CSXT 3122 leads loaded coal train C302 as it meets E302 just south of the location known as Oak Hill, south of Mortons Gap, Kentucky on April 13th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision as the conductor on E302 does a roll-by inspection of the loaded coal train.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/8, 1/2000, ISO 110.
CSXT 4568, 50th Anniversary Operation Lifesaver locomotive, pulls a heavy M647 mixed freight as it passes through Nortonville, Ky on July 5th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
According to a CSX press release: CSX unveiled a new Operation Lifesaver rail safety commemorative locomotive in September of 2022, and it was painted at the railroads locomotive shop in Huntington, West Virginia. The CSXT 4568 engine will travel the company’s rail network as a visual reminder for the public to be safe at highway-rail grade crossings and near railroad tracks.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.
BNSF 6387 and 3947 lead CSX S577 as the crew backs a loaded military train onto the Ft. Campbell lead at Hopkinsville, Ky, from the CSX Henderson Subdivision on July 9th, 2024, under threatening skies during a Tornado Warning spawned by the remnants of Hurricane Alberto. Fellow railfan Brian Caswell and I sat for a couple hours hoping that Ft. Campbell would show up to carry the equipment onto the base, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. Despite the warnings here very little rain fell and most of the tornados spawned in our area were more to the northeast up in Indiana.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 200.
Norfolk Southern intermodal 28C heads northbound across High Bridge on June 8th, 2024, crossing the Kentucky River on the NS CNO&TP First District at Highbridge, Kentucky.
According to Wikipedia: The High Bridge is a railroad bridge crossing the Kentucky River Palisades, that rises approximately 275 feet from the river below and connects Jessamine and Mercer counties in Kentucky. Formally dedicated in 1879, it is the first cantilever bridge constructed in the United States. It has a three-span continuous under-deck truss used by Norfolk Southern Railway to carry trains between Lexington and Danville. It has been designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
In 1851, the Lexington & Danville Railroad, with Julius Adams as chief engineer, retained John A. Roebling to build a railroad suspension bridge across the Kentucky River for a line connecting Lexington and Danville, Kentucky west of the intersection of the Dix and Kentucky rivers. In 1855, the company ran out of money and the project was resumed by Cincinnati Southern Railroad in 1873 following a proposal by C. Shaler Smith for a cantilever design using stone towers designed by John A. Roebling (who designed the Brooklyn Bridge).
The bridge was erected using a cantilever design with a three-span continuous under-deck truss and was opened in 1877 on the Cincinnati Southern Railway. It was 275 feet (84 m) tall and 1,125 feet (343 m) long: the tallest bridge above a navigable waterway in North America and the tallest railroad bridge in the world until the early 20th century. Construction was completed using 3,654,280 pounds of iron at a total cost of $404,373.31. In 1879 President Rutherford B. Hayes and Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman attended the dedication.
After years of heavy railroad use, the bridge was rebuilt by Gustav Lindenthal in 1911. Lindenthal reinforced the foundations and rebuilt the bridge around the original structure. To keep railroad traffic flowing, the track deck was raised by 30 feet during construction and a temporary trestle was constructed. In 1929, an additional set of tracks was built to accommodate increased railroad traffic and the original limestone towers were removed.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 160.
BNSF 6387 and 3947 lead CSX S577 heads south across Gum Lick Trestle, just north of Kelly, Kentucky with a loaded military train bound for Ft. Campbell on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on July 9th, 2024
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110.
CSX G366 pulls northbound approaching Anaconda at Robards, Kentucky on July 5th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. G366 is normally just an empty grain train, here it was hauling a long string of maintenance of way equipment which will be used in an upcoming CSX work curfew that is scheduled to begin on the subdivision in the next week or so.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 150.
The CSX Conrail Heritage Locomotive leads CSX I026 northbound through the curve at Breton, Ky, on July 10th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision as they make their daily run to Chicago, Illinois.
According to a CSX Press Release: July 22, 2023 – CSX has unveiled the fourth locomotive in its series of custom paint designs that honor its heritage railroads. The latest in the series commemorates the Consolidated Rail Corporation, or Conrail, and bears the number 1976, the year the railroad was founded.
CSX and Norfolk Southern acquired and divided most of the Conrail network in 1997. Today, the company continues to exist as a terminal and switching railroad for CSX and NS customers in North Jersey-New York City metro area.
The Conrail paint scheme of a double-lined C inside a large, bold Q was a fixture for many years across the Northeast where the majority of the railroad’s operations were centered. The heritage locomotive design conceived and executed at CSX’s locomotive shop in Waycross, Georgia, recreates the iconic “Conrail Quality” logo and features Conrail blue on the rear two-thirds of the engine, then transitions to the current CSX colors and design on the cab portion of the unit.
CSX 1976 and other locomotives in the heritage series will be placed into revenue service and travel CSX’s 20,000 rail network, reinforcing employee pride in the history of the railroad that continues to move the nation’s economy with safe, reliable and sustainable rail-based transportation services.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.
BNSF 6387 and 3947 lead CSX S577 across the Ohio River at Henderson, Kentucky with a loaded military train bound for Ft. Campbell on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on July 9th, 2024
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 190.
This week’s Saturday Infrared photo is of CSXT 5486 leading the daily local L391 that runs between Caskey Yard in Hopkinsville, Ky and Atkison Yard in Madisonville, Ky as it heads north out of Mortons Gap, Ky on May 31st, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24mm @15mm, f/5.6, 1/600, ISO 400.
This week we catch CSX action between Kelly and Slaughters, Kentucky, including the CSX Operation Lifesaver engine and a southbound military train move with BNSF power, bound for Ft. Campbell, Ky, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision! Sit back, turn up the sound, expand to full screen and enjoy the trains!! Please like, share, subscribe and thanks for watching!
BNSF 6387 and 3947 lead CSX S577 as the crew backs a loaded military train onto the Ft. Campbell lead at Hopkinsville, Ky, from the CSX Henderson Subdivision on July 9th, 2024, under threatening skies during a Tornado Warning spawned by the remnants of Hurricane Alberto. Fellow railfan Brian Caswell and I sat for a couple hours hoping that Ft. Campbell would show up to carry the equipment onto the base, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. Despite the warnings here very little rain fell and most of the tornados spawned in our area were more to the northeast up in Indiana.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 170.
CSX M513 heads southbound with CSX Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Heritage Unit (P&LE), 1875, leading the way as they pass the Hopkinsville Elevator Company at Hopkinsville, Ky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on June 24th, 2024.
According to a CSX Press Release: June 6, 2024 – CSX has released a new heritage locomotive, the P&LE 1875, paying tribute to the storied Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad (P&LE). The 15th in CSX’s heritage locomotive series, this new addition to the company’s fleet not only celebrates the rich history of P&LE but also marks a significant milestone in CSX’s ongoing commitment to honoring the legacies of America’s historic railroads.
The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad was established in 1875 with a primary mission of transporting essential industrial materials such as coal, coke, iron ore, limestone, and steel among the bustling industrial hubs of the region.
“It’s mainline connected Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with Youngstown, Ohio and Connellsville, Pennsylvania. It did not actually reach Lake Erie until 1976,” explained Tim Music, a carman painter at the CSX Waycross Locomotive Shop where the unit was produced.
Despite its relatively modest route mileage, the P&LE Railroad earned the nickname “Little Giant” due to the enormous volume of heavy tonnage it moved. This impressive capability drew significant attention and by 1887, the P&LE became a subsidiary of the dominant New York Central Railroad. Under this new ownership, the P&LE enjoyed substantial improvements to its tracks and added capacity for passenger services, further enhancing its regional significance.
Over time, P&LE expanded by leasing branches from smaller railroads. These extensions included lines southeast along the Monongahela River through Homestead and McKeesport, and along the Youghiogheny River to Connellsville, where it connected with the Western Maryland Railway.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.
CSX M502 heads north from 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.
CSXT 4568, 50th Anniversary Operation Lifesaver locomotive, pulls a heavy M647 mixed freight as it passes the north end of Kelly, Ky on July 5th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
According to a CSX press release: CSX unveiled a new Operation Lifesaver rail safety commemorative locomotive in September of 2022, and it was painted at the railroads locomotive shop in Huntington, West Virginia. The CSXT 4568 engine will travel the company’s rail network as a visual reminder for the public to be safe at highway-rail grade crossings and near railroad tracks.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 110.
CSX I025 meets G366 at Anaconda, just north of Sebree, Kentucky as it heads south on July 5th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. G366 is normally just an empty grain train, but today it was hauling a long string of maintenance of way equipment which will be used in an upcoming CSX work curfew that is scheduled to begin on the subdivision in the next week or so.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 110.
CSXT 4568, 50th Anniversary Operation Lifesaver locomotive, pulls a heavy M647 mixed freight as it heads south out of the Crofton Cut on July 5th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, just north of Crofton, Kentucky.
According to a CSX press release: CSX unveiled a new Operation Lifesaver rail safety commemorative locomotive in September of 2022, and it was painted at the railroads locomotive shop in Huntington, West Virginia. The CSXT 4568 engine will travel the company’s rail network as a visual reminder for the public to be safe at highway-rail grade crossings and near railroad tracks.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 130.
In this week’s Saturday Infrared photo, we catch CSXT 3379 leading CSX I025 southbound at Casky, Hopkinsville, Kentucky on May 30th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24mm @ 11mm, f/5.6, 1/950, ISO 400.
This week we catch CSX action between Ridgetop, Tennessee and Slaughters, Kentucky, including the Seaboard System Heritage unit as DPU on an I025 at Crofton, Ky, the P&LE HU at Nortonville, Ky and CSX M512 northbound with a newly rebuilt Metra 515 locomotive trailing, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision! Sit back, turn up the sound, expand to full screen and enjoy the trains!! Please like, share, subscribe and thanks for watching!
CSXT 3122 leads loaded coal train C302 as it passes under I-69 at the location known as Oak Hill, just south of Mortons Gap, Kentucky on April 13th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/8, 1/1600, ISO 110.
Canadian Pacific 8925 and BNSF 6749 lead CSX B647, a loaded ethanol train, headed southbound at Sebree, Kentucky on May 25th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 140.
CSXT 7205 leads CSX hot Intermodal I025 as it passes the signals at the south end of Romney at Nortonville, Kentucky as they head south on July 2nd, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 110.