CSXT 1, 2 and 3 (three former Amtrak F40PH’s) sit stopped on Main 1 at Casky Yard in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in its beautiful B&O paint.
The crew was waiting for the VIPs on CSX P001-18 Office Car Special passenger train to finish an inspection tour of the yard, before heading on north on the Henderson Subdivision on November 9th, 2021.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 120.
Union Pacific 7495 leads CSX K423, a loaded ethanol tank train out of the siding at the south end of the siding at Kelly, Kentucky as it continues its south movement on the CSX Henderson Subdivision with a second UP and a Canadian Pacific unit trailing on November 1st, 2021.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 120.
CSX J732 with CSXT 4083, 4049, 4384, 278, 749, 7231, GMTX 2149, 2135, 2201, 2152 and 2151 departs CSX Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky as it begins its return trip on the Henderson Subdivision to CSX Casky yard at Hopkinsville, KY after finishing its work at Madisonville.
While an impressive power move for a local being pulled by SD40s, the lead three engines were the only ones running as they departed the empty south end at Atkinson on September 19th, 2021.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 340mm, f/5.6, 1/640, ISO 640.
CSX Q513 climbs the viaduct over the floodplain to cross over the bridge over the Ohio River between Rahm, Indiana and Henderson, Kentucky, as CSXT 3197 leads it south on the Henderson Subdivision in the early morning light of October 13th, 2021.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 230mm, f/5.3, 1/640, ISO 140.
Infrared photograph of BNSF 5743 and 8363 as they head up a 7,600ft military train on August 11th, 2021, as it passes through Pembroke, Kentucky, with CSX W844-03. This was a third military move heading north to Hopkinsville, KY this week. At Hopkinsville they backed the train onto the Ft. Campbell wye where Ft. Campbell rail took it on the rest of the way to the base.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, sensor converted to 720nm B&W IR, Sigma 150-600mm @400mm, f/7.1, 1/250, ISO 200.
The fall harvests have started moving south on the CSX Henderson Subdivision as with many other railroads around the country. Here I caught CSX G390 as the late evening light rakes across the landscape with a Grain Express unit train, headed up by CSXT 5213, 3021 and 9010 as they approach Mortons Junction at Mortons Gap, Kentucky, on October 13th, 2021.
To the right is the cutoff track that bypasses downtown Earlington and Madisonville, Ky allowing dispatch to run trains past each other, and the grain train is on the mainline that goes through the towns. In the past there has been movements to double-track the cutoff and pull up the track in the two towns for a rails to trails, but the money for such an venture has never been raised.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 130.
CSXT 3398 leads CSX 513 as it passes windmill parts train W986 tied down in the siding at Hanson, Kentucky, as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision, with a 10,980-foot train, as the fall colors begin to show in the landscape on October 21st, 2021.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 100.
It’s that time of the year when the fall harvests begin moving south on the CSX Henderson Subdivision as with many other railroads around the country. Here I caught CSX G390, a Grain Express unit train, headed up by CSXT 5213, 3021 and 9010, as they head south up the viaduct to the Ohio River between Rahm, Indiana and Henderson, Kentucky, on October 13th, 2021.
During the rainy season these fields fill up with the overflow from the Ohio River, which is the reason this viaduct was built by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110.
CSX W989 with Union Pacific 2603 leading a brand new Brightline Inter-City Trainset, passes a northbound empty coal train at Robards, Kentucky, as it heads south as on the Henderson Subdivision to Florida on October 8th, 2021.
According to Wikipedia: Brightline is a privately run inter-city rail route between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida. Brightline began operating over its current route in January 2018 and the company is currently building an extension to the Orlando International Airport which is expected to enter service in 2022.
As of August 2020, it is the only privately owned and operated intercity passenger railroad in the United States. The line was developed starting in March 2012 as All Aboard Florida by Florida East Coast Industries, a Florida real estate developer owned by Fortress Investment Group. Construction began in November 2014 on stations and improvements to tracks owned by the Florida East Coast Railway, which at the start of construction, was also owned by Fortress (it was sold in January 2018).
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.
Fellow railfans Cooper Smith, Ryan Scott and I spent about 5 hours railfanning southern Indiana on October 9th, 2021 and were fortunate enough to catch 5 different railroads operating in the area! We caught RJ Corman, Canadian Pacific, (Cooper and I), CSX, Norfolk Southern, Indiana Southern and Ryan caught BNSF for a sixth railroad after we parted company. A great day of railfanning!
Here we find Canadian Pacific Railway 8637 passing the Virtual Railfan Cameras at the restored CE&I and L&N Depot in Princeton, Indiana as it leads CSX K442 north on the CSX CE&D Subdivision.
According to The Gibson County Website: Constructed in 1875 and beautifully restored, the Princeton Depot is the only remaining depot structure in Gibson County. Once housing the C&EI and L&N railways, it was the lifeline of commerce and transportation for the county. Passenger service was discontinued from the depot in late 1960. Today the depot stands as a nostalgic reminder of the importance railroads have played in Gibson Countys history.
The Princeton Train Depot is now home to the Gibson County Visitors Center and features a railway museum with a restored train caboose.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 200.
On October 13th, 2021, I spent most of the day trackside with Virtual Railfan Moderator UP Dave, (David Siteman) showing him around some of my favorite spots in Western Kentucky and southern Indiana. We both had a great day trackside, and it was finally great to meet him in person! If youre not already a member, check out Virtual Railfan Live and Virtual Railfan Lounge here on Facebook!
Here we find CSXT 5110 as it leads empty coal train CSX E300-12, a Stilesboro, GA (Plant Bowen) to Effingham, IL (CN) train, across the Ohio River bridge from Henderson, KY on the way north to Evansville, IN on the Henderson Subdivision. This bridge was originally built by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and was intended to be double tracked eventually, but it never happened.
According to Wikipedia: The Bridge spans the Ohio River between Henderson, Kentucky and Vanderburgh County, Indiana. The bridge is owned by the CSX Transportation.
The original bridge was constructed in 1884 to 1885 by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad at a cost of $2,000,000. The single-tracked bridge was approximately 3,686 feet (1,123 m) long, and its longest span, at 525 feet (160 m), was reputed to be the longest trestle span in the world at that time. The bridge ran from the northern edge of Main Street in Henderson to the low water mark on the Indiana side, resting on 15 stone piers. It was designed to carry two 118,000-pound (54,000 kg) engines followed by 60,000-pound (27,000 kg) coal tenders, and its maximum uniform load capacity was 2,500 pounds per foot (3,700 kg/m). A crowd of 8,000 watched the first train cross the bridge on July 13, 1885.
Prior to the opening of the bridge, railroad passengers and freight had to be transferred to a ferry for the river crossing. The bridge reduced the travel time by several hours.
By 1930 the volume and weight of train traffic were taxing the capabilities of the original bridge. Construction of a new bridge just upstream of the old one began in May 1931. The new bridge, costing over $3,000,000, opened on December 31, 1932. Including its approaches, It is 12,123 feet (3,695 m) long, and its span over the main channel is 648 feet (198 m) long. The demolition of the old bridge, using dynamite, was completed on December 11, 1933.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.
A farmer works on transferring corn to his truck as he works on his fall harvest while CSX Q648 begins the descent off the viaduct from the bridge over the Ohio River that connects Henderson, KY and Rahm, IN, as it heads north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on October 13th, 2021.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 with a 1.4x Teleconverter @ 850mm, f/9, 1/1250, ISO 1100.
CSX W989 with Union Pacific 2603 leading snakes through the S curve at Nortonville, Kentucky with a brand new Brightline inter-city Trainset as it heads south as on the Henderson Subdivision to Florida on October 8th, 2021.
According to Wikipedia: Brightline is a privately run inter-city rail route between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida. Brightline began operating over its current route in January 2018 and the company is currently building an extension to the Orlando International Airport which is expected to enter service in 2022.
As of August 2020, it is the only privately owned and operated intercity passenger railroad in the United States. The line was developed starting in March 2012 as All Aboard Florida by Florida East Coast Industries, a Florida real estate developer owned by Fortress Investment Group. Construction began in November 2014 on stations and improvements to tracks owned by the Florida East Coast Railway, which at the start of construction, was also owned by Fortress (it was sold in January 2018).
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.
Union Pacific 2603 leads a brand new Brightline inter-city Trainset as it heads south as CSX W989 on the Henderson Subdivision at John Rivers Road Crossing at CSX Casky yard in Hopkinsville, Kentucky as it heads south to Florida on October 8th, 2021.
According to Wikipedia: “Brightline is a privately run inter-city rail route between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida. Brightline began operating over its current route in January 2018 and the company is currently building an extension to the Orlando International Airport which is expected to enter service in 2022.
As of August 2020, it is the only privately owned and operated intercity passenger railroad in the United States. The line was developed starting in March 2012 as All Aboard Florida by Florida East Coast Industries, a Florida real estate developer owned by Fortress Investment Group. Construction began in November 2014 on stations and improvements to tracks owned by the Florida East Coast Railway, which at the start of construction, was also owned by Fortress (it was sold in January 2018).”
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.
Union Pacific 2603 leads a brand new Brightline inter-city Trainset as it heads south as CSX W989 on the Henderson Subdivision at CSX Casky yard in Hopkinsville, Kentucky on its way south to Florida on October 8th, 2021.
According to Wikipedia: “Brightline is a privately run inter-city rail route between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida. Brightline began operating over its current route in January 2018 and the company is currently building an extension to the Orlando International Airport which is expected to enter service in 2022.
As of August 2020, it is the only privately owned and operated intercity passenger railroad in the United States. The line was developed starting in March 2012 as All Aboard Florida by Florida East Coast Industries, a Florida real estate developer owned by Fortress Investment Group. Construction began in November 2014 on stations and improvements to tracks owned by the Florida East Coast Railway, which at the start of construction, was also owned by Fortress (it was sold in January 2018).
In late 2018, it was announced that Virgin Group would become a minority investor in the railroad and would provide rights to rebrand the service as Virgin Trains USA. In August 2020 they reverted to the Brightline name, ending the branding deal, claiming that Virgin had not provided the agreed investment money.”
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.
CSXT 3194 (Spirit of our Law Enforcement) unit leads CSX Q125 (Pigeon Park – Memphis, TN to Southover Yard – East Savannah, GA) out of the north end of New Johnsonville, Tennessee as it heads north toward Nashville, Tennessee on June 5th, 2021 on the Bruceton Subdivision, where it will then head south to East Savannah, GA.
It is one of three-specialty painted locomotives CSXT has done and the only one I hadnt chased till now. The other two are 911, Spirit of our First Responders and 1776, Spirit of the Armed Forces.
According to CSX Press Releases – CSX Transportation’s “Spirit of our Law Enforcement” commemorative locomotive CSXT 3194 was renamed and painted to honor our nation’s police officers who dedicate their lives to serve and protect communities across our network.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300mm @ 195mm, f/5.3, 1/1000, ISO 450.
This is my second post where I’m delving into a new technique in my photography, as there’s always something new to learn! It’s called Intentional Camera Movement (or ICM) and this is a single image shot the tracks looking south from the crossing at middle Kelly siding at Kelly, Kentucky, on the Henderson Subdivision on September 28th, 2021.
Traditional photography — or rather photography as most expects it to be — requires the camera to be held steady and the subject to be sharp. Intentional Camera Movement (or ICM) turns that ideal on its head. By using a long shutter speed, the photographer can deliberately move the camera to paint with light and accentuate the tone and texture of the subject. In doing so, one can create stunning impressionist, abstract or minimalist images.
While this style or technique may not be for everyone and while it is a bit like panning with your subject, it is different as the movement can be and often is in any direction during the exposure. I’m excited to add it to my work and look forward to learning to do ICM photography and I hope you enjoy this abstract view of my world!
Tech Info: Nikon D800, ND 64 Filter, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm DX lens @ 10mm, f/8, 1.3 seconds, upward swish, ISO 200.
With today’s post I’m delving into a new technique in my photography, as there’s always something new to learn! It’s called Intentional Camera Movement (or ICM) and this shot of CSX Q512 pulling north through the siding at Crofton, KY on the Henderson Subdivision on September 26th, 2021 is my first image I’m posting using this technique!
Traditional photography – or rather photography as most expects it to be – requires the camera to be held steady and the subject to be sharp. Intentional Camera Movement (or ICM) turns that ideal on its head. By using a long shutter speed, the photographer can deliberately move the camera to paint with light and accentuate the tone and texture of the subject. In doing so, one can create stunning impressionist, abstract or minimalist images.
While this style or technique may not be for everyone and while it’s like panning with your subject, but it is different as the movement can be and often is in any direction during the exposure. I’m excited to add it to my work and look forward to learning to do ICM photography and I hope you enjoy this abstract view of my world!
Tech Info: Nikon D800, ND 64 Filter, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm DX lens @ 10mm, f/16, 1.3 second swish, ISO 200.
CSX J732 with CSXT 4083, 4049, 4384, 278, 749, 7231, GMTX 2149, 2135, 2201, 2152 and 2151 departs from the south end of CSX Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky as it begins its return trip on the Henderson Subdivision to CSX Casky yard at Hopkinsville, KY after finishing its work at Madisonville. While an impressive power move for a local being pulled by SD40s, the lead three engines were the only ones running as they departed the empty south end at Atkinson.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100, September 17, 2021.