just south of Broadway. Many CSX trains departing Barr Yard transfer to the IHB at this point, and the northwest line is best thought of as a joint IHB/CSX route (hereafter, the "joint line"). CSX's subsidiary B&OCT actually owns and maintains the track from here to a point a few miles south of LaGrange, Illinois, but IHB dispatches it and is otherwise responsible for its operation. From there north to the line's terminus at Franklin Park, Illinois, IHB owns the line outright. Entering from the south and heading in a northerly direction into Chicago is the double track Canadian National (ex-Grand Trunk Western) mainline, which crosses the joint line just north of Broadway. Entering the junction from the southwest, and about 30 yards west of CN, is a single track line used by Iowa Interstate and once in a great while by CSX and Chicago Rail Link. This line extends north from the junction and feeds into the joint line. Trains using it sometimes back down the joint line to access Barr and Blue Island Yards. Between the CN and IAIS lines is a connector track, providing access to a small yard just south of the junction. If the above were all there was, Blue Island would be a great place for trains. But there's more: at the south end of the plant, the Metra (ex-Rock Island) line crosses over the whole mess (Metra is the Chicago commuter train authority and they own the Rock Island tracks between Chicago and Joliet, Illinois). At the southwest corner of the junction, the IAIS track at the west end climbs up to connect with the Metra line. Roughly 80-90 trains plow through the junction on a typical day, not counting the commuter trains and occasional freights on the overhead line. The joint line sees the most action, but the CSX main is busy as well. A small tower on Broadway in the middle of the junction once housed the crossing gates operator but was closed in 2013. The interlocking tower is at the far north end of the junction across the Calumet Sag Channel and is clearly visible from Broadway. However, it was shut down in June, 2013, and traffic is now handled remotely by CSX dispatchers. All of the tracks at the junction cross the channel on rugged, formidable truss bridges that look like they were built a thousand years ago (and are good for another thousand as well). The bridges on the north and the overhead Rock Island tracks on the south make Blue Island unique among busy junctions here or anywhere else. More information: http://www.dhke.com/CRJ/blueisland.html

BNSF 6347 leads an east bound autorack train…

February 22, 2020 – BNSF 6347 leads an east bound autorack train through Blue Island Junction on the Indiana Harbor Belt line at Blue Island, Illinois.

From the web: One of the most fascinating rail hotspots anywhere, it’s hard to know where to begin a description of it. Let’s start by noting that Broadway crosses the entire maze approximately in the middle. Entering from the southeast is the do… See More

February 24, 2020 - Northbound BNSF 5208 pulls out onto the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) main after a three way meet between a southbound loaded coal, the afternoon local and its load of military containers at the PAL Yard in Princeton, Kentucky.

Northbound BNSF 5208 pulls…

February 24, 2020 – Northbound BNSF 5208 pulls out onto the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) main after a three way meet between a southbound loaded coal, the afternoon local and its load of military containers at the PAL Yard in Princeton, Kentucky.

February 8, 2020 - The engineer from Paducah, Ky, on BNSF 6353, steps down from a northbound empty coal train, at Caneyville, Kentucky as he and the conductor prepare to turn the train over to a Louisville Crew for the rest of the trip to Louisville on the Paducah and Louisville Railway.

Paducah & Louisville Crew Change At Caneyville, Ky

February 8, 2020 – The engineer from Paducah, Ky, on BNSF 6353, steps down from a northbound empty coal train, at Caneyville, Kentucky as he and the conductor prepare to turn the train over to a Louisville Crew for the rest of the trip to Louisville on the Paducah and Louisville Railway.

February 8, 2020 - BNSF 6353 & CN 2126 lead a northbound empty coal train, 7,400ft (135 car), with BNSF 5997 as the trailing DPU. Here it makes it's way north through the valley approaching Caneyville, Kentucky where it will meet up with a fresh crew to take the train on to Louisville.

BNSF 6353 & CN 2126 lead a northbound empty coal…

February 8, 2020 – BNSF 6353 & CN 2126 lead a northbound empty coal train, 7,400ft (135 car), with BNSF 5997 as the trailing DPU. Here it makes it’s way north through the valley approaching Caneyville, Kentucky where it will meet up with a fresh crew to take the train on to Louisville.

February 8, 2020 - BNSF 6365 & CN 2126 lead a northbound empty coal train, 7,400ft (135 car), with BNSF 5997 as the trailing DPU. Here it approaches the KY 1245 overpass at the cut just north of Rockport, Kentucky on the Paducah and Louisville Railway.

BNSF 6365 & CN 2126 lead a northbound empty coal..

February 8, 2020 – BNSF 6365 & CN 2126 lead a northbound empty coal train, 7,400ft (135 car), with BNSF 5997 as the trailing DPU. Here it approaches the KY 1245 overpass at the cut just north of Rockport, Kentucky on the Paducah and Louisville Railway.

December 21, 2019 - BNSF 6417 departs the loop with its empty coal train at Calvert City Terminal where it will connect with the Paducah and Louisville Railway for its return trip south from Calvert City, Kentucky for another load. At right is a recently arrived CSX load taking its place in the loop.

BNSF 6417 departs the loop at Calvert City, Ky

December 21, 2019 – BNSF 6417 departs the loop with its empty coal train at Calvert City Terminal where it will connect with the Paducah and Louisville Railway for its return trip south from Calvert City, Kentucky for another load. At right is a recently arrived CSX load taking its place in the loop.

September 22, 2019 - BNSF 9163 acts as the DPU as it brings up the rear headed north from NS DeButts Yard at Chattanooga, Tennessee with a loaded coal train on the CNO&TP Third District.

BNSF 9163 acts as the DPU…

September 22, 2019 – BNSF 9163 acts as the DPU as it brings up the rear headed north from NS DeButts Yard at Chattanooga, Tennessee with a loaded coal train on the CNO&TP Third District.

October 2, 2019 - This afternoon I caught this rainbow power move as it took the siding at the north end of the siding at Dawson Springs, Ky, on the Paducah and Louisville Railway. The power is, PAL 4518, CITIRAIL 1204, BNSF 9651 and 5653. The BNSF power came north earlier this morning and dropped off a string of empty coal cars, before the power being moved back to Paducah, Ky. Not sure of the reason for the strange move however.

This afternoon I caught this rainbow power move…

October 2, 2019 – This afternoon I caught this rainbow power move as it took the siding at the north end of the siding at Dawson Springs, Ky, on the Paducah and Louisville Railway. The power is, PAL 4518, CITIRAIL 1204, BNSF 9651 and 5653. The BNSF power came north earlier this morning and dropped off a string of empty coal cars, before the power being moved back to Paducah, Ky. Not sure of the reason for the strange move however.

September 22, 2019 - The early morning sunlight bathes the nose of BNSF 5749 as it makes its way past NS DeButts Yard at Chattanooga, Tennessee with a loaded coal train as it heads along the CNO&TP Third District. According to Wikipedia: The Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway (abbreviated: CNO&TP; (reporting mark CNTP)) is a railroad that runs from Cincinnati, Ohio, south to Chattanooga, Tennessee, forming part of the Norfolk Southern Railway system. The physical assets of the road were initially financed by the city of Cincinnati in the 1870s, and are still owned by the city. It is the only such long-distance railway owned by a municipality in the United States. The CNO&TP continues to lease that property and operates one rail line, the Cincinnati Southern Railway, between Cincinnati and Chattanooga.

The early morning sunlight bathes the nose of BNSF 5749…

September 22, 2019 – The early morning sunlight bathes the nose of BNSF 5749 as it makes its way past NS DeButts Yard at Chattanooga, Tennessee with a loaded coal train as it heads along the CNO&TP Third District.

According to Wikipedia: The Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway (abbreviated: CNO&TP; (reporting mark CNTP)) is a railroad that runs from Cincinnati, Ohio, south to Chattanooga, Tennessee, forming part of the Norfolk Southern Railway system.

The physical assets of the road were initially financed by the city of Cincinnati in the 1870s, and are still owned by the city. It is the only such long-distance railway owned by a municipality in the United States. The CNO&TP continues to lease that property and operates one rail line, the Cincinnati Southern Railway, between Cincinnati and Chattanooga.

September 4, 2019 - A loaded BNSF coal train navigates the loop at the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal along the St. Louis Bay, at the mouth of the St. Louis River (Lake Superior) in Superior, Wisconsin.

A loaded BNSF coal train navigates…

September 4, 2019 – A loaded BNSF coal train navigates the loop at the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal along the St. Louis Bay, at the mouth of the St. Louis River (Lake Superior) in Superior, Wisconsin.

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BNSF 7726 leads a manifest train up the Cajon Pass…

September 27, 2011 – BNSF 7726 leads a manifest train up the Cajon Pass as the sun dips low in the sky on its way east on the Cajon Subdivision, just below the famous Hill 582, below the Cajon Summit in southern California.

WEB-06.07.19 CSX R901 with BNSDF 9136 SB at Madisonville, Ky

CSX R901, a rerouted BNSF loaded coal train…

June 7, 2019 – CSX R901, a rerouted BNSF loaded coal train bening lead by 9136, passes through downtown Madisonville, Ky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision (HD). BNSF rerouted several coal trains on the HD during the month of June due to flooding in the midwest.

WEB-06.13.19 CSX R901 SB with BNSF Power at Mortons Gap, Ky

BNSF Reroute, CSX R901 with 9101 and 8400…

June 13, 2019 – BNSF Reroute, CSX R901 with 9101 and 8400 as head end power, approach the Hwy 41 overpass at Mortons Gap, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision with a loaded coal train.

WEB-06.12.19 CSX Q588-12 passes R900-11 NB at Rankin, Henderson, Ky

A member of the crew on CSX R900-11…

June 12, 2019 – A member of the crew on CSX R900-11 prepares to do a roll-by inspection on CSX Q588-12 as it passes their BNSF rerouted empty coal train at the north end of Rankin siding as they both head north on the Henderson Subdivision.

WEB-06.05.19 CSX rerouted BNSF Coal Z901-03 SB at Mortons Gap, Ky

CSX Z901-03, a rerouted BNSF loaded coal train…

June 5, 2019 – CSX Z901-03, a rerouted BNSF loaded coal train due to flooding, pulls up the grade at Mortons Junction, as it makes its way south on CSX’s Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Ky with BNSF 8526 in the lead.

WEB-06.05.19 CSX rerouted BNSF Coal Z901-03 SB at Nortonville, Ky

CSX Z901-03, a rerouted BNSF loaded coal train…

June 5, 2019 – CSX Z901-03, a rerouted BNSF loaded coal train due to flooding, snakes its way through the “S” curve, as it makes its way south on the Henderson Subdivision at Nortonville, Ky with BNSF 8526 in the lead.