CSX Q513-26 with two interesting moves It’s not very often that I catch a train that has two interesting moves at the same time, but March 26th, 2021 was one of those days when I caught CSX Q513 heading south on the Henderson Subdivision! Up front behind the first engine was a GMTX 192 switcher (ex-Kansas City Southern Unit) passing through Mortons Junction at Mortons Gap, Ky, which I’m told is headed for St. Marys Railroad Company, located in St. Marys, Georgia. On the rear of the train was Mid-America Railcar Leasing (MRLX) 1226, which appears to be an ex-Amtrak baggage car that I'm also told is headed for the Georgia coastal railway at St. Marys, Georgia. I’m also told that it will be converted to a gift shop for their excursion trains. Here it’s passing through the crossing at the north end of the siding at Kelly, Ky, behind the DPU on the rear of the train as they head south on the Henderson Subdivision. St. Marys Railroad (reporting marks SM) is a standard gauge, Class III, common carrier railroad based out of St. Marys, Georgia. Interchange is made with the First Coast Railroad in Kingsland, Georgia and gives customers easy access to Jacksonville, Florida railroads CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway and Florida East Coast Railway. Mid America Railcar Leasing is a limited liability company that leases private passenger railroad cars, most of which can be pulled on the end of Amtrak trains. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800 & 1/1250, ISO 100.

CSX Q513-26 with two interesting moves #1

It’s not very often that I catch a train that has two interesting moves at the same time, but March 26th, 2021 was one of those days when I caught CSX Q513 heading south on the Henderson Subdivision!

Up front behind the first engine was a GMTX 192 switcher (ex-Kansas City Southern Unit) passing through Mortons Junction at Mortons Gap, Ky, which I’m told is headed for St. Marys Railroad Company, located in St. Marys, Georgia.

On the rear of the train was Mid-America Railcar Leasing (MRLX) 1226, which appears to be an ex-Amtrak baggage car that I’m also told is headed for the Georgia coastal railway at St. Marys, Georgia. I’m also told that it will be converted to a gift shop for their excursion trains. Here it’s passing through the crossing at the north end of the siding at Kelly, Ky, behind the DPU on the rear of the train as they head south on the Henderson Subdivision.

St. Marys Railroad (reporting marks SM) is a standard gauge, Class III, common carrier railroad based out of St. Marys, Georgia. Interchange is made with the First Coast Railroad in Kingsland, Georgia and gives customers easy access to Jacksonville, Florida railroads CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway and Florida East Coast Railway.

Mid America Railcar Leasing is a limited liability company that leases private passenger railroad cars, most of which can be pulled on the end of Amtrak trains.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800 & 1/1250, ISO 100.

Canadian National leads CSX K813 south out of Mortons Gap, Ky With only a few days away from the first day of spring, Canadian National 2314 leads CSX K813 out of Mortons Gap, Ky, with an empty potash train, under gloomy and cold skies on March 18th, 2021, as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 200.

Canadian National leads CSX K813 south out of Mortons Gap, Ky

With only a few days away from the first day of spring, Canadian National 2314 leads CSX K813 out of Mortons Gap, Ky, with an empty potash train, under gloomy and cold skies on March 18th, 2021, as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 200.

X marks the spot on the Henderson Subdivision I keep returning to this spot called Monarch, where the CSX Henderson Subdivision crosses under the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL), attempting to catch a shot with traffic on both lines, here in Madisonville, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision. There was a PAL train in the neighborhood when I put the drone over Monarch on March 16th, 2021, catching this shot of CSX Q500 as it headed north, however the PAL local didn’t pass until much later. I’ve found over the years that persistence pays off in the long run, so I continue to revisit this spot, waiting for the right moves to appear! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 200.

X marks the spot on the Henderson Subdivision

I keep returning to this spot called Monarch, where the CSX Henderson Subdivision crosses under the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL), attempting to catch a shot with traffic on both lines, here in Madisonville, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision.

There was a PAL train in the neighborhood when I put the drone over Monarch on March 16th, 2021, catching this shot of CSX Q500 as it headed north, however the PAL local didn’t pass until much later. I’ve found over the years that persistence pays off in the long run, so I continue to revisit this spot, waiting for the right moves to appear!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 200.

Traffic flowing again after a dispatcher's nightmare Looking at this photograph of hot intermodal CSX Q026 passing a tied down CSX W017 rail train just north of the yard at Guthrie, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision, you wouldn’t know what transpired over 7 hours before their arrivals here! Well, here’s what happened! On March 20th, 2021 at approximately 9am CSX Q513 (12,000+ feet long) was about halfway through Adams, Tennessee when their train ripped a coupler completely out of a refrigerated car about 2/3 through their train and went into full emergency, which ended up causing a major problem on the Henderson Subdivision! Since the train separated on the main, nothing could get around it and before it was over all four hot intermodals on the Henderson Subdivision, Q029, Q025, Q026 and Q028, were now delayed, as were many other trains, including this rail train as a result! They finally figured out a plan that worked where the power from Q029 was brought up from Guthrie, Ky and hooked onto the rear of Q513 to hold the last 1/3 of Q513 in place. Q513 then pulled the front 2/3 of their train south into the siding at Cedar Hill, Tennessee where a bracket was welded onto the reefer car, to hold the EOT device, as a new coupler couldn’t be installed due to the damage. The power on Q513 then pulled away from its train at Cedar Hill, where it went out the south end of the siding and back north on the main to pickup the rest of its train. They then brought the rest of Q513 back to Cedar Hill where they backed into the siding and hooked onto the rest of their train. By this time the crew was now out of time and they the train down, till a fresh crew showed up later to take it on south. Finally, Q029, Q025 and loaded a loaded coal train went on south where Q026 and Q028 were waiting to come north, and the railroad got to moving again! As a result of all this, the rail train, which sat at the south end of Trenton, Ky for all this time, ended up being brought on up to Guthrie where their train was also tied down just short of the crossing at Park Street. The crew was sent to a hotel and I’m not sure if it’s because they ran out of time or if the dispatcher didn’t want a slow speed train (30mp train and 10mph through turnouts and sidings) on the line as everything had been backing up for six hours! Just another day on the railroad!! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Traffic flowing again after a dispatcher’s nightmare

Looking at this photograph of hot intermodal CSX Q026 passing a tied down CSX W017 rail train just north of the yard at Guthrie, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision, you wouldn’t know what transpired over 7 hours before their arrivals here! Well, here’s what happened!

On March 20th, 2021 at approximately 9am CSX Q513 (12,000+ feet long) was about halfway through Adams, Tennessee when their train ripped a coupler completely out of a refrigerated car about 2/3 through their train and went into full emergency, which ended up causing a major problem on the Henderson Subdivision!

Since the train separated on the main, nothing could get around it and before it was over all four hot intermodals on the Henderson Subdivision, Q029, Q025, Q026 and Q028, were now delayed, as were many other trains, including this rail train as a result!

They finally figured out a plan that worked where the power from Q029 was brought up from Guthrie, Ky and hooked onto the rear of Q513 to hold the last 1/3 of Q513 in place.

Q513 then pulled the front 2/3 of their train south into the siding at Cedar Hill, Tennessee where a bracket was welded onto the reefer car, to hold the EOT device, as a new coupler couldn’t be installed due to the damage.

The power on Q513 then pulled away from its train at Cedar Hill, where it went out the south end of the siding and back north on the main to pickup the rest of its train.

They then brought the rest of Q513 back to Cedar Hill where they backed into the siding and hooked onto the rest of their train. By this time the crew was now out of time and they the train down, till a fresh crew showed up later to take it on south.

Finally, Q029, Q025 and loaded a loaded coal train went on south where Q026 and Q028 were waiting to come north, and the railroad got to moving again!

As a result of all this, the rail train, which sat at the south end of Trenton, Ky for all this time, ended up being brought on up to Guthrie where their train was also tied down just short of the crossing at Park Street.

The crew was sent to a hotel and I’m not sure if it’s because they ran out of time or if the dispatcher didn’t want a slow speed train (30mp train and 10mph through turnouts and sidings) on the line as everything had been backing up for six hours!

Just another day on the railroad!!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Northbound across the CR Drawbridge on the Cumberland River at Nashville, TN CSXT 7779, a rebuilt C40-8 and Canadian Pacific 7027, a rebuilt SD70ACU, pull north across the CR Drawbridge as it departs Nashville, Tennessee on the Nashville Terminal Subdivision with empty ethanol train K442 on March 19th, 2021. I saw for the first time today where this bridge was open for barge traffic on the Cumberland River and I never knew that it is now a swing bridge! I guess at some point in time it was converted, and the name CR Drawbridge was kept. It was built in 1916 by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and I'm not sure when it was changed to a swing bridge. Perhaps someone out there can provide information on this conversion in the comments! I did find an interesting video from 2016 where the bridge was rehabilitated by PCL Construction that I'll share in the comments for those that are interested. I'm not sure if this is when it was changed from a draw to a swing bridge or not. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

Northbound across the CR Drawbridge on the Cumberland River at Nashville, TN

CSXT 7779, a rebuilt C40-8 and Canadian Pacific 7027, a rebuilt SD70ACU, pull north across the CR Drawbridge as it departs Nashville, Tennessee on the Nashville Terminal Subdivision with empty ethanol train K442 on March 19th, 2021.

I saw for the first time today where this bridge was open for barge traffic on the Cumberland River and I never knew that it is now a swing bridge! I guess at some point in time it was converted, and the name CR Drawbridge was kept. It was built in 1916 by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and I’m not sure when it was changed to a swing bridge. Perhaps someone out there can provide information on this conversion in the comments!

I did find an interesting video from 2016 where the bridge was rehabilitated by PCL Construction that I’ll share in the comments for those that are interested. I’m not sure if this is when it was changed from a draw to a swing bridge or not.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

CSX MOW train northbound at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky CSXT 8060 leads CSX W035, a loaded Maintenance of Way train, under the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Monarch as it heads north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Kentucky on March 13th, 2021 under winter cloudy skies. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX MOW train northbound at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky

CSXT 8060 leads CSX W035, a loaded Maintenance of Way train, under the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Monarch as it heads north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Kentucky on March 13th, 2021 under winter cloudy skies.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Running from the Law on the CSX Henderson Subdivision Well, that's what they call it when the train crew is getting close to being out of crew time, based on the laws that govern how long they can work. When they get to this point, they're trying to get to a spot they can do a crew change or tie their train down. A good friend Charles Lavender gave me a heads up that this W035 was northbound with loaded Maintenance of Way train coming out of Goodlettsville, TN on March 13th, 2021. I was still at home when I got the word and at least 30 minutes from Casky Yard in Hopkinsville, Kentucky where I planned on catching it. There were also unconfirmed reports that they would tie the train down at Casky as well. Well, I got to the first exit for Hopkinsville when I got word from another fellow railfan, Steve Miller, that the train had already cleared the yard and was continuing north, which had me changing to my second spot at Kelly, Kentucky. This train was flying, partly because they were running out of time and also, because hot intermodal CSX Q028 was hot on his tail!! As I launched the drone and found my spot in the sky, dark clouds and the light band prefect between them and the ground helped add drama to the scene!!, I knew I had my favorite shot for this train! All in all, a hectic and rushed chase, but I was able to get my drone at three different locations and still able to do a live video of the move north at Crofton, Kentucky. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.

Running from the Law on the CSX Henderson Subdivision

Well, that’s what they call it when the train crew is getting close to being out of crew time, based on the laws that govern how long they can work. When they get to this point, they’re trying to get to a spot they can do a crew change or tie their train down.

A good friend Charles Lavender gave me a heads up that this W035 was northbound with loaded Maintenance of Way train coming out of Goodlettsville, TN on March 13th, 2021.

I was still at home when I got the word and at least 30 minutes from Casky Yard in Hopkinsville, Kentucky where I planned on catching it. There were also unconfirmed reports that they would tie the train down at Casky as well.

Well, I got to the first exit for Hopkinsville when I got word from another fellow railfan, Steve Miller, that the train had already cleared the yard and was continuing north, which had me changing to my second spot at Kelly, Kentucky.

This train was flying, partly because they were running out of time and also, because hot intermodal CSX Q028 was hot on his tail!!

As I launched the drone and found my spot in the sky, dark clouds and the light band prefect between them and the ground helped add drama to the scene!!, I knew I had my favorite shot for this train! All in all, a hectic and rushed chase, but I was able to get my drone at three different locations and still able to do a live video of the move north at Crofton, Kentucky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.

CSX Heading southbound into the light! CSX Q025 heads southbound (railroad south, but more southeast) towards the rays of early morning light, at Henderson, Kentucky, after crossing the Ohio River bridge on the CSX Henderson Subdivision with CSXT 3184 leading the way. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX Heading southbound into the light!

CSX Q025 heads southbound (railroad south, but more southeast) towards the rays of early morning light, at Henderson, Kentucky, after crossing the Ohio River bridge on the CSX Henderson Subdivision with CSXT 3184 leading the way.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX Q025 Southbound over the Ohio River Floodwaters This is a shot that I've been wanting to get even before I started flying a drone! A shot of a train passing over the floodwaters from the Ohio River as it heads across the river at Henderson, Kentucky coming out of Evansville, Indiana. This is a shot that one could only get with a john boat in the past and I neither had one or knew anyone with one, so this has always been a dream shot for me! With the partly cloudy skies I was worried that I wouldn't have sunlight for the shot, but as you can see with the broken clouds on March 10th, 2021, they parted enough for this dramatic lighting as CSX hot intermodal Q025-10 made its way up the viaduct to the bridge over the Ohio River heading south into Henderson, Ky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. The scene as far as the eye can see here is normally farmers fields, but today it was an extension of the Ohio River as it was right at 37 feet above flood stage as the train passed over it. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX Q025 Southbound over the Ohio River Floodwaters

This is a shot that I’ve been wanting to get even before I started flying a drone! A shot of a train passing over the floodwaters from the Ohio River as it heads across the river at Henderson, Kentucky coming out of Evansville, Indiana. This is a shot that one could only get with a john boat in the past and I neither had one or knew anyone with one, so this has always been a dream shot for me!

With the partly cloudy skies I was worried that I wouldn’t have sunlight for the shot, but as you can see with the broken clouds on March 10th, 2021, they parted enough for this dramatic lighting as CSX hot intermodal Q025-10 made its way up the viaduct to the bridge over the Ohio River heading south into Henderson, Ky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.

The scene as far as the eye can see here is normally farmers fields, but today it was an extension of the Ohio River as it was right at 37 feet as the train passed over it.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Southbound hot intermodal at Sulfur Creek, Springfield, TN Just a week before the ground here was covered with snow and the temperature was in the teens, a huge difference on March 3rd, 2021 here at the Sulfur Fork bridge just north of Springfield, Tennessee where the day was beautiful and the temperature hovering around 70 degrees! Here we find CSXT 276 and 904 leading hot intermodal Q029-02 as they head south over the Sulfur Creek bridge on the CSX Henderson Subdivision as they make their way to their final destination of Jacksonville, FL from Chicago, IL. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Southbound hot intermodal at Sulfur Creek, Springfield, TN

Just a week before the ground here was covered with snow and the temperature was in the teens, a huge difference on March 3rd, 2021 here at the Sulfur Fork bridge just north of Springfield, Tennessee where the day was beautiful and the temperature hovering around 70 degrees!

Here we find CSXT 276 and 904 leading hot intermodal Q029-02 as they head south over the Sulfur Creek bridge on the CSX Henderson Subdivision as they make their way to their final destination of Jacksonville, FL from Chicago, IL.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

First light, first train! I was afraid I'd miss this loaded coal train CSX N302 at first light on the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee as it made its way south on the Henderson Subdivision. I left my house at about 5:30am, much earlier than I'm accustomed to getting out, but I was meeting fellow railfan Cooper Smith at 7am at Guthrie, Kentucky and we were to meet at the CSX yard in Guthrie to do a full day of railfanning in the snow. After stopping to shoot the sun popping over the horizon just north of Trenton, Ky I got back in my nice and toasty SUV after getting my shot in the cold 14 degree weather and headed on south to meet up with Cooper. It was about this time I found out that he was running late and that there was a loaded coal train just ahead of me headed south. This was just after the last big snowfall that swept through the region the day before and even though the Kentucky and Tennessee road crews had do a great job of plowing US 41, which follows the Henderson Subdivision, there was still ice on the roads to contend with so I was worried that I wouldn't make it to this spot and get the drone up before the train got there, but as you can tell, lady luck was smiling in my direction! I arrived at this spot probably about 10 minutes before the train on February 19th, 2021 and the sun was just above the tree line here and was sending that beautiful early morning golden light, raking across the bare trees. A great start to a great day of being trackside, even if it was real early and went till after dark! We both came back with some great shots! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

First light, first train!

I was afraid I’d miss this loaded coal train CSX N302 at first light on the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee as it made its way south on the Henderson Subdivision.

I left my house at about 5:30am, much earlier than I’m accustomed to getting out, but I was meeting fellow railfan Cooper Smith at 7am at Guthrie, Kentucky and we were to meet at the CSX yard in Guthrie to do a full day of railfanning in the snow.

After stopping to shoot the sun popping over the horizon just north of Trenton, Ky I got back in my nice and toasty SUV after getting my shot in the cold 14 degree weather and headed on south to meet up with Cooper. It was about this time I found out that he was running late and that there was a loaded coal train just ahead of me headed south.

This was just after the last big snowfall that swept through the region the day before and even though the Kentucky and Tennessee road crews had do a great job of plowing US 41, which follows the Henderson Subdivision, there was still ice on the roads to contend with so I was worried that I wouldn’t make it to this spot and get the drone up before the train got there, but as you can tell, lady luck was smiling in my direction!

I arrived at this spot probably about 10 minutes before the train on February 19th, 2021 and the sun was just above the tree line here and was sending that beautiful early morning golden light, raking across the bare trees. A great start to a great day of being trackside, even if it was real early and went till after dark! We both came back with some great shots!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

BNSF Southbound Phosphate stopped at Guthrie, Ky If you recall from my March 3rd, 2021 post, I got a text at about 10 minutes till 7am that CSX K811-28, a phosphate train, with three BNSF units on it was headed south on the Henderson Subdivision and I decided to get out of bed and give chase! It was about 45 miles later at Guthrie, Ky when I finally got ahead of it enough to where I could launch the drone, after they stopped after getting red signal due to track work being done ahead at Cedar Hill, TN. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

BNSF Southbound Phosphate stopped at Guthrie, Ky

If you recall from my March 3rd, 2021 post, I got a text at about 10 minutes till 7am that CSX K811-28, a phosphate train, with three BNSF units on it was headed south on the Henderson Subdivision and I decided to get out of bed and give chase!

It was about 45 miles later at Guthrie, Ky when I finally got ahead of it enough to where I could launch the drone, after they stopped after getting red signal due to track work being done ahead at Cedar Hill, TN.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Southbound Intermodal at Baker This morning (March 3rd, 2021) I got a text at about 10 minutes till 7am that there was a southbound phosphate train with three BNSF units on it! Needless to say I was still in bed and this isn't it! However, this turned out to be my favorite shot on a full day of chasing, which really was a spur of the moment thing starting with the early morning text message. It was about 30 miles later to the south on the Henderson Subdivision (HD) before I caught up with the BNSF train and so I figured since I was out in this early morning light and so far south I'd go ahead and spend the day shooting in the southern part of the HD so I could fly the drone in some locations that I hadn't done so yet, hence, this shot right here. Now, in all fairness this shot of hot intermodal Q029-03 heading south isn't the at spot I started out to shoot it at, but I'm glad I found it! I parked at the crossing on Baker Station Road, about 1.5 miles from the south end of the Baker Tunnel at Ridgetop, Tennessee and the plan was to fly back to the south end of Baker tunnel from there. However, due to the terrain, the drone had issues of maintaining a GPS signal unless I was was up much higher than I wanted to be. However, I passed the spot as I was flying back, about 1/2 mile from the crossing, and thought it'd make a good backup spot! When I got back to this location and got down low enough for what I wanted, I knew right away that I was going to love it! The only thing I was worried about is it was if the train would make it to the spot before I had to bring the drone back to me due to a lack of battery power and also if I could tell when it was coming so I could shoot in the spot I wanted! Keeping my ears open, eyes glued to the DJI Fly App on the iPhone screen, and I was able to get this shot of Q029 as it sliced its way south through this great crop of rocks! Yes, it was a good day to get out early (thanks Tom Wortham) for getting me out and trackside this morning! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100 Exposure Comp: -0.7 (helps control the highlights).

Southbound Intermodal at Baker

This morning (March 3rd, 2021) I got a text at about 10 minutes till 7am that there was a southbound phosphate train with three BNSF units on it! Needless to say I was still in bed and this isn’t it!

However, this turned out to be my favorite shot on a full day of chasing, which really was a spur of the moment thing starting with the early morning text message.

It was about 30 miles later to the south on the Henderson Subdivision (HD) before I caught up with the BNSF train and so I figured since I was out in this early morning light and so far south I’d go ahead and spend the day shooting in the southern part of the HD so I could fly the drone in some locations that I hadn’t done so yet, hence, this shot right here.

Now, in all fairness this shot of hot intermodal Q029-03 heading south isn’t the at spot I started out to shoot it at, but I’m glad I found it!

I parked at the crossing on Baker Station Road, about 1.5 miles from the south end of the Baker Tunnel at Ridgetop, Tennessee and the plan was to fly back to the south end of Baker tunnel from there. However, due to the terrain, the drone had issues of maintaining a GPS signal unless I was was up much higher than I wanted to be.

However, I passed the spot as I was flying back, about 1/2 mile from the crossing, and thought it’d make a good backup spot! When I got back to this location and got down low enough for what I wanted, I knew right away that I was going to love it!

The only thing I was worried about is it was if the train would make it to the spot before I had to bring the drone back to me due to a lack of battery power and also if I could tell when it was coming so I could shoot in the spot I wanted!

Keeping my ears open, eyes glued to the DJI Fly App on the iPhone screen, and I was able to get this shot of Q029 as it sliced its way south through this great crop of rocks!

Yes, it was a good day to get out early (thanks Tom Wortham) for getting me out and trackside this morning!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100 Exposure Comp: -0.7 (helps control the highlights).

A snowy meet at Arklow, Madisonville, Ky As the last light of the day fades the crew on board CSX K814 braves the cold, winter's snow as they step to the ground from Canadian Pacific 8109 at Arklow, to conduct a roll-by inspection of hot intermodal Q029 as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Kentucky. CSX Q029 is usually an early morning move, but due to the winter storms that blew through the region, it along with many other trains moved a lot slower than usual with the conditions making it harder for the crews getting their trains loaded and moving. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 400.

A snowy meet at Arklow, Madisonville, Ky

As the last light of the day fades the crew on board CSX K814 braves the cold, winter’s snow as they step to the ground from Canadian Pacific 8109 at Arklow, to conduct a roll-by inspection of hot intermodal Q029 as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Kentucky.

CSX Q029 is usually an early morning move, but due to the winter storms that blew through the region, it along with many other trains moved a lot slower than usual with the conditions making it harder for the crews getting their trains loaded and moving.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 400.

A snowy Paducah and Louisville Railway local Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads a short snow covered local south after passing the south end of Pond River Siding at Madisonville, Ky on the early afternoon of February 16th, 2021. The one thing I'm still getting used to is the delay you get when photographing moving objects with a drone. This shot for instance was at least 1/2 engine length back when I fired the shutter on the drone controller, but the train moved that much before the drone actually made the photo. I still obviously like the shot, but there's been more than one shot I missed due to the delay and with patience and practice I'm getting better at my timing! When shooting, I try my best to frame the picture the way I want the final shot to look as this is the full frame I shot. However, it seems the answer may be to shoot a little wider then crop in a little when I process the image. When shooting the Air 2 at 48mp RAW/JPG this isn't a problem, but then at that quality I'll only get one shot as it takes longer to save the image to the card and the train will be past the position I want before I can shoot again. If shooting at the 12mp RAW/JPG size I can shoot several shots, but I like the larger 48mp size to work with, so I'll continue to work on my timing. If any of my fellow Drone pilots out there have any suggestions please leave them in the comments below! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

A snowy Paducah and Louisville Railway local

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads a short snow covered local south after passing the south end of Pond River Siding at Madisonville, Ky on the early afternoon of February 16th, 2021.

The one thing I’m still getting used to is the delay you get when photographing moving objects with a drone. This shot for instance was at least 1/2 engine length back when I fired the shutter on the drone controller, but the train moved that much before the drone actually made the photo. I still obviously like the shot, but there’s been more than one shot I missed due to the delay and with patience and practice I’m getting better at my timing!

When shooting, I try my best to frame the picture the way I want the final shot to look as this is the full frame I shot. However, it seems the answer may be to shoot a little wider then crop in a little when I process the image.

When shooting the Air 2 at 48mp RAW/JPG this isn’t a problem, but then at that quality I’ll only get one shot as it takes longer to save the image to the card and the train will be past the position I want before I can shoot again. If shooting at the 12mp RAW/JPG size I can shoot several shots, but I like the larger 48mp size to work with, so I’ll continue to work on my timing.

If any of my fellow Drone pilots out there have any suggestions please leave them in the comments below!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

CSX hot intermodal rolls south across Gum Lick Trestle This picture really shows the difference a day or so can make! Two days before there was about 4-6 inches of at this location and the temperature was 17 degrees and on this day if was 65 degrees!!! Makes for very different photos, but both situations make for great photo possibilities! Here we have hot intermodal CSX Q029-23 with CSXT 928 leading on February 23rd, 2021 as it makes its way across the Gum Lick Trestle between Crofton and Kelly, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on a beautiful winter (kinda) day. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

CSX hot intermodal rolls south across Gum Lick Trestle

This picture really shows the difference a day or so can make! Two days before there was about 4-6 inches of snow at this location and the temperature was 17 degrees and on this day if was 65 degrees!!! Makes for very different photos, but both situations make for great photo possibilities!

Here we have hot intermodal CSX Q029-23 with CSXT 928 leading on February 23rd, 2021 as it makes its way across the Gum Lick Trestle between Crofton and Kelly, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on a beautiful winter (kinda) day.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Southbound CSX local passes Monarch through fresh snowfall The fresh blanket of snow brings a quietness to the area surrounding Monarch, where the Paducah and Louisville Railway crosses over the CSX Henderson Subdivision, at Madisonville, Ky on February 16th, 2021, until the northbound Casky to Atkinson yards local, J732-16 arrives with three SD40's leading the way. I'm still (for several years now) am trying for a shot of a train on both tracks at the same time at this spot. It'll happen, it just takes a lot of patience and luck!! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Southbound CSX local passes Monarch through fresh snowfall

The fresh blanket of snow brings a quietness to the area surrounding Monarch, where the Paducah and Louisville Railway crosses over the CSX Henderson Subdivision, at Madisonville, Ky on February 16th, 2021, until the northbound Casky to Atkinson yards local, J732-16 arrives with three SD40’s leading the way.

I’m still (for several years now) am trying for a shot of a train on both tracks at the same time at this spot. It’ll happen, it just takes a lot of patience and luck!!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Southbound military move waiting at sunset I got a heads up on this military move from a fellow railfan and friend Travis Collins as CSX W809 headed south from up in Indiana around 10am on February 20th, 2021 on the CSX CE&D Subdivision. I kept up with its movement through southern Indiana via Facebook and fellow railfans that were out along the lines and tracked its progress in spits and starts along the way where it head to wait for higher priority trains that were moving north. After stopping at Howell yard in Evansville, Indiana it finally made its way onto the CSX Henderson Subdivision after taking on fuel and making a crew change at Howell, but by this time those of us waiting for it to make its appearance were starting to worry that we'd lose our light before it made it to where 7 of us railfans were waiting for it at Mortons Junction in Mortons Gap, Kentucky. That's where they put it on the cutoff that bypasses Madisonville and Earlington where it sat behind a loaded coal train to wait for hot intermodal Q028 and an empty coal drag to pass on the main at the junction. Finally the loaded coal train headed south and I knew the military move would be next and I decided to move on down to the south end of Nortonville where I hoped I would get some light on the train as by this time it was just about sunset. Here we find the train where it finally crawled to a stop just south of Nortonville with CSXT 5473 and 3348 leading the 5,000+ load of military vehicles elephant style to wait for another northbound Q648. This meet worked really well for my shot since the train came to a full stop and I was able to shoot with a slow shutterspeed to keep my ISO and noise down from the low light scene as the last rays of light swept across the valley! Patience pays off in the long run! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/80, ISO 100.

Southbound military move waiting at sunset

I got a heads up on this military move from a fellow railfan and friend Travis Collins as CSX W809 headed south from up in Indiana around 10am on February 20th, 2021 on the CSX CE&D Subdivision.

I kept up with its movement through southern Indiana via Facebook and fellow railfans that were out along the lines and tracked its progress in spits and starts along the way where it head to wait for higher priority trains that were moving north.

After stopping at Howell yard in Evansville, Indiana it finally made its way onto the CSX Henderson Subdivision after taking on fuel and making a crew change at Howell, but by this time those of us waiting for it to make its appearance were starting to worry that we’d lose our light before it made it to where 7 of us railfans were waiting for it at Mortons Junction in Mortons Gap, Kentucky.

That’s where they put it on the cutoff that bypasses Madisonville and Earlington where it sat behind a loaded coal train to wait for hot intermodal Q028 and an empty coal drag to pass on the main at the junction.

Finally the loaded coal train headed south and I knew the military move would be next and I decided to move on down to the south end of Nortonville where I hoped I would get some light on the train as by this time it was just about sunset.

Here we find the train where it finally crawled to a stop just south of Nortonville with CSXT 5473 and 3348 leading the 5,000+ load of military vehicles elephant style to wait for another northbound Q648. This meet worked really well for my shot since the train came to a full stop and I was able to shoot with a slow shutterspeed to keep my ISO and noise down from the low light scene as the last rays of light swept across the valley!

Patience pays off in the long run!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/80, ISO 100.

A snowy meet at Slaughters, Kentucky Another biting cold snow shot from February 17th, 2021 as loaded CSX coal train N302 heads south as empty ethanol train K442 waits in the siding for him to pass at Slaughters, ky on the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 400.

A snowy meet at Slaughters, Kentucky

Another biting cold snow shot from February 17th, 2021 as loaded CSX coal train N302 heads south as empty ethanol train K442 waits in the siding for him to pass at Slaughters, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 400.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Taswell, Indiana Norfolk Southern 1800 the Yellow Sonic Bonnets trails behind the black 4004 version, as they lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they slowly pull into the siding at Taswell, Indiana to meet eastbound NS 168, on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021 at dusk. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 200.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Taswell, Indiana

Norfolk Southern 1800 the Yellow Sonic Bonnets trails behind the black 4004 version, as they lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they slowly pull into the siding at Taswell, Indiana to meet eastbound NS 168, on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021 at dusk.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 200.

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