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.

June 6, 2018 – CSX military train W865, with BNSF 5536 leading and 6359 trailing…

June 6, 2018 – CSX military train W865, with BNSF 5536 leading and 6359 trailing, heads south on the Henderson Subdivision as they approach the Davis Road overpass with it’s loaded train bound for Hopkinsville, Ky where it’ll drop the cargo off on the Ft. Campbell Wye for pickup by Ft. Campbell Rail. – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #csx #csxrailroad #ftcampbellrail #bnsf

May 31, 2018 – CSX W865-30, a military train with BNSF 6162 leading…

May 31, 2018 – CSX W865-30, a military train with BNSF 6162 leading, waits at the south end of Slaughters Siding for a northbound before it continues it’s move south on CSX’s Henderson Subdivision. – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #csx #csxrailroad #bnsf #bnsfrailway #militarytrain

May 31, 2018 – CSX Local J724-31 meets CSX W865-30…

May 31, 2018 – CSX Local J724-31 meets CSX W865-30 at the south end of Slaughters siding during a heavy rain, with BNSF 6162 leading a military train, as the both make their way along CSX’s Henderson Subdivision. – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #csx #csxrailroad #bnsf #bnsfrailway #militarytrain

June 1, 2018 – Ft. Campbell Railroad GenSets USAX 6519 and 6520…

June 1, 2018 – Ft. Campbell Railroad GenSets USAX 6519 and 6520 pull southbound with a loaded military freight through a tunnel of trees, approaching the “Tiny Town” grade crossing, as it heads back to the post.

Both Locomotives are N-ViroMotive model 3GS-21B, manufactured by the National Railway Equipment Company, headquartered in Mount Vernon, Ill. Fort Campbell has about 40 miles of Army railroad tracks located both on post and leading to Hopkinsville where it interchanges with CSX on the Henderson Subdivision. – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #csx #csxrailroad #militaryrailroad #ftcampbellrail #usarail

CSX W865-30 Meets J726-31 Light Engines at North Hanson, Ky

May 31, 2018 – The Conductor from local 726-31, a local running light, does a roll-by inspection as CSX W865-30, a military train with BNSF 6162 leading, passes them at the Norton end of the siding at Hanson, Ky, as 865 continues it’s move southbound on CSX’s Henderson Subdivision. – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #csx #csxrailroad #bnsf #bnsfrailway #militarytrain

May 30, 2018 – Ft. Campbell Railroad…

May 30, 2018 – Ft. Campbell Railroad and the US Army were nice enough to send this beautiful train set my way for my birthday this afternoon!

I figured they’d move the cargo delivered to the Ft. Campbell Wye yesterday evening by CSX off the Henderson Subdivision, sometime this afternoon. So I set out around noon in search of the train and went all the way to the yards on the post and didn’t find the power anywhere! (I’m retired Air Force so I have access, although I don’t photograph on the post.)

When I came through Hopkinsville, Ky earlier there were two strings of flats with the equipment on them and I was pretty sure they were going to pick them up today, but not until I was on the road back to Hopkinsville from Ft. Campbell, did is see USAX 6519 and 6520 heading back to the post at Oak Grove, Ky. I kinda figured they’d got past me in the tree line somewhere as the power was gone from the post at Ft. Campbell. Either way, I’m happy with my birthday shot!! – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #csx #csxrailroad #militaryrailroad #ftcampbellrail #usarail

May 29, 2018 – Under a light rain, CSX W865-27 heads out of Sebree, Ky…

May 29, 2018 – Under a light rain, CSX W865-27 heads out of Sebree, Ky with BNSF 7976 and 988 leading a long military train as it makes its way south to Hopkinsville, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision. – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #csx #csxrailroad

CSX W873-17 SB Military Train at Anaconda, Sebree, Ky

January 29, 2018 – I waited a couple days to post this photo as it’s of CSX military train W873 heading past the spur at Anaconda on track 1, with Union Pacific Power, at Sebree, Ky as it makes its way south on the Henderson Subdivision.