Aerial/Drone Photography – Page 55 – Jim Pearson Photography

Paducah and Louisville Railway yard work at Paducah, Ky

Switcher GMTX 397 backs a string of tank cars under the flyover for the CN at the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) yard at Paducah, Kentucky on June 8th, 2021 as a PAL yard crew works on building trains on a stormy afternoon.

According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway 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 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 Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

CSXT 3194 Spirit of our Law Enforcement unit eastbound at New Johnsonville, TN

Not the shot I had originally planned for this location of CSXT 3194 (Spirit of our Law Enforcement) unit leading CSX Q125 east across the Tennessee River, but a good alternate shot, none the less!

My primary spot for this location was going to be up close to the drawbridge with the train coming across, but when I flew down to the location, I realized the battery on the drone was at 52 percent.

I left the drone in place till the battery dropped to 28% and flew it back to me to change it (didnt want it to drop from the sky into the river). Not sure at the time why it was so low as I keep all the batteries on charge with an inverter in my SUV, but when I checked the inverter had come unplugged and all three batteries were less than 50% charged, I put the next strongest battery in (48%) and went airborne in time to see the train coming down the throat of the bridge!

Even in sport mode I knew I wouldnt make it back to my spot and so I set up for this secondary spot for this shot I knew I was going to crop as a vertical image. From now on Ill always remember to make sure the charger is connected before I hit the road!

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

CSXT 3194 Spirit of our Law Enforcement unit at Harpeth River, Pegram, Tennessee

I’ve been wanting to catch this unit out in the wild since it was unveiled back in 2019 and it finally got into my shooting area yesterday, June 5th, 2021. Here I caught CSXT 3194 (Spirit of our Law Enforcement) as it crossed over the Harpeth River through the hills of Tennessee, just west of Pegram, as it led Q125-05 (Memphis, TN – East Savannah, GA).

This was during the Memphis to Nashville, TN leg of its journey and this is my favorite spot from where I chased it between New Johnsonville and Nashville on the CSX Bruceton Subdivision along with a bunch of fellow railfans. A big shoutout goes to all the folks that gave heads up and sent messages about this move for all of us who were out trackside!

From CSX Press Releases – CSX Transportation’s “Spirit of our Law Enforcement” commemorative locomotive CSXT 3194 is being renamed to honor our nation’s police officers who dedicate their lives to serve and protect communities across our network.

CSXT 3194 is painted primarily in black, blue and white, with the slogans “To Protect and Serve” and “Honoring Our Law Enforcement.” It also prominently features the CSX Transportation Railroad Police logo, as well as police, fire and emergency responder logos.

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

CSX J056 southbound takes the siding at Camden, TN

CSXT 5419 heads up work train J056 as pulls into the siding at Camden, Tennessee as it makes its way south on the CSX Bruceton Subdivision, passing under the Forrest Avenue overpass.

The Bruceton Subdivision is owned by CSX Transportation and runs from Nashville, Tennessee, to Camden, Tennessee, for a total of 87.7 miles (141.1 km). At its east end the line continues west from the Nashville Terminal Subdivision and at its west end the line continues west as the Memphis Subdivision.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

Canadian National loaded coke train U70091-28 southbound at Newbern, TN

CN loaded coke train U70091-28 heads southbound on the Fulton Subdivision, with engineer Darren Doss at the controls of CN 3868 on May 29th, 2021 as it passes the Amtrak station southbound through downtown Newbern, TN,.

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

CSX K443 southbound through the Crofton Cut on the Henderson Subdivision

BNSF 5202 and KCS 4677 leading loaded ethanol train CSX K423 (Bensenville, IL (CP) - Tampa, FL) through the Crofton Cut, north of Crofton, Kentucky on April 22nd, 2021 as they head south on the Henderson Subdivision.

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

CSX K423 southbound through the Crofton Cut on the Henderson Subdivision

BNSF 5202 and KCS 4677 leading loaded ethanol train CSX K423 (Bensenville, IL (CP) – Tampa, FL) through the Crofton Cut, north of Crofton, Kentucky on April 22nd, 2021 as they head south on the Henderson Subdivision.

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

CN U72481-05 southbound with a load of Iron Ore at West Paducah, KY

Canadian National U72481-05 heads southbound over the Ohio River bridge between Metropolis, IL and West Paducah, KY carrying a load of Iron ore from Keenan, MN to Convent, LA on the CN Bluford Subdivision.

According to Wikipedia: The Mesabi Iron Range is a mining district in northeastern Minnesota following an elongate trend containing large deposits of iron ore. It is the largest of four major iron ranges in the region collectively known as the Iron Range of Minnesota. First described in 1866, it is the chief iron ore mining district in the United States. The district is located largely in Itasca and Saint Louis counties. It has been extensively worked since 1892 and has seen a transition from high-grade direct shipping ores through gravity concentrates to the current industry exclusively producing iron ore (taconite) pellets.

There are three iron ranges in northern Minnesota, the Cuyuna, the Vermilion, and the Mesabi. Most of the world’s iron ore, including that contained in northern Minnesota, was formed during the middle Precambrian period.

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

Freshly painted Music City Star Southbound at Mortons Junction, Mortons Gap, Ky

Music City Star NRTX 121 (Ex Amtrak F40PH 398) trails on CSX Q513-22 as it passes through Mortons Junction at Mortons Gap, Ky on its way back south to Nashville, Tennessee, on the Henderson Subdivision, sporting a fresh coat of paint on May 23, 2021.

According to Wikipedia: The Music City Star is a commuter rail service running between Nashville and Lebanon, Tennessee. The service uses the existing track of the Nashville and Eastern Railroad. The line stops at seven stations: Riverfront, Donelson, Hermitage, Mt. Juliet, Martha, Hamilton Springs, and Lebanon. The operation covers 32 miles of rail line. Service began on September 18, 2006 and is owned by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

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

CN 3211 leads CSX Q532 north on the Memphis Sub at McKenzie, TN

Canadian National 3211 and 2866 lead the daily CSX Q532 as it heads through the curve at McKenzie, Tennessee on the CSX Memphis Subdivision as it makes its way to Nashville, TN on May 10th, 2021 from Memphis, TN.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

Kentucky-West Tennessee Railway 1809 and 304 depart Dresden, TN

May 10th, 2021 was my first ever day of chasing on this shortline railroad, the Kentucky-West Tennessee (KWT) Railway. Here we find Z978 (KWT 1809 and 304 leading) as it pulls out of the trees just west of Dresden, Tennessee on their run between Dresden and McKenzie, Tennessee under stormy skies.

The KWT is owned by the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad who owns or leases 116 railroads across North America, the United Kingdom and Europe. The KWT Owns or leases 72 miles of track between Kentucky and Tennessee and interchanges with the CSX at Bruceton, TN. It was bought by the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad in 2005.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

Kentucky-West Tennessee Railway 1809 and 304 depart Gleason, TN

May 10th, 2021 was my first ever day of chasing on this shortline railroad, the Kentucky-West Tennessee (KWT) Railway. Here we find Z978 (KWT 1809 and 304 leading) as it pulls out of the trees just west of Gleason, Tennessee under stormy skies.

The KWT is owned by the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad who owns or leases 116 railroads across North America, the United Kingdom and Europe. The KWT Owns or leases 72 miles of track between Kentucky and Tennessee and interchanges with the CSX at Bruceton, TN. It was bought by the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad in 2005.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #jimpearsonphotography

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

BNSF 6252 empty coal departs Calvert City Terminal, Calvert City, Ky

One Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) crew departs the Calvert City Terminal loop with BNSF 6252 leading from the DPU end of a empty coal train as a newly arrived PAL train prepares to drop its load on May 7th, 2021 at Calvert City, Kentucky.

Calvert City Terminal is located at Mile 14 on the lower Tennessee River, near its confluence with the Ohio River, Calvert City Terminal is strategically located on the Paducah and Louisville Railroad in a large industrial park at Calvert City, Kentucky. This central location provides ready access to BNSF, CNIC, UP, NS, and CSX railroads, as well as the Tennessee, Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers.

They provide rail & barge loading, rail & barge unloading, short and long-term storage, and material blending services.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/730, ISO 100.

CSX southbound K650 with CN and BCRAIL power at Kelly, Ky

CSX K650 makes its way past the north end of the siding at Kelly, Kentucky as CN 5759, BCRAIL 4646 and CN 5618 lead the way on May 12th, 2021 on the Henderson Subdivision with a load of ethanol.

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

CSX southbound work train over the Tennessee River, New Johnsonville, TN

CSXT 5419 heads up work train J056 as it heads south across the bridge on the Tennessee River at New Johnsonville, Tennessee on the CSX Bruceton Subdivision.

This railroad bridge crosses over the Tennessee River at New Johnsonville, TN and connects Humpreys and Benton Counties and runs next to the Hickman Lockhart Memorial highway Bridge. It is a multiple through truss bridge with vertical lift section for barge traffic, was built in 1945, and still in use.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville Railway unloads at Calvert City Terminal, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railways specialty painted University of Kentucky unit 2012 leads a loaded coal train through the unloading pit at Calvert City Terminal as it prepares to unload its coal on May 7th, 2021 at Calvert City, Kentucky.

Calvert City Terminal is located at Mile 14 on the lower Tennessee River, near its confluence with the Ohio River, Calvert City Terminal is strategically located on the Paducah and Louisville Railroad in a large industrial park at Calvert City, Kentucky. This central location provides ready access to BNSF, CNIC, UP, NS, and CSX railroads, as well as the Tennessee, Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers.

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

CSX Q533 dropping cars off at New Johnsonville, Tennessee

CSX Q533, with CSXT 3319 and 833 leading, pull past CSXT Operation Red Block Caboose 900068 (Cross Tracks Safely), after dropping a string of 27 cars off in the yard at New Johnsonville, Tennessee on the CSX Bruceton Subdivision during its daily run between Nashville and Memphis, TN.

According to the CSX Website: Operation RedBlock is CSX’s Drug and Alcohol Peer Prevention Program that is a union-initiated, management-supported program that uses peer involvement to prevent employee use of alcohol and/or drugs while on duty or subject to call. More than 3,000 operating employees at CSX are trained as prevention committee volunteers. Volunteers initiate activities and projects designed to educate co-workers about Operation RedBlock.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

The American Duchess passing under CN U72481-05 at West Paducah, KY

The American Duchess, a river cruise paddle-wheeler owned and operated by American Queen Steamboat Company passes under southbound Canadian National U72481-05 on the bridge over the Ohio River between Metropolis, IL and West Paducah, KY. U72481-05 is carrying a load of Iron ore from Keenan, MN to Convent, LA on the CN Bluford Subdivision.

According to Wikipedia: The American Duchess is a river cruise paddle-wheeler owned and operated by American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC). It is the third addition to their fleet and is advertised as being the most luxurious option of the line’s vessels. The riverboat’s itineraries include routes on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, and Illinois Rivers.

Before it was American Duchess, this vessel was originally designed and built for Isle of Capri Casinos as a casino boat named Bettendorf Capri.

After going land-based, Isle of Capri sold the paddle-wheeler to AQSC in 2016. On October 16, 2016, Bettendorf locals gathered on the levee to give their farewell to the 21-year-old casino boat and watched her pull off the riverbank to sail south to undergo her reconstruction.

Contracted to Bollinger Shipyards in Morgan City, Louisiana, the vessel would be gutted, remodeled, and relaunched as a river cruise liner the following year. The conversion from a casino boat to an overnight passenger vessel involved the removal of over 1,000 slot machine bases and 1,200 steel chairs, the construction of new dividing walls to form 83 passenger cabins, the addition of a crew hold, a completely new interior layout and design, modifications to propulsion and a new exterior paint job.

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

A foreign power meet at the north end of Rankin, Ky

CSX Q647 rolls past the head end of CSX K442 at the north end of the siding at Rankin, Kentucky as it makes its way south on the Henderson Subdivision on May 7th, 2021 where it prepares to pass Progress Rail 7205 (SD70ACe-T4), trailing behind Canadian Pacific 9736.

According to Wikipedia: Progress Rail Locomotives, doing business as Electro-Motive Diesel is an American manufacturer of diesel-electric locomotives, locomotive products, and diesel engines for the rail industry.

The company is owned by Caterpillar through its subsidiary Progress Rail. Electro-Motive Diesel traces its roots to the Electro-Motive Engineering Corporation, a designer and marketer of gasoline-electric self-propelled rail cars founded in 1922 and later renamed Electro-Motive Company.

In 1930, General Motors purchased Electro-Motive Company and the Winton Engine Co. and in 1941 expanded EMC’s realm to locomotive engine manufacturing as Electro-Motive Division.

In 2005, GM sold EMD to Greenbriar Equity Group and Berkshire Partners, which formed Electro-Motive Diesel to facilitate the purchase. In 2010, Progress Rail completed the purchase of Electro-Motive Diesel from Greenbriar, Berkshire, and others.

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

CN 2852 leads Northbound W986 at Robards, Ky with Windmill Train

We get trains on the CSX Henderson Subdivision from time to time that haul windmill motors and housings, but this is the first I can recall being led by a Canadian National and Union Pacific locomotive!

It was early morning on May 4th, 2021 when I first heard that this train was finally making its way up the Henderson Subdivision from Nashville, Tennessee. I found this out after I had already committed to going to Evansville, Indiana to chase CSX W992-28, the high and wide move that was tied down at Harwood Siding in Evansville.

Well, after getting there and sitting waiting for a crew (it had been there more than 12hrs) I decided if I wanted a chance to catch a shot and video of W986 that I needed to head back south.

Of course, I did catch the high and wide move the next day and if you haven’t already you can see a shot of it on any of my sites and a video will be coming soon, but back to W986.

I had planned to catch this train at Rahm where it comes across the Ohio river into Evansville, but with the weather and darkening skies I decided not to chance missing it where I could get a shot with my drone, so I made my way to the north end of Anaconda at Robards, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision and caught it heading south there with CN 2852 leading.

As you can tell from the photo the light was fading fast and the train was moving fast! I didnt have time to do much more than get the drone up and in position before the train hit this spot. If I had gotten there a bit earlier, I probably would have boosted my ISO a little, to up the shutter speed, but actually I think I like the little bit of motion blur on the lead unit as it gives a feeling of speed! Details below on the Tech stuff!

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

Southbound W992-28 High and Wide Move over the Red River at Adams, Tennessee

When you’re running at 25 mph and only 5 mph through switches, it pretty much takes forever to get anywhere as with CSX W992-28 as it heads south across the Red River trestle at Adams, Tennessee on the CSX Henderson Subdivision with CSXT #9 leading on May 5th, 2021. It left Evansville, Indiana around midnight and ended up tying down at Courtland, TN where it covered 125 miles in about 12 hours.

Based on past moves this looks like another GE generator that is bound for Florida. Still trying to find out and will add it to the caption once I do.

This was an Emmert International train move with CSXT #9 as power and BBCX 1002 as the trailing manned caboose with what appeared to be a steam generator of some sort that was being hauled on their BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar.

According to the Emmert International website: “Emmert International’s BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is specifically designed to carry heavy (up to 1 million pounds) and oversized loads in such a way that the load itself makes up part of the car. The load is suspended between the two ends of the cars by lifting arms; the lifting arms are connected to a pivot above an assembly of pivots and frames that carry the weight of the load and the lifting arm.”

For loads not designed to be part of the car Emmert International’s BBCX1000 is equipped with a deck designed to carry the loads in standard configuration up to 836,000 pounds. Customized decks can be manufactured to increase the overall payload weight.

Emmert International’s BBCX1000 is equipped with hydraulic equipment that will either lift the load vertically or horizontally shift the load while in transit to clear obstructions along the cars route.

With 20 axles (ten for each half) containing four trucks connected by a complex system of span bolsters its tare (unloaded) weight without deck is 424,000 lbs. The BBCX1000’s empty car length is 115′ 10″ with a maximum length with the loading deck at 168′ 9″. Maximum vertical load shifting ability is 14″ and the maximum horizontal load shifting ability is 22″. The heavy-duty AAR railcar mechanical designation is LS.

Emmert Internationals BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is accompanied by the BBCX 1002 Caboose and BBCX1003 flat car that carries the deck when not in service. The

BBCX1000 is pulled by special train service and requires 2 operators who control the BBCX 1000 railcar ride in the caboose.

I’ll be posting a video on this move in a few days on my YouTube Channel and here on Facebook, once I get it edited.

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

BUGX 1752 heads into Troy, Indiana

Ohio River Scenic Railway BUGX 1752 (EMD FP9A) leads the last train of the day, on May 1st, 2021, as it approaches the Indiana 66 crossing at Troy, Indiana as they begin their reverse move back downtown, where their passengers will be allowed to disembark for a walk around the riverfront and downtown. Afterwards they reboarded the train for the return trip to Tell City, IN.

BUGX 1752 is an ex-CN Rebuilt EMD that is leased now by the Ohio River Scenic Railway from Dieselmotive Company of Northern California. It is a former Canadian National FP9A unit, which was recently sold by Pioneer RailCorp affiliate Keokuk Junction Railway to Dieselmotive and has become one of their lease units.

Ohio River Scenic Railway is headquartered out of Tell City, Indiana and they run through Perry and Spencer Counties in southern Indiana on the weekends. For more and updated information visit their website at https://www.ohiorivertrain.com/ and take a ride behind this beautiful locomotive!

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

Northbound Paducah and Louisville Railway LG1 at Rosine, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway 4516 and 2012 lead a loaded Louisville Gas and Electric (LG1) loaded coal train through the cut just north of Rosine, Kentucky as it makes its way toward Louisville on April 14th, 2021.

According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway 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 line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100.