CSXT 7223 leads CSX intermodal I128 north under the overpass for the Paducah and Louisville Railway, just south of CP East Diamond at Madisonville, Kentucky, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision cutoff that bypasses downtown Earlington and Madisonville, Kentucky, on May 30th, 2024.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 140.
In this week’s Saturday Infrared photo, we catch CSXT 3170 leading CSX I025 south as they cross over the Red River, just north of Adams, Tennessee on May 30th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24mm @ 17mm, f/5.6, 1/950., ISO 400.
CSX 3433 Leads northbound intermodal I025 as it passes M513 at the north end of Sebree, Kentucky on May 25th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. The long line of autoracks on this train are filled with Tesla’s that are headed for Florida. They run them on this high priority train on a regular basis.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/8, 1/1600, ISO 100.
Canadian Pacific 8925 leads CSX B647, a loaded ethanol train, southbound through Crofton Cut, just north of Crofton, Kentucky on May 25th, 2025, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/8, 1/240, ISO 100.
CSX empty ethanol train B828 speeds through the north end of Slaughters, Kentucky, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on May 11th, 2024 at dusk.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/6 Sec, ISO 1190.
Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 4523 leads an 8,100ft loaded military train as they pull south from West Yard after a crew change at Madisonville, Kentucky, on May 17th, 2024.
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.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 200.
CSX M502 through the south end of Atkinson Yard at Madisonville, Ky with CSX Pere Marquette Heritage Unit, 1899, leading the way on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on May 20th, 2024.
According to a CSX Press Release: May 1, 2024 – CSX has introduced the latest addition in its heritage locomotive series, paying homage to the rich history of the Pere Marquette Railroad. This new unit showcases the Pere Marquette’s legacy, dating back to its inception on November 1, 1899.
The Pere Marquette Railroad, operating in the Great Lakes region of the United States and parts of southern Ontario, Canada, derived its name from Jacques Marquette, a notable French Jesuit missionary credited with founding Michigan’s first European settlement in Sault Ste Marie. After years of operation, the company merged with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) on June 6, 1947, eventually becoming part of the renowned CSX network.
The design of the Pere Marquette heritage locomotive was meticulously crafted by employees at the CSX Waycross Locomotive Shop. According to CSX Carman Painter Eric Lee, “We had to measure each stripe precisely and position the words just right to ensure it captured the look of the original design. It took us about four days just to lay out the stripes before we could begin painting.”
A fascinating tidbit related to the history of Pere Marquette is its cameo in the 2004 film “The Polar Express.” The steam locomotive Pere Marquette 1225 served as the inspiration for the train depicted in the movie, with audio recordings of the actual locomotive in operation featured in the film. Interestingly, the locomotive had been donated to Michigan State University and was exhibited near the university’s football stadium. The author of “The Polar Express” book drew inspiration from seeing this locomotive on display during childhood, solidifying its place in popular culture.
CSX’s dedication to honoring the history and significance of the Pere Marquette Railroad through this new locomotive underscores the company’s commitment to preserving and celebrating the heritage of American railroads. Keep an eye out as this remarkable piece of history moves across the CSX network, bridging the past with the present.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.
Union Pacific 5760 and 9788 lead Norfolk Southern 224 through the location known as Revilo, at Sterns, Ky, through a light rain as they head northbound on the CNO&TP 2nd District.
According to American-rails.com, It used to be called the Rathole Division when it was the Southern Railway and is often remembered as a road with relatively flat and tangent main lines due to the region in which it operated. However, the system did feature its share of steep, circuitous main lines such as Saluda Grade in western North Carolina and its famed “Rathole Division” through Kentucky and Tennessee that reached as far north as Cincinnati.
Technically, this stretch of the Southern main line was known as the 2nd District of subsidiary Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific (CNO&TP), which was plagued for years by numerous tunnels resulting in its famous nickname by the crews which operated over it.
Over the years the Southern worked to daylight or bypass these obstacles as the route saw significant freight tonnage, a task finally completed during the 1960s. Today, the Rathole remains an important artery in Norfolk Southern’s vast network.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/5, 1/400, ISO 80.
Norfolk Southern 4566 brings up the rear as DPU on 168 as it crosses over the Cumberland River Bridge at Burnside, Kentucky at sunset. as it heads north on the NS CNO&TP (Rathole) Second District on April 29th, 2024.
According to American-rails.com, It used to be called the Rathole Division when it was the Southern Railway and is often remembered as a road with relatively flat and tangent main lines due to the region in which it operated. However, the system did feature its share of steep, circuitous main lines such as Saluda Grade in western North Carolina and its famed “Rathole Division” through Kentucky and Tennessee that reached as far north as Cincinnati.
Technically, this stretch of the Southern main line was known as the 2nd District of subsidiary Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific (CNO&TP), which was plagued for years by numerous tunnels resulting in its famous nickname by the crews which operated over it.
Over the years the Southern worked to daylight or bypass these obstacles as the route saw significant freight tonnage, a task finally completed during the 1960s. Today, the Rathole remains an important artery in Norfolk Southern’s vast network.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/120, ISO 180.
CSX M502 waits at Arklow in Madisonville, Ky with CSX Pere Marquette Heritage Unit, 1899, leading the way on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on May 20th, 2024, as CSX M648 passes them heading north.
According to a CSX Press Release: May 1, 2024 – CSX has introduced the latest addition in its heritage locomotive series, paying homage to the rich history of the Pere Marquette Railroad. This new unit showcases the Pere Marquette’s legacy, dating back to its inception on November 1, 1899.
The Pere Marquette Railroad, operating in the Great Lakes region of the United States and parts of southern Ontario, Canada, derived its name from Jacques Marquette, a notable French Jesuit missionary credited with founding Michigan’s first European settlement in Sault Ste Marie. After years of operation, the company merged with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) on June 6, 1947, eventually becoming part of the renowned CSX network.
The design of the Pere Marquette heritage locomotive was meticulously crafted by employees at the CSX Waycross Locomotive Shop. According to CSX Carman Painter Eric Lee, “We had to measure each stripe precisely and position the words just right to ensure it captured the look of the original design. It took us about four days just to lay out the stripes before we could begin painting.”
A fascinating tidbit related to the history of Pere Marquette is its cameo in the 2004 film “The Polar Express.” The steam locomotive Pere Marquette 1225 served as the inspiration for the train depicted in the movie, with audio recordings of the actual locomotive in operation featured in the film. Interestingly, the locomotive had been donated to Michigan State University and was exhibited near the university’s football stadium. The author of “The Polar Express” book drew inspiration from seeing this locomotive on display during childhood, solidifying its place in popular culture.
CSX’s dedication to honoring the history and significance of the Pere Marquette Railroad through this new locomotive underscores the company’s commitment to preserving and celebrating the heritage of American railroads. Keep an eye out as this remarkable piece of history moves across the CSX network, bridging the past with the present.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 140.
CSX M502 heads northbound with CSX Pere Marquette Heritage Unit, 1899, leading the way along the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on May 20th, 2024. This is number ten heritage catch for me for this series of locomotives from CSX, and I look forward to catching the others!
According to a CSX Press Release: May 1, 2024 – CSX has introduced the latest addition in its heritage locomotive series, paying homage to the rich history of the Pere Marquette Railroad. This new unit showcases the Pere Marquette’s legacy, dating back to its inception on November 1, 1899.
The Pere Marquette Railroad, operating in the Great Lakes region of the United States and parts of southern Ontario, Canada, derived its name from Jacques Marquette, a notable French Jesuit missionary credited with founding Michigan’s first European settlement in Sault Ste Marie. After years of operation, the company merged with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) on June 6, 1947, eventually becoming part of the renowned CSX network.
The design of the Pere Marquette heritage locomotive was meticulously crafted by employees at the CSX Waycross Locomotive Shop. According to CSX Carman Painter Eric Lee, “We had to measure each stripe precisely and position the words just right to ensure it captured the look of the original design. It took us about four days just to lay out the stripes before we could begin painting.”
A fascinating tidbit related to the history of Pere Marquette is its cameo in the 2004 film “The Polar Express.” The steam locomotive Pere Marquette 1225 served as the inspiration for the train depicted in the movie, with audio recordings of the actual locomotive in operation featured in the film. Interestingly, the locomotive had been donated to Michigan State University and was exhibited near the university’s football stadium. The author of “The Polar Express” book drew inspiration from seeing this locomotive on display during childhood, solidifying its place in popular culture.
CSX’s dedication to honoring the history and significance of the Pere Marquette Railroad through this new locomotive underscores the company’s commitment to preserving and celebrating the heritage of American railroads. Keep an eye out as this remarkable piece of history moves across the CSX network, bridging the past with the present.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 150.
Norfolk Southern 169 crosses over the Cumberland River Bridge at Burnside, Kentucky as it heads north on the NS CNO&TP (Rathole) Second District on April 29th, 2024.
According to American-rails.com, It used to be called the Rathole Division when it was the Southern Railway and is often remembered as a road with relatively flat and tangent main lines due to the region in which it operated. However, the system did feature its share of steep, circuitous main lines such as Saluda Grade in western North Carolina and its famed “Rathole Division” through Kentucky and Tennessee that reached as far north as Cincinnati.
Technically, this stretch of the Southern main line was known as the 2nd District of subsidiary Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific (CNO&TP), which was plagued for years by numerous tunnels resulting in its famous nickname by the crews which operated over it.
Over the years the Southern worked to daylight or bypass these obstacles as the route saw significant freight tonnage, a task finally completed during the 1960s. Today, the Rathole remains an important artery in Norfolk Southern’s vast network.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 120.
It’s fairly rare to find a military train move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) through my neck of the woods, but it does happen. I got word from a friend, Lee Taylor, up the line about an 8,100ft loaded military train that was headed southbound from Ft. Knox, Kentucky.
I caught up with the train and chased it south to Kentucky Dam from West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky where they had a crew change, on May 17th, 2024.
As luck would have it, I found the PAL Salute to our Troops engine 2127 sitting in the yard at Princeton, Ky as the southbound military train passed it headed for Paducah, Ky. PAL 2127 was one end of an Operation Lifesaver Trainset that was there.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 210.
CSX intermodal I128 passes under US 41 at Barnsley, Kentucky as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision on National Train Day, May 11th, 2024.
According to the National Today website: National Train Day is observed every year on the Saturday closest to May 10, and this year it falls on May 11. The holiday was first celebrated in the year 2008 and continues to be celebrated to this day.
The celebrations were conceptualized by Amtrak as a way to spread awareness about the history of railway networks in the U.S. and why more people should use this mode of transport.
Railways are one of the most eco-friendly ways to go from one place to another. Amtrak offers railroad service in countless cities in the U.S. and three cities in Canada. Railways don’t just transport people from one place to another but are also involved in the transportation of goods and certain services.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/4000, ISO 260.
CSXT 3449 leads M513 as it climbs up out of the hole approaching Mortons Junction as they head south at Mortons Gap, Kentucky on National Train Day, on May 11th, 2024.
According to the National Today website: National Train Day is observed every year on the Saturday closest to May 10, and this year it falls on May 11. The holiday was first celebrated in the year 2008 and continues to be celebrated to this day.
The celebrations were conceptualized by Amtrak as a way to spread awareness about the history of railway networks in the U.S. and why more people should use this mode of transport.
Railways are one of the most eco-friendly ways to go from one place to another. Amtrak offers railroad service in countless cities in the U.S. and three cities in Canada. Railways don’t just transport people from one place to another but are also involved in the transportation of goods and certain services.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/400, ISO 72.
CSX empty coal train E904 heads north across Gum Lick Trestle at sunset, just north of Kelly, Kentucky on April 21st, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/5000, ISO 100.
CSXT 1869, Chesapeake & Ohio, heads north as the lead engine on X512 at Sebree, Kentucky on May 12th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
From a CSX Press Release: A locomotive commemorating the proud history of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway has entered service as the fifth in the CSX heritage series celebrating the lines that came together to form the modern railroad.
Numbered CSX 1869 in honor of the year the C&O was formed in Virginia from several smaller railroads, the newest heritage locomotive sports a custom paint design that includes today’s CSX colors on the front of the engine and transitions to a paint scheme inspired by 1960s era C&O locomotives on the rear two-thirds.
The C&O Railway was a major line among North American freight and passenger railroads for nearly a century before becoming part of the Chessie System in 1972 and eventually merging into the modern CSX. In 1970, the C&O included more than 5,000 route miles of track stretching from Newport News, Virginia, to Chicago and the Great Lakes.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.
CSXT 1852, Western Maryland Heritage Unit, heads north as the mid-train DPU on X512 as it passes over Gum Lick Trestle, just north of Kelly, Kentucky on May 12th, 2024, northbound on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
This extra 512 actually had two heritage units as the Chesapeake & Ohio unit 1869 was the lead engine on this same train and I’ll be posting a shot of that engine at Sebree, Ky this afternoon!
DPU Stands for Distributed Power Unit, a locomotive set capable of remote-control operation in conjunction with locomotive unites at the train’s head end. DPUs are placed in the middle or at the rear of heavy trains (such as coal, or grain) to help climb steep grades.
From a CSX press release: April 9, 2024 – CSX has launched another addition to its locomotive fleet – the Western Maryland heritage locomotive. This new locomotive pays homage to the rich history of railroads in the Western Maryland region and symbolizes CSX’s commitment to preserving and celebrating its railroad heritage.
The Western Maryland Railroad operated between 1852 and 1983 in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was a small railroad that primarily transported coal and freight.
“In 1983 the Western Maryland fully merged with the B&O (Baltimore and Ohio Railroad), which merged with the C&O (Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad) in 1987. They eventually merged with the Seaboard System to form CSX.” explained Tim Music, a CSX carman painter who assisted with the project.
The CSX Western Maryland heritage locomotive features a striking design inspired by the iconic colors and markings of the historic Western Maryland Railway. With its bold red, black, and gold livery, this locomotive stands out as a tribute to the legacy of railroading in the region.
“This was a smaller rail line but it is still an important part of our CSX history and we want to honor it,” shared Clyde Marshall, another CSX carman painter involved with the effort.
The Western Maryland is the twelfth heritage unit released by CSX in its current series, which underscores its appreciation for its railroad history as it continues to innovate for the future. The units are crafted at the company’s mechanical shop in Waycross, Georgia.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 110.
CSXT 1869, Chesapeake & Ohio, heads north as the lead engine on X512 as it crosses Gum Lick Trestle, north of Kelly, Kentucky on May 12th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
From a CSX Press Release: A locomotive commemorating the proud history of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway has entered service as the fifth in the CSX heritage series celebrating the lines that came together to form the modern railroad.
Numbered CSX 1869 in honor of the year the C&O was formed in Virginia from several smaller railroads, the newest heritage locomotive sports a custom paint design that includes today’s CSX colors on the front of the engine and transitions to a paint scheme inspired by 1960s era C&O locomotives on the rear two-thirds.
The C&O Railway was a major line among North American freight and passenger railroads for nearly a century before becoming part of the Chessie System in 1972 and eventually merging into the modern CSX. In 1970, the C&O included more than 5,000 route miles of track stretching from Newport News, Virginia, to Chicago and the Great Lakes.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.
CSXT 1852, Western Maryland Heritage Unit, heads north as the mid-train DPU on X512 at Sebree, Kentucky on May 12th, 2024, northbound on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. This extra 512 actually had two heritage units as the Chesapeake & Ohio unit 1869 was the lead engine on this same train and I’ll be posting a shot of that engine crossing over Gum Lick Trestle this afternoon!
DPU Stands for Distributed Power Unit, a locomotive set capable of remote-control operation in conjunction with locomotive unites at the train’s head end. DPUs are placed in the middle or at the rear of heavy trains (such as coal, or grain) to help climb steep grades.
From a CSX press release: April 9, 2024 – CSX has launched another addition to its locomotive fleet – the Western Maryland heritage locomotive. This new locomotive pays homage to the rich history of railroads in the Western Maryland region and symbolizes CSX’s commitment to preserving and celebrating its railroad heritage.
The Western Maryland Railroad operated between 1852 and 1983 in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was a small railroad that primarily transported coal and freight.
“In 1983 the Western Maryland fully merged with the B&O (Baltimore and Ohio Railroad), which merged with the C&O (Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad) in 1987. They eventually merged with the Seaboard System to form CSX.” explained Tim Music, a CSX carman painter who assisted with the project.
The CSX Western Maryland heritage locomotive features a striking design inspired by the iconic colors and markings of the historic Western Maryland Railway. With its bold red, black, and gold livery, this locomotive stands out as a tribute to the legacy of railroading in the region.
“This was a smaller rail line but it is still an important part of our CSX history and we want to honor it,” shared Clyde Marshall, another CSX carman painter involved with the effort.
The Western Maryland is the twelfth heritage unit released by CSX in its current series, which underscores its appreciation for its railroad history as it continues to innovate for the future. The units are crafted at the company’s mechanical shop in Waycross, Georgia.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 160.
CSX empty ethanol train B828 speeds through the north end of Slaughters, Kentucky, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on May 11th, 2024, under a cloud of beautiful stars and the setting moon.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/5, 30 seconds, ISO 2500.