An empty BNSF 4 Rivers empty coal train passes over the bridge next to the Southern Illinois Stone Company as it heads north on April 21st, 2023, on the UP Marion/BNSF Beardstown Subdivision at Goreville, Illinois, under stormy skies.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/240 sec, ISO 120.
Union Pacific 6808 and 2659 lead Norfolk Southern 224 off the K&I bridge out of Louisville, Kentucky as they head west over the Ohio River into New Albany, Indiana on the NS Southern East District on April 15th, 2023.
According to Wikipedia: The Kentucky & Indiana Bridge is one of the first multi modal bridges to cross the Ohio River. It is for both railway and common roadway purposes together. By federal, state, and local law railway and streetcar, wagon-way, and pedestrian modes of travel were intended by the City of New Albany, City of Louisville, State of Kentucky, State of Indiana, the United States Congress, and the bridge owners.
The K & I Bridge connects Louisville, Kentucky to New Albany, Indiana. Constructed from 1881 to 1885 by the Kentucky and Indiana Bridge Company, the original K&I Bridge opened in 1886. It included a single standard gauge track and two wagon ways, allowing wagons and other animal powered vehicles to cross the Ohio River by a method other than ferry for the first time. At the time motorized vehicles were virtually nonexistent.
The K&I Bridge company also owned a ferry boat operation during both the 1st and 2nd bridge; eventually that operation was sold as the bridge’s success largely outmoded boat usage.
In 1910 the bridge company was renamed the Kentucky & Indiana Terminal Railroad Co. From 1910 to 1912, a new, heavier bridge was built on new piers just upstream from the original one, after which the old bridge was demolished. The new bridge was double tracked to handle increasingly heavier train and now automobile traffic, eventually receiving the U.S. 31W designation.
The bridge also featured a rotating swing span opening for the passage of ships in high water. The bridge was only opened four times, twice for testing in 1913 and 1915, then in 1916 for the passage of the steamer “Tarascon” and in 1920 for passage of the Australian convict ship “Success”. In 1948 it refused opening of the span for passage of the steamer “Gordon C. Greene” citing inconvenience and costs of cutting power and communication lines, an action for which K&I and LG&E both paid damages to that ship’s company. In 1955 the K&I sought and received permission to permanently tie down the swing span from the Corps of Engineers. In 1952, the creosoted wood block roadways of the second bridge were eliminated and replaced by a steel gridwork roadway.
On February 1, 1979, an overweight dump truck caused a small segment of the steel grate roadway on the bridge to sag about 1 foot (0.30 m). A quick survey promised to reopen the roadway, but automotive traffic was banned thereafter by the railroad.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2500 sec, ISO 140.
Union Pacific 6808 and 2659 lead Norfolk Southern 224 over the K&I bridge out of Louisville, Kentucky as they head west over the Ohio River into New Albany, Indiana on the NS Southern East District on April 15th, 2023.
According to Wikipedia: The Kentucky & Indiana Bridge is one of the first multi modal bridges to cross the Ohio River. It is for both railway and common roadway purposes together. By federal, state, and local law railway and streetcar, wagon-way, and pedestrian modes of travel were intended by the City of New Albany, City of Louisville, State of Kentucky, State of Indiana, the United States Congress, and the bridge owners.
The K & I Bridge connects Louisville, Kentucky to New Albany, Indiana. Constructed from 1881 to 1885 by the Kentucky and Indiana Bridge Company, the original K&I Bridge opened in 1886. It included a single standard gauge track and two wagon ways, allowing wagons and other animal powered vehicles to cross the Ohio River by a method other than ferry for the first time. At the time motorized vehicles were virtually nonexistent.
The K&I Bridge company also owned a ferry boat operation during both the 1st and 2nd bridge; eventually that operation was sold as the bridge’s success largely outmoded boat usage.
In 1910 the bridge company was renamed the Kentucky & Indiana Terminal Railroad Co. From 1910 to 1912, a new, heavier bridge was built on new piers just upstream from the original one, after which the old bridge was demolished. The new bridge was double tracked to handle increasingly heavier train and now automobile traffic, eventually receiving the U.S. 31W designation.
The bridge also featured a rotating swing span opening for the passage of ships in high water. The bridge was only opened four times, twice for testing in 1913 and 1915, then in 1916 for the passage of the steamer “Tarascon” and in 1920 for passage of the Australian convict ship “Success”. In 1948 it refused opening of the span for passage of the steamer “Gordon C. Greene” citing inconvenience and costs of cutting power and communication lines, an action for which K&I and LG&E both paid damages to that ship’s company. In 1955 the K&I sought and received permission to permanently tie down the swing span from the Corps of Engineers. In 1952, the creosoted wood block roadways of the second bridge were eliminated and replaced by a steel gridwork roadway.
On February 1, 1979, an overweight dump truck caused a small segment of the steel grate roadway on the bridge to sag about 1 foot (0.30 m). A quick survey promised to reopen the roadway, but automotive traffic was banned thereafter by the railroad.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2500 sec, ISO 130.
Newly painted and refurbished RJ Corman units 2645 and 2648, along with GMTX 9059, sit at Nugent Sand Yard in Louisville, Ky on Saturday afternoon, April 15th, 2023. These first two units were recently acquired by the company from Norfolk Southern and are SD70M locomotives, which are beginning to see road service after coming out of the shops.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec, ISO 100.
Digital Art Photo – CSXT 7905 leads grain train G115 as it passes the Good Shepard Church at East Bank, West Virginia as it heads north on the Kanawha Subdivision on a beautiful fall afternoon on November 3rd, 2022.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 130.
Newly painted and refurbished Canadian Pacific 5798 sits tied down in the Paducah and Louisville Railway Yard in Louisville, Kentucky on April 15th, 2023. The markings under the cab window are SD40-2 DRF-30. Not sure where it was rebuilt and what was done to it however, with the recent merger between the CP and KCS, the road name on this newly painted unit is now incorrect!
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1000 sec, ISO 130.
Louisville and Indiana Railroad locomotives 2004 and 2006 sit, tied down in their yard at Jeffersonville, Indiana, on Saturday, April 15th, 2023, as the railroad wasn’t working on the day of my recent visit here.
According to Wikipedia: The Louisville and Indiana Railroad is a Class III railroad that operates freight service between Indianapolis, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky, with a major yard and maintenance shop in Jeffersonville, Indiana. It is owned by Anacostia Rail Holdings. The 106-mile line was purchased from Conrail in March 1994.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec, ISO 110.
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.