On March 14th, 2022 United States Army Gensets 6520 and 6519 build air on their train as they prepare to pull south to Ft. Campbell, Ky, over US 41A at Hopkinsville, Kentucky with another loaded military train, returning from military exercises somewhere out west. The equipment was delivered by CSX S864, which was a Rose Lake, IL – Hopkinsville, Ky train and was one of about 5 trains that ran down the CSX CE&D and Henderson Subdivisions to Hopkinsville over the past week, returning equipment from training to Ft. Campbell. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

United States Army Gensets 6520 and 6519 at Hopkinsville, Kentucky

On March 14th, 2022 United States Army Gensets 6520 and 6519 build air on their train as they prepare to pull south to Ft. Campbell, Ky, over US 41A at Hopkinsville, Kentucky with another loaded military train, returning from military exercises somewhere out west.  

The equipment was delivered by CSX S864, which was a Rose Lake, IL – Hopkinsville, Ky train and was one of about 5 trains that ran down the CSX CE&D and Henderson Subdivisions to Hopkinsville over the past week, returning equipment from training to Ft. Campbell.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 100.

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

The unmanned CSX DPU's on a combined 12,000 ft empty coal train on E302 passes loaded military train S864 sitting in the siding at Kelly, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on March 8th, 2022. According to the web: DPU - Stands for Distributed Power Unit, a locomotive set capable of remote-control operation in conjunction with locomotive units at the train's head end. DPUs are placed in the middle or at the rear of heavy trains (such as coal, grain, soda ash and even manifest) to help climb steep grades. CSX S864 is a Rose Lake, IL - Hopkinsville, Ky train and was returning the military equipment to Ft. Campbell, Ky from training exercises in the west, where Ft. Campbell Rail picked the train up off the Ft. Campbell wye connection and took it onto the post. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

A view from the top of CSX E302 DPU’s at Kelly, Kentucky

The unmanned CSX DPU’s on a combined 12,000 ft empty coal train on E302 passes loaded military train S864 sitting in the siding at Kelly, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on March 8th, 2022.

According to the web: DPU – Stands for Distributed Power Unit, a locomotive set capable of remote-control operation in conjunction with locomotive units at the train’s head end. DPUs are placed in the middle or at the rear of heavy trains (such as coal, grain, soda ash and even manifest) to help climb steep grades.

CSX S864 is a Rose Lake, IL – Hopkinsville, Ky train and was returning the military equipment to Ft. Campbell, Ky from training exercises in the west, where Ft. Campbell Rail picked the train up off the Ft. Campbell wye connection and took it onto the post.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

CSXT 3026 leads a combined 12,000 ft empty coal train E302 as it passes loaded military train S864 sitting in the siding at Kelly, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on March 8th, 2022. CSX S864 is a Rose Lake, IL - Hopkinsville, Ky train and was returning the military equipment to Ft. Campbell, Ky from training exercises in the west, where Ft. Campbell Rail picked the train up off the Ft. Campbell Wye connection and took it onto the post. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 120. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

CSX E302 passes military train S864 at Kelly, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision

CSXT 3026 leads a combined 12,000 ft empty coal train E302 as it passes loaded military train S864 sitting in the siding at Kelly, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on March 8th, 2022.

CSX S864 is a Rose Lake, IL – Hopkinsville, Ky train and was returning the military equipment to Ft. Campbell, Ky from training exercises in the west, where Ft. Campbell Rail picked the train up off the Ft. Campbell Wye connection and took it onto the post.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 120.

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

Kansas City Southern 4841 and 4150 lead CSX S864 south at Kelly, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision

Kansas City Southern 4841 and 4150 lead CSX S864 as it pulls into the siding at the north end of Kelly siding with a loaded military train at Kelly, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on March 8th, 2022. I understand S is one of the new designations which indicates a “Special Move” which used to be W Series trains.

CSX S864 (Rose Lake, IL – Hopkinsville, Ky) was returning the military equipment to Ft. Campbell, who picked the train up at Hopkinsville and then Ft. Campbell rail took it onto the post.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 130.

Infrared photograph of BNSF 5743 and 8363 as they head up a 7,600ft military train on August 11th, 2021, as it passes through Pembroke, Kentucky, with CSX W844-03. This was a third military move heading north to Hopkinsville, KY this week. At Hopkinsville they backed the train onto the Ft. Campbell wye where Ft. Campbell rail took it on the rest of the way to the base. Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, sensor converted to 720nm B&W IR, Sigma 150-600mm @400mm, f/7.1, 1/250, ISO 200. #jimpearsonphotography #infraredphotography #irphotography, #infraredtrains #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

CSX W884-03 head north with a military train at Pembroke, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision

Infrared photograph of BNSF 5743 and 8363 as they head up a 7,600ft military train on August 11th, 2021, as it passes through Pembroke, Kentucky, with CSX W844-03. This was a third military move heading north to Hopkinsville, KY this week. At Hopkinsville they backed the train onto the Ft. Campbell wye where Ft. Campbell rail took it on the rest of the way to the base.

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, sensor converted to 720nm B&W IR, Sigma 150-600mm @400mm, f/7.1, 1/250, ISO 200.

Trains and barges on and over the Ohio River at Henderson, KY In this Infrared shot from August 13th, 2021, my plan was to catch two barges passing each other under the bridge on the Ohio River at Henderson, Kentucky while I was waiting for military train CSX W816 to make its way south on the Henderson Subdivision. I never expected the train to head over the river during this moment, as I hadn’t heard it call the ballast deck (last place they call on the scanner before hitting the bridge) before I got out of the car and decided to grab the barge shot in infrared while I was waiting. If I had known, it was this close I would have put my drone up for this shot! Not that I'm complaining at all though! The containers behind the power contain the munitions for the last half of the train, which was armor, consisting of Bradley Fighting Vehicles and M1 Tanks. Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Fuji 18-55 @18mm, f/3.6, 1/500, ISO 200.

Trains and barges on and over the Ohio River at Henderson, KY

In this Infrared shot from August 13th, 2021, my plan was to catch two barges passing each other under the bridge on the Ohio River at Henderson, Kentucky while I was waiting for military train CSX W816 to make its way south on the Henderson Subdivision.

I never expected the train to head over the river during this moment, as I hadn’t heard it call the ballast deck (last place they call on the scanner before hitting the bridge) before I got out of the car and decided to grab the barge shot in infrared while I was waiting. If I had known, it was this close I would have put my drone up for this shot! Not that I’m complaining at all though!

The containers behind the power contain the munitions for the last half of the train, which was armor, consisting of Bradley Fighting Vehicles and M1 Tanks.

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Fuji 18-55 @18mm, f/3.6, 1/500, ISO 200.

Southbound Military move on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Trenton, KY BNSF 5743 and 8363 head up a 7,600ft military train on August 11th, 2021, as it passes through the WF Ware grain operation in downtown Trenton, Kentucky, with CSX W844-03, a third military move heading north to Hopkinsville, KY. At Hopkinsville they backed the train onto the Ft. Campbell wye and Ft. Campbell rail took it on the rest of the way to the base. For me this photo was as much about the visual look of the grain operation as it was about the military train and that's the reason, I went up a bit higher for this shot than what I normally do. I wanted to show the military cargo trailing off into the distance and could have done so down lower next to the tracks, but I really liked the higher angle, even though you can't see the cargo trailing off into nothing. What do you think? Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Southbound Military move on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Trenton, KY

BNSF 5743 and 8363 head up a 7,600ft military train on August 11th, 2021, as it passes through the WF Ware grain operation in downtown Trenton, Kentucky, with CSX W844-03, a third military move heading north to Hopkinsville, KY. At Hopkinsville they backed the train onto the Ft. Campbell wye and Ft. Campbell rail took it on the rest of the way to the base.

For me this photo was as much about the visual look of the grain operation as it was about the military train and that’s the reason, I went up a bit higher for this shot than what I normally do. I wanted to show the military cargo trailing off into the distance and could have done so down lower next to the tracks, but I really liked the higher angle, even though you can’t see the cargo trailing off into nothing. What do you think?

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

CSX W844 military train backs onto the Ft. Campbell Wye at Hopkinsville, KY BNSF 5103 and 4653 lead CSX W844-05 military train (Memphis, TN-Hopkinsville, KY) as they shove their loads onto the Ft Campbell wye at Hopkinsville, KY, from the Henderson Subdivision, for the final part of their journey on August 7th, 2021. The crews from Ft. Campbell had already come out to the wye earlier in the day and picked up another loaded train that was dropped off overnight and my guess is that this train probably won't set on the wye very long either. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

CSX W844 military train backs onto the Ft. Campbell Wye at Hopkinsville, KY

BNSF 5103 and 4653 lead CSX W844-05 military train (Memphis, TN-Hopkinsville, KY) as they shove their loads onto the Ft Campbell wye at Hopkinsville, KY, from the Henderson Subdivision, for the final part of their journey on August 7th, 2021.

The crews from Ft. Campbell had already come out to the wye earlier in the day and picked up another loaded train that was dropped off overnight and my guess is that this train probably won’t set on the wye very long either.

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

CSX W809 waits with its military load at Nortonville, Ky The crew on southbound military train W809 waits just north of the signals at Romney on March 30th, 2021 as they chat with a member of a track crew that is welding on the switch here on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, out of frame to the left. Not only are they waiting for the track crew, but they were also waiting on the arrival of hot intermodal, CSX Q025, which will be coming from the north around the curve in the distance, which was still several miles away. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

CSX W809 waits with its military load at Nortonville, Ky

The crew on southbound military train W809 waits just north of the signals at Romney on March 30th, 2021 as they chat with a member of a track crew that is welding on the switch here on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, out of frame to the left.

Not only are they waiting for the track crew, but they were also waiting on the arrival of hot intermodal, CSX Q025, which will be coming from the north around the curve in the distance, which was still several miles away.

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

A military train and a study in lines in the snow I love how the lines flow in this shot of CSX W809 that was waiting to head south February 20th, 2021 on the Henderson Subdivision with a load of military vehicles on track two at Nortonville, Ky. 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. Him stopping for 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! I did crop this image some from the full frame 48mp file in order to keep the drone from hovering directly over the train, via FAA rules. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/80, ISO 100.

A military train and a study in lines in the snow

I love how the lines flow in this shot of CSX W809 that was waiting to head south February 20th, 2021 on the Henderson Subdivision with a load of military vehicles on track two at Nortonville, Ky.

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. Him stopping for 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!

I did crop this image some from the full frame 48mp file in order to keep the drone from hovering directly over the train, via FAA rules.

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.

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.

May 30, 2020 - CSXT 5366 leads a loaded military train from Ft. Campbell, Ky as it pulls upgrade at the south end of Pembroke, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on the traditional Memorial Day. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, Sigma 24-70 @ 37mm, f/5, 1/2000, ISO 200.

CSXT 5366 leads loaded military train W831 from Ft. Campbell, Ky

May 30, 2020 – CSXT 5366 leads loaded military train W831 from Ft. Campbell, Ky as it pulls upgrade at the south end of Pembroke, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on the traditional Memorial Day.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, Sigma 24-70 @ 37mm, f/5, 1/2000, ISO 200.

March 6, 2020 - CSX W840-03 is led by CSXT 5382 as it heads north on Henderson Subdivision at the north end of Slaughters, Kentucky with a loaded military train.

CSX W840-03 is led by CSXT 5382…

March 6, 2020 – CSX W840-03 is led by CSXT 5382 as it heads north on Henderson Subdivision at the north end of Slaughters, Kentucky with a loaded military train.

February 24, 2020 - Northbound BNSF 5208 pulls out onto the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) main after a three way meet between a southbound loaded coal, the afternoon local and its load of military containers at the PAL Yard in Princeton, Kentucky.

Northbound BNSF 5208 pulls…

February 24, 2020 – Northbound BNSF 5208 pulls out onto the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) main after a three way meet between a southbound loaded coal, the afternoon local and its load of military containers at the PAL Yard in Princeton, Kentucky.

November 23, 2018 - Louisville & Indiana Railroad 2302 and 2003 lead a loaded military train over the Flatrock River at Columbus, Indiana as it makes its way north to deliver its cargo to Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Camp Atterbury, located in south-central Indiana, about 4 miles west of Edinburgh, Indiana, serves as a military and civilian training base under the auspices of the Indiana National Guard. The Louisville and Indiana Railroad (reporting mark LIRC) is a Class III railroad that operates freight service between Indianapolis, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky, with a major yard and maintenance shop in Jeffersonville, Indiana. According to Wikipedia: The 106-mile line was purchased from Conrail in March 1994. Previous to Conrail, the line was owned by Penn Central, and before that, the Pennsylvania Railroad. It serves the cities of Franklin, Sellersburg, Seymour and Columbus, Indiana, and also serves the former Clark Maritime Center, now Port of Indiana, Jeffersonville. In Louisville, the LIRC interchanges with the Paducah and Louisville Railway, CSX Transportation and the Indiana Rail Road, former Canadian Pacific Railway (via trackage rights over CSX's former Monon line). Traffic from them mostly is potash. In Indianapolis, the line interchanges with CSX Transportation at Avon Yard approximately 7 miles west of the Circle City.

November 23, 2018 – Louisville & Indiana Railroad Military Move…

November 23, 2018 – Louisville & Indiana Railroad 2302 and 2003 lead a loaded military train over the Flatrock River at Columbus, Indiana as it makes its way north to deliver its cargo to Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

Camp Atterbury, located in south-central Indiana, about 4 miles west of Edinburgh, Indiana, serves as a military and civilian training base under the auspices of the Indiana National Guard.

The Louisville and Indiana Railroad (reporting mark LIRC) is a Class III railroad that operates freight service between Indianapolis, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky, with a major yard and maintenance shop in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

According to Wikipedia: The 106-mile line was purchased from Conrail in March 1994. Previous to Conrail, the line was owned by Penn Central, and before that, the Pennsylvania Railroad. It serves the cities of Franklin, Sellersburg, Seymour and Columbus, Indiana, and also serves the former Clark Maritime Center, now Port of Indiana, Jeffersonville. In Louisville, the LIRC interchanges with the Paducah and Louisville Railway, CSX Transportation and the Indiana Rail Road, former Canadian Pacific Railway (via trackage rights over CSX’s former Monon line). Traffic from them mostly is potash. In Indianapolis, the line interchanges with CSX Transportation at Avon Yard approximately 7 miles west of the Circle City.