Dusk to Dawn – Page 2 – Jim Pearson Photography

Norfolk Southern Heritage unit 8100, Nickel Plate Road leads CSX Q512 northbound from Casky Yard, Hopkinsville, Ky

Norfolk Southern Heritage unit 8100, Nickel Plate Road, and Canadian National 5702 lead CSX Q512-24 (Radnor Yard – Nashville, TN – Avon, IN Daily) as it pulls out of the yard at Casky after picking up 10 loads of truck frames at Hopkinsville, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on February 24th, 2022.

One of the things I like about railfanning the Henderson Subdivision is because we get all kinds of interesting and different foreign power that runs up and down the line! While most of it is CSX, we do get a mix of just about every major railroad on this line at some point in time during each week. You never know when its coming, but when it does as with this unit, railfans gather along the tracks for their own crack at capturing their own images of the move and Im no exception!

While you cant control the weather for these shots, railroads operate in all kinds of weather and so Im trackside when the train is! Hardest thing about shooting in bad weather is getting out the door in my opinion! A large golf umbrella helps a lot!!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 210mm, f/4.5, 1/125, ISO 280.

Norfolk Southern 9790 leads a westbound intermodal on the NS Reading Number 2 line as it approaches the George Street overpass at Reading, Pennsylvania as the last light of day rakes across the scene on November 4th, 2021. This location is where the Pottsville Branch main starts off the Reading line and heads into the NS Reading Yard.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/4.5, 1/200, ISO 6400.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

Norfolk Southern 9790 leads a westbound intermodal on the NS Reading Number 2 line at Reading, PA

Norfolk Southern 9790 leads a eastbound intermodal on the NS Reading Number 2 line at Belt Line Junction as it approaches the George Street overpass at Reading, Pennsylvania as the last light of day rakes across the scene on November 4th, 2021. This location is where the Pottsville Branch main starts off the Reading line and heads into the NS Reading Yard.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/4.5, 1/200, ISO 6400.
#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

Norfolk and Western 475 heads west on the Strasburg Railroad

Norfolk and Western 475 heads west on the Strasburg Railroad as the glow of the rising sun illuminates the train and steam, as the cold November air produces a spectacular show of steam trailing over the train, off into the distance, on November 7th, 2021 at Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 29mm, f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 160.

Norfolk and Western 475 heads west on the Strasburg Railroad at sunrise

Norfolk and Western 475 heads west on the Strasburg Railroad at sunrise as the cold November air produces a spectacular show of steam trailing, as the train approaches the Esbenshade Road Crossing on November 7th, 2021, at Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

According to Wikipedia: Strasburg Railroad (Norfolk and Western) No. 475 is a 4-8-0 “Mastodon” type steam locomotive owned and operated by the Strasburg Railroad outside of Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in June 1906, it was part of the Norfolk and Western’s first order of M class numbered 375-499. Today, No. 475 is the only operating 4-8-0 type in North America and the Strasburg Rail Road’s oldest operating steam locomotive.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 36mm, f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 360.

Norfolk and Western 475 heads west on the Strasburg Railroad at dawn

As the rising sun begins to light the sky, Norfolk and Western 475 heads west on the Strasburg Railroad at dawn, through the cold autumn air as it approaches the Esbenshade Road Crossing on November 7th, 2021, at Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

According to Wikipedia: Strasburg Railroad (Norfolk and Western) No. 475 is a 4-8-0 “Mastodon” type steam locomotive owned and operated by the Strasburg Railroad outside of Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in June 1906, it was part of the Norfolk and Westerns’ first order of M class numbered 375-499. Today, No. 475 is the only operating 4-8-0 type in North America and the Strasburg Rail Road’s oldest operating steam locomotive.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 280.

Norfolk and Western 475 heads west on the Strasburg Railroad at Dawn

Norfolk and Western 475 heads west on the Strasburg Railroad at dawn as the cold November air produces a spectacular show of steam trailing, as the train approaches the Esbenshade Road Crossing on November 7th, 2021, at Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

According to Wikipedia: Strasburg Railroad (Norfolk and Western) No. 475 is a 4-8-0 “Mastodon” type steam locomotive owned and operated by the Strasburg Rail Road outside of Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in June 1906, it was part of the Norfolk and Western’s first order of M class numbered 375-499. Today, No. 475 is the only operating 4-8-0 type in North America and the Strasburg Rail Road’s oldest operating steam locomotive.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 360.

Morning sunrise on the Henderson Subdivision

I’m really not much of an early morning person unless I’m up to meet a friend to spend a day railfanning, but scenes like this have got me thinking I may get up early more often to catch the early morning and late evening light. I know it’s there and it’s golden it’s just kinda hard to get up and out the door!!

On this day, February 19th, 2021, I was headed down to Guthrie, Ky to link up with fellow railfan Cooper Smith to spend a day railfanning the Henderson Subdivision in the snow.

I was watching this sunrise develop as I made my way south when I pulled over to a crossing just north of Trenton, Kentucky to catch this waiting on a train photo. It’s not always about the train when you’re trackside so always keep an eye out for other shots that might tell the story of railroading.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-20mm DX lens @ 20mm f/4.5, 1/800, ISO 180 -0.7 Exp. Comp (helps with the highlights).

Canadian National Fulton to Paducah (FUPD) Local L513

After completing it's interchange work with the Paducah and Louisville Railway, CN 5854 (GTW) leads the Fulton to Paducah, Ky local L513 long nose forward as it crosses over Maxon road on it's return trip to their yard in Fulton, Kentucky, as the light of the day fades from the sky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 50mm, f/1.4, 1/100, ISO 6400.

Canadian National Fulton to Paducah, Ky Local L513

After completing it’s interchange work with the Paducah and Louisville Railway, CN 5854 (GTW) leads the Fulton to Paducah, Ky local L513 long nose forward as it crosses over Maxon road on it’s return trip to their yard in Fulton, Kentucky, as the light of the day fades from the sky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 50mm, f/1.4, 1/100, ISO 6400.

MetroLink 110 at East St. Louis, Missouri

Over the Hump!

With darkness fast approaching MetroLink 110 heads down their overpass at the Alton Southern Railway in East St. Louis, Missouri as their train set heads to their barn from Lambert Airport.

According to Wikipedia: MetroLink (reporting mark BSDA) is the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan mass transit system serving Missouri and the Metro East area of Illinois. The system consists of two lines (Red Line and Blue Line) connecting St. Louis Lambert International Airport and Shrewsbury, Missouri with Scott Air Force Base near Shiloh, Illinois, Washington University, Forest Park, and Downtown St. Louis.

The system features 38 stations and is the only light rail system in the country to cross state lines. As of the first quarter of 2015, it is second only to Minneapolis Metro Transit’s Blue and Green lines in the Midwestern United States in terms of ridership, and is the 11th-largest light rail system in the country.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @600mm, f/6.3, 1/160, ISO 2,800.

CSXT 5361 leads Q503 at Nortonville, Ky

Cross Roads

CSXT 5361 leads Q503 as it pulls away through the crossing at Romney as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision from Nortonville, Kentucky on October 16, 2020 at dusk.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/8, ISO 100.

The last shot of the day!

September 26, 2020 – The last shot of the day! Today was the annual outing for the West Kentucky Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and many of us gathered at Crofton, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision to enjoy each others company and do a bit of railfanning COVID19 style!

I’ve been wanting to try a blue hour photograph from my drone and while waiting for this K422 train to finish dropping of a grain portion of the train to RJ Corman in Guthrie I decided if I was going to photograph it I’d have to drive the 20 miles from Hopkinsville, where I was around sunset if I was going to catch it.

So, talk about stability, this is a 3 second exposure taken during the blue hour of Canadian Pacific 8930 leading K422 as it waited for a NB green at the north end of Guthrie, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. It was shot about 20 minutes after sunset from my DJI Mavic Mini Drone.
I shot several shots, but this is the one that I liked the best. I will say that it was also probably the sharpest one of the 6 that I shot, all at the same shutter speed. The ISO was 400.

While the light was fading fast, as it does during the blue hour, there was enough where I could maintain line of sight with the drone.

All in all it was probably one of my best days trackside with the drone so far, with fellow railfans, where I caught 15 different shots that I’ll post from this days shoot over the next couple of weeks!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 3 seconds, ISO 400.

Moonlit Tracks on the PAL Railway, Paducah, Kentucky

June 2, 2020 – It was the dead of night, crickets, frogs and an occasional car passing through the crossing breaking the silence at the Rosewood Crossing, as the moon illuminated the tracks headed out of the south end of the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Paducah, Kentucky toward Mayfield. Moonlight provides a mystical light in my opinion.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mn, f/5, 30 seconds, +2 stops, ISO 640 on a Gitzo Tripod, camera timer, 3 second delay, Mirror Locked up.

June 1, 2020 - CSXT 3118 leads Q647 as it splits the signals at the north end of Kelly siding at it leads its train south on the Henderson Subdivision at dusk.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/500, ISO 1600.

CSX Q647 spits the signals at Kelly, Ky.

June 1, 2020 – CSXT 3118 leads Q647 as it splits the signals at the north end of the Kelly, Ky siding at it leads its train south on the Henderson Subdivision at dusk.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/500, ISO 1600.

CSX Q647 SB at Kelly, Kentucky

June 1, 2020 – Dusk settles across western Kentucky as CSX Q647 passes the signals at the south end of the siding at Kelly, KY as it rumbles south on the Henderson Subdivision at the old wooden overpass where preparations are underway its replacement with a new concrete bridge.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/320, ISO 3200.

An outbound and inbound Metra train…

February 19, 2020 – An outbound and inbound Metra train pass each other at the Jefferson Park Metra Station during the evening rush hour to and from downtown Chicago, Illinois as the golden light of the day begins to fade from the sky.

Metra 179 pulls train #919 southbound…

February 20, 2020 – Metra 179 pulls train #919 southbound commuter train out of downtown Chicago, Illinois past the Amtrak facility as it approaches the 18th street overpass, as dusk falls over the city, on its way to Joliet, Illinois on the Metra Heritage Corridor.

A Metra Express train passes another Metra local…

February 20, 2020 – A Metra Express train passes another Metra local as they approach the Gladstone Park station on the UP-NW Line as they head northwest out of Chicago, Illinois at dusk.

CSX Q501-03 Southbound with 7 ex-MITRAIN Passenger Cars at Slaughters, Ky

February 4, 2020 – CSXT 3381 looks strange enough with one eye out, but throw in 7 double deck passenger cars running behind the power on CSX Q501-03 on the Henderson Subdivision at Slaughters, Kentucky, makes it even stranger! Here we see Q026 sitting on the main as Q501 with it’s 10,460 ft freight pulling south through the siding in a meet as 501 pulls south with 7 ex-Michigan (MI-train) passenger cars bound for Lebanon, Tennessee. I’m told they’ll be used on the Music City Star Commuter line.

As the last light of the day begins to fade…

November 4, 2019 – As the last light of the day begins to fade CSX Q513 passes the signals at Trenton, Kentucky as CSXT 3383 leads a manifest train south on the Henderson Subdivision.

WEB-05.27.19 Cass Shays in the yard at Night 1, Cass, WV

Cass Scenic Railroad Shays 4, 2, and 11, sit in the yard…

March 26, 2019 – Cass Scenic Railroad Shays 4, 2, and 11, sit in the yard after a day of work at Cass, West Virginia, as lighting lights the sky from an approaching storm. Only person working this late night shift is the hostler, William H Taylor, who will keep the fires and water in the engines up to speed for another day of work. Thanks Bill for all the help in getting our night shots!!

WEB-05.27.19 Cass Shay #11 in the yard at Night 1, Cass, WV

Well, after a three day whirlwind trip…

May 28, 2019 – Well, after a three day whirlwind trip with fellow railfan Ryan Scott, of IndianaRails, to Tennessee, Virgina, West Virginia and Kentucky we both got back home last night. A big shout out to all the folks that helped us out along the way, especially Daniel Alls, Walter Scriptunas II, Jul Esp, Bryan Burton, Gavin Wilkes and all the others that responded to our posts for questions and help in the different areas we visited! Without your help and input the trip would have been a lot less successful! Got a lot of pictures to work through and many posts yet to come from this 4 day trip!

According to Wikipedia: Shay #11 was built in 1923 and went originally to Hutchinson Lumber Company, Feather Falls, California. This Shay is best known as the Feather River #3 and it’s also a class C shay, #11, weighs 103-tons. It began service at Cass in 1999.

This morning’s image was shot the night of May 26th after a spring storm made its way through the Cass Scenic Railroad area and is of Shay #11 at rest in the yard after a days work at Cass, West Virginia. Shooting at night and in the rain can be challenging, but probably the hardest part is getting out the door!

My kit bag for this type of shooting is a golf umbrella and a large microfiber cloth to dry off the camera and lens with when drops make it past the umbrella! Of course a good sturdy tripod is a must as well. I typically set the camera on manual and adjust for the specific scene, with the camera controls set to a 3 second delay before the shutter is tripped. This raises the mirror and lets things settle before taking the photo. ISO and length of exposure all depend on the lighting, but they’re set manually as well. This particular shots technical details are: Nikon D800, Sigma 24-70 lens @ 26mm, ISO 1000 (full frame cameras are great) f/8 for 30 seconds in RAW.