After a 1.5 hour wait, I caught Burlington Northern Santa Fe 6739 as it led Norfolk Southern 167, as it passes through the cut at Tunnel Hill on the NS Southern East District just north of Depauw, Indiana, as it makes its way east to Louisville, Ky on April 15th, 2023. This cut was made close to the old existing tunnel where the trains used to run.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/320 sec, ISO 200.
Hot intermodal CSX I025 passes a loaded coal train at Sebree, Kentucky as the coal trains conductor performs a roll-by inspection of the intermodal on April 8th, 2023, as they pass the Tyson Foods Grain facility. This intermodal runs with autoracks loaded with Teslas, bound for Florida.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec, ISO 100.
Empty coal train CSX E302 passes the Hopkinsville Elevator Company on Skyline Drive as they make their way north on April 5th, 2023, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Hopkinsville, Ky.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 320, ISO 110.
Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, painted in University of Kentucky colors to honor their 1998 NCAA win, passes under the US 70 West overpass with a ballast train as they head south at Richland, Kentucky on April 7th, 2023.
According to 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 (430 km) line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986. The 223-mile (359 km) 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).
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 150.
CSXT 4540 and 3231 lead CSX S988, a combined Windmill parts and coal train, as they head north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision through downtown Mortons Gap, Ky, on April 6th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 180.
CSXT 5398 leads Geometry Train W001 through the signals at the south end of Kelly siding at they inspect their way south on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Kelly, Ky on April 5th, 2023.
A track geometry train is a track inspection train on a rail transport system used to test several parameters of the track geometry without obstructing normal railroad operations. Some of the parameters generally measured include position, curvature, alignment of the track, smoothness, and the cross level of the two rails. The cars use a variety of sensors, measuring systems, and data management systems to create a profile of the track being inspected.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 180.
DIGITAL PHOTO ART – Meadow River Lumber Company steam locomotive, Heisler No. 6, leads a freight train past an old barn at Hosterman, West Virginia during the Mountain Rail WV, Rail Heritage Photography Weekend on November 4th, 2022. The event was held at the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, Durbin, WV, and Cass Scenic Railroad, Cass, WV, from November 4-6th, 2022.
According to Wikipedia: The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad (reporting mark DGVR) is a heritage and freight railroad in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia. It operates the West Virginia State Rail Authority-owned Durbin Railroad and West Virginia Central Railroad (reporting mark WVC), as well as the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in Virginia.
Beginning in 2015, DGVR began operating the historic geared steam-powered Cass Scenic Railroad, which was previously operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources as part of Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 200.
CSXT 3200 and BCRAIL 4648 lead CSX B744, a combined empty ethanol and coal train, into the south end of CSX Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Ky on April 3rd, 2023, on the Henderson Subdivision. This is where the crew dropped off the coal half of their train before continuing their move north.
According to Wikipedia: BC Rail is a railway in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Chartered as a private company in 1912 as the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, it was acquired by the provincial government in 1918. In 1972 it was renamed to the British Columbia Railway, and in 1984 it took on its present name of BC Rail and currently is owned by CN.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110.
CSX X513 passes through the signals at the north end of Casky with the CSX Operation Lifesaver locomotive CSXT 4568 leading, as they make their way south on the Henderson Subdivision on April 12th, 2023, at Hopkinsville, Ky.
According to a CSX press release: CSX unveiled a new OLI rail safety commemorative locomotive in September of 2022, and it was painted at the railroads locomotive shop in Huntington, West Virginia. The CSXT 4568 engine will travel the companys rail network as a visual reminder for the public to be safe at highway-rail grade crossings and near railroad tracks.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.
Norfolk Southern 8092, 3619 and 3613 lead a loaded coal train as they pull onto the lead, headed for the Duke Energy power Gibson plant, just outside of East Mount Carmel, Indiana on April 8th, 2023.
According to Wikipedia: The Gibson Generating Station was originally built as a two-unit coal-fired power plant in 1972 by Public Service Indiana (PSI) with initial plans to build 8 units. The 1970s saw the addition of Units 3, 4. However, environmental regulations prevented the construction of the two remaining additional units in the original plan. In 1982, Unit 5 was constructed, and two more stacks were added. In the 1990s, number 4 was separated from number 3’s stack, and each was given its own stack, while Units 1 and 2 continued to share a stack.
Cinergy took over PSI in 1995. After the merger, all five units were fitted with new Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) equipment, mounted on the back of each unit. During this construction, one of the largest cranes in the world was erected at Gibson Station. Despite this, the station only had 4 stacks for 5 units. Units 1 & 2 still shared a single flue stack and Unit 3 was still using the old 3 & 4 stack. (Both stacks have since been removed bringing the number of visible stacks back down to four).
Duke Energy took over Cinergy in May 2006.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 5000, ISO 230.
CSXT 3229 and 720 head up I028 “elephant style” as they pass through the signals and farmland at the north end of the siding at Kelly, Kentucky on April 4th, 2023, as they head northbound on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 120.
Northbound CSX M648 passes under the north end of Anaconda at Robards, Kentucky with the CSXT 911, Honoring First Responders locomotive leading, on the Henderson Subdivision on March 9th, 2023.
CSXT 911 is painted in vibrant red with white and gold striped accents along with the logo of program partners First Responders Children’s Foundation and Operation Gratitude. It also features generic police, fire and emergency medical services logos.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 140.
CSX B244, an empty potash train departs the siding at the north end of Kelly, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on March 31st, 2023. CSX B244 is a fairly new, as-needed potash train off the CP that runs between Chicago, IL and Tampa, FL. The power on this move is CSX 3443, KCS 4728, CP 8933 and CP 8021.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 230.
Canadian National 3270 leads four units on a mixed freight as it pulls out of the yard at Fulton, Ky after a crew change, as they head north up the CN Cairo Subdivision, on March 25th, 2023.
I’m told that on average 40-60 trains a day pass through Fulton, Ky, making it a busy place! Railfanning is best in the morning and the afternoon into the evening. The CN Cairo, CN Fulton Subdivisions and the West Tennessee Railroad all come together here at Fulton. Also, Amtrak has a depot here and is a flag stop for the City of New Orleans, and is an unstaffed station; with no agent and no assistance.
The first railroad deed was sold in 1857, and construction reached Pontotoc in 1859. At that time Fulton was referred to as the end of the line” by the United States Government and all mail was addressed to this extent. In 1896, the Illinois Central Railroad owned the two railroad lines that crossed Fulton, which saw 30 passenger trains a day and 3,000 freight cars that picked up or delivered cargo. The freight cars would usually have bananas that would stop in Fulton to be re-iced and then shipped to rest of the country. Through this process, Fulton became known as the “Banana Capital of the World”.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.
A set of six Paducah and Louisville GP-38s head north over the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Monarch in Madisonville, Ky with a mostly loaded rock train on March 30th, 2023. The power was PAL 2107, 2112, 2119, 3811, 2121 and one other unit.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 140.
CSX empty coke train, B426 with UP power sits in front of the yard office at Atkinson Yard, at Madisonville, Ky, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on March 22nd, 2023, as local L385 departs southbound to Reed Minerals at Drakesboro, Ky.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 130.
CSX I025 heads south as it meets empty potash train, B244 in the siding at the north end of the siding at Trenton, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on March 31st, 2023.
CSX B244 is a fairly new, as-needed potash train off the CP that runs between Chicago, IL and Tampa, FL. The power on this move is CSX 3443, KCS 4728, CP 8933 and CP 8021.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 180.
Canadian National 3270 leads a mixed freight as it snakes its way out of the yard at Fulton, Ky after a crew change, as they head north up the CN Cairo Subdivision, on March 25th, 2023.
Im told that on average 10-15 trains a day pass through Fulton, Ky, making it a busy place! Railfanning is best in the morning and the afternoon into the evening. The CN Cairo, CN Fulton Subdivisions and the West Tennessee Railroad all come together here at Fulton. Also, Amtrak has a depot here and is a flag stop for the City of New Orleans, and is an unstaffed station; with no agent and no assistance.
The first railroad deed was sold in 1857, and construction reached Pontotoc in 1859. At that time Fulton was referred to as the end of the line by the United States Government and all mail was addressed to this extent. In 1896, the Illinois Central Railroad owned the two railroad lines that crossed Fulton, which saw 30 passenger trains a day and 3,000 freight cars that picked up or delivered cargo. The freight cars would usually have bananas that would stop in Fulton to be re-iced and then shipped to rest of the country. Through this process, Fulton became known as the “Banana Capital of the World”.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 220.
Paducah and Louisville 3811, 2121 and 2100 head up a southbound military train loaded with armor from Ft. Knox, Ky, at West Yard in Madisonville, Ky as the last light of the day fades on April 4th, 2023. A new crew onboard prepares their train for departing for Paducah, Ky where I’m told the equipment will be picked up by BNSF or CN to continue its move.
In the yard you can see a lot of RJ Corman equipment where they have been working on redoing the yard tracks for the past week or so.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1 second, ISO 210.
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Digital Art Photo of CSX empty coke train, B426 with UP power heads north at Breton, Ky, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on March 22nd, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 150.
#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #kentuckytrains #csx #csxrailway #BretonKy #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone #csxhendersonsubdivison
The American History Train, being led by Nickel Plate Road (NKP) steam locomotive 765, sits next to the old New York Central Depot on September 24th, 2022, at Pleasant Lake, Indiana.
NKP 765 was pulling the American History Train between Pleasant Lake from Angola, Indiana during the annual American History Days Festival. It took guests back to the 1940s for a living history experience. The passengers then got a 45-minute layover at Pleasant Lake where they visited with WWII reenactors, listened to live music and much more.
According to Wikipedia: Pleasant Lake depot is also known as the New York Central Railroad Depot and is a historic train station located at Pleasant Lake, Steuben Township, Steuben County, Indiana. It was built in 1882 by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, and is a one-story, rectangular, Gothic Revival style frame building. It has a gable roof and is clad in board and batten siding.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 as the Pleasant Lake Depot.
Nickel Plate Road 765 is a class “S-2” 2-8-4 “Berkshire” type steam locomotive built for the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, commonly referred to as the “Nickel Plate Road”.
No. 765 continues to operate in mainline excursion service and is owned and maintained by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 1996.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.