Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s steam locomotive Southern Railway 630 departs East Chattanooga as heads to Grand Junction at West Chattanooga, Tennessee, on April 27th, 2024, with a loaded passenger train. According to Wikipedia: Southern Railway 630 is a 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type steam locomotive built in February 1904 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Richmond, Virginia for the Southern Railway as a member of the Ks-1 class. It is currently owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee where it resides today for use on excursion trains. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum was founded as a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in 1960 by Paul H. Merriman and Robert M. Soule, Jr., along with a group of local railway preservationists. They wanted to save steam locomotives and railway equipment for future historical display and use. Today, the museum offers various tourist excursions from stations in Chattanooga and Etowah, Tennessee. Tech Info: Nikon D800, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/500, ISO 360.

Southern Railway 630 departs East Chattanooga as heads to Grand Junction at West Chattanooga, Tennessee

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s steam locomotive Southern Railway 630 departs East Chattanooga as heads to Grand Junction at West Chattanooga, Tennessee, on April 27th, 2024, with a loaded passenger train.

According to Wikipedia: Southern Railway 630 is a 2-8-0 “Consolidation” type steam locomotive built in February 1904 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Richmond, Virginia for the Southern Railway as a member of the Ks-1 class. It is currently owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee where it resides today for use on excursion trains.

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum was founded as a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in 1960 by Paul H. Merriman and Robert M. Soule, Jr., along with a group of local railway preservationists. They wanted to save steam locomotives and railway equipment for future historical display and use. Today, the museum offers various tourist excursions from stations in Chattanooga and Etowah, Tennessee.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/500, ISO 360.

A lady waits for the arrival of her train at the main train station in downtown Moscow, Russia sometime during the winter months of 1992. This image is from a slide scan that I shot while I was taking part in a military humanitarian called Provide Hope. For awhile I was the non-commissioned officer in charge of the Air Force’s Electronic Imaging Center stationed at Aviano, Italy, where Combat Camera was tasked to document the Provide Hope operation. I was there for six months, and we flew missions in and out of the USSR. This was on one trip to Moscow where we spent a couple days in the country, documenting the delivery of supplies to an orphanage. Of course, during my off time, I made sure to visit the train station that was just outside our hotel! According to Wikipedia: Operation Provide Hope was a humanitarian operation conducted by the U.S. Air Force to provide medical equipment to former Soviet republics during their transition to capitalism. The operation was announced by Secretary of State James A. Baker, III on January 22–23, 1992 and the initial shipment of supplies was sent on February 10, 1992. Twelve US Air Force C-5 and C-141 was carrying an estimated 500 tons of bulk-food rations and medicines into Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kyiv, Minsk, and Chisinau from Germany and Yerevan, Almaty, Dushanbe, Ashkhabad, Baku, Tashkent, and Bishkek from Turkey. In total, for nearly two weeks sixty-five missions flew 2,363 short tons (2,144 t) of food and medical supplies to 24 locations in the Commonwealth of Independent States during the initial phase of operation. Much of these supplies was left over from the buildup to the Persian Gulf War. Small teams of US personnel from various government agencies (On-Site Inspection Agency, USAID, and USDA) had been placed in each destination shortly before the deliveries, to coordinate with local officials and to monitor to the best extent possible that the deliveries reached the intended recipients (i.e., orphanages, hospitals, soup kitchens, and needy families). #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #Russia #Moscow

A lady waits for the arrival of her train at the main train station in downtown Moscow, Russia

A lady waits for the arrival of her train at the main train station in downtown Moscow, Russia sometime during the winter months of 1992. This image is from a slide scan that I shot while I was taking part in a military humanitarian called Provide Hope.

For awhile I was the non-commissioned officer in charge of the Air Force’s Electronic Imaging Center stationed at Aviano, Italy, where Combat Camera was tasked to document the Provide Hope operation. I was there for six months, and we flew missions in and out of the USSR. This was on one trip to Moscow where we spent a couple days in the country, documenting the delivery of supplies to an orphanage. Of course, during my off time, I made sure to visit the train station that was just outside our hotel!

According to Wikipedia: Operation Provide Hope was a humanitarian operation conducted by the U.S. Air Force to provide medical equipment to former Soviet republics during their transition to capitalism. The operation was announced by Secretary of State James A. Baker, III on January 22–23, 1992 and the initial shipment of supplies was sent on February 10, 1992. Twelve US Air Force C-5 and C-141 was carrying an estimated 500 tons of bulk-food rations and medicines into Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kyiv, Minsk, and Chisinau from Germany and Yerevan, Almaty, Dushanbe, Ashkhabad, Baku, Tashkent, and Bishkek from Turkey. In total, for nearly two weeks sixty-five missions flew 2,363 short tons (2,144 t) of food and medical supplies to 24 locations in the Commonwealth of Independent States during the initial phase of operation. Much of these supplies was left over from the buildup to the Persian Gulf War.

Small teams of US personnel from various government agencies (On-Site Inspection Agency, USAID, and USDA) had been placed in each destination shortly before the deliveries, to coordinate with local officials and to monitor to the best extent possible that the deliveries reached the intended recipients (i.e., orphanages, hospitals, soup kitchens, and needy families).

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam locomotive D&RGW 463 approaches the End of Standard Gauge crossing as it works at Antonito, Colorado with a passenger train after arriving back from Osier, Colorado, on the evening of October 19th, 2023. According to their website: the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. At 64-miles in length, it is the longest, the highest and most authentic steam railroad in North America, traveling through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rocky Mountain West. Owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the train crosses state borders 11 times, zigzagging along canyon walls, burrowing through two tunnels, and steaming over 137-foot Cascade Trestle. All trains steam along through deep forests of aspens and evergreens, across high plains filled with wildflowers, and through a rocky gorge of remarkable geologic formations. Deer, antelope, elk, fox, eagles and even bear are frequently spotted on this family friendly, off-the grid adventure. Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 140mm, f/4.8, 1/2000, ISO 64. #railroad #railroads #train #trains #bestphoto #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailway #bestphotograph #photographyoftrains #trainphotography #JimPearsonPhotography #steamtrains #CumbresAndToltecScenicRailroad

D&RGW 463 approaches the End of Standard Gauge crossing at Antonito, Colorado

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam locomotive D&RGW 463 approaches the End of Standard Gauge crossing as it works at Antonito, Colorado with a passenger train after arriving back from Osier, Colorado, on the evening of October 19th, 2023.

According to their website: the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. At 64-miles in length, it is the longest, the highest and most authentic steam railroad in North America, traveling through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rocky Mountain West.

Owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the train crosses state borders 11 times, zigzagging along canyon walls, burrowing through two tunnels, and steaming over 137-foot Cascade Trestle. All trains steam along through deep forests of aspens and evergreens, across high plains filled with wildflowers, and through a rocky gorge of remarkable geologic formations. Deer, antelope, elk, fox, eagles and even bear are frequently spotted on this family friendly, off-the grid adventure.

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 140mm, f/4.8, 1/2000, ISO 64.

On October 18th, 2023, double-header steam locomotives, Denver and Rio Grande Western 473 and 493 pull one of the daily passenger along the Animas River as they head into Silverton, Colorado. According to Wikipedia: The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railway is a federally designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 150. #railroad #railroads #train #trains #bestphoto #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailway #bestphotograph #photographyoftrains #trainphotography #JimPearsonPhotography #DurangoandSilvertonRailroad #trending

On October 18th, 2023, double-header steam locomotives, Denver and Rio Grande Western 473 and 493…

On October 18th, 2023, double-header steam locomotives, Denver and Rio Grande Western 473 and 493 pull one of the daily passenger along the Animas River as they head into Silverton, Colorado.

According to Wikipedia: The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railway is a federally designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 150.

Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr “Silver Pilot” makes its way east from the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), Union, Illinois on September 16th, 2023, with its passenger trainset during the museum’s 70th Anniversary celebration. The IRM ran trains continuously from 11am on Saturday until 5pm Sunday during the event. According to the IRM website: The Nebraska Zephyr is the most famous train at the Illinois Railway Museum. It is an articulated streamlined train built entirely of stainless steel. The train is known as the “Train of the Goddesses” because each of its five cars is named after a classical deity. It is the only complete Zephyr train from the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad in operation today. When it was built, the Nebraska Zephyr was pulled by a two-unit set of “shovel nose” diesels. In later years it was commonly hauled by stainless steel E5 passenger diesels, and today the train is still hauled by the last surviving E5, CB&Q 9911A “Silver Pilot.” Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 130 #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #trains #unionpacific #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone #IllinoisRailwayMuseum #IllinoisTrains #NebraskaZephyr

Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr heads east from Union, IL

Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr “Silver Pilot” makes its way east from the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), Union, Illinois on September 16th, 2023, with its passenger trainset during the museums 70th Anniversary celebration. The IRM ran trains continuously from 11am on Saturday until 5pm Sunday during the event.

According to the IRM website: The Nebraska Zephyr is the most famous train at the Illinois Railway Museum. It is an articulated streamlined train built entirely of stainless steel. The train is known as the “Train of the Goddesses” because each of its five cars is named after a classical deity. It is the only complete Zephyr train from the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad in operation today.

When it was built, the Nebraska Zephyr was pulled by a two-unit set of “shovel nose” diesels. In later years it was commonly hauled by stainless steel E5 passenger diesels, and today the train is still hauled by the last surviving E5, CB&Q 9911A “Silver Pilot.”

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 130

Digital Photo Art – Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr “Silver Pilot” at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), Union, Illinois on September 16th, 2023. According to the IRM website: The Nebraska Zephyr is the most famous train at the Illinois Railway Museum. It is an articulated streamlined train built entirely of stainless steel. The train is known as the “Train of the Goddesses” because each of its five cars is named after a classical deity. It is the only complete Zephyr train from the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad in operation today. When it was built, the Nebraska Zephyr was pulled by a two-unit set of “shovel nose” diesels. In later years it was commonly hauled by stainless steel E5 passenger diesels, and today the train is still hauled by the last surviving E5, CB&Q 9911A “Silver Pilot.” The train set itself consists of the following five cars: Tech Info: Nikon D800, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/1250, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #NebraskaZephyr #IllinoisRailwayMuseum #digitalphotoart

Digital Photo Art – Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr “Silver Pilot”

Digital Photo Art – Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr “Silver Pilot” at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), Union, Illinois on September 16th, 2023.

According to the IRM website: The Nebraska Zephyr is the most famous train at the Illinois Railway Museum. It is an articulated streamlined train built entirely of stainless steel. The train is known as the “Train of the Goddesses” because each of its five cars is named after a classical deity. It is the only complete Zephyr train from the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad in operation today.

When it was built, the Nebraska Zephyr was pulled by a two-unit set of “shovel nose” diesels. In later years it was commonly hauled by stainless steel E5 passenger diesels, and today the train is still hauled by the last surviving E5, CB&Q 9911A “Silver Pilot.” The train set itself consists of the following five cars:

Tech Info: Nikon D800, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/1250, ISO 100.

The American History Train, being led by Nickel Plate Road (NKP) steam locomotive 765, sits next to the old New York Central Depot on September 24th, 2022, at Pleasant Lake, Indiana. NKP 765 was pulling the American History Train between Pleasant Lake from Angola, Indiana during the annual American History Days Festival. It took guests back to the 1940s for a living history experience. The passengers then got a 45-minute layover at Pleasant Lake where they visited with WWII reenactors, listened to live music and much more. According to Wikipedia: Pleasant Lake depot is also known as the New York Central Railroad Depot and is a historic train station located at Pleasant Lake, Steuben Township, Steuben County, Indiana. It was built in 1882 by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, and is a one-story, rectangular, Gothic Revival style frame building. It has a gable roof and is clad in board and batten siding. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 as the Pleasant Lake Depot. Nickel Plate Road 765 is a class "S-2" 2-8-4 "Berkshire" type steam locomotive built for the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, commonly referred to as the "Nickel Plate Road". No. 765 continues to operate in mainline excursion service and is owned and maintained by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 1996. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

The American History Train, being led by Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive 765 at Pleasant Lake, IN

The American History Train, being led by Nickel Plate Road (NKP) steam locomotive 765, sits next to the old New York Central Depot on September 24th, 2022, at Pleasant Lake, Indiana.

NKP 765 was pulling the American History Train between Pleasant Lake from Angola, Indiana during the annual American History Days Festival. It took guests back to the 1940s for a living history experience. The passengers then got a 45-minute layover at Pleasant Lake where they visited with WWII reenactors, listened to live music and much more.

According to Wikipedia: Pleasant Lake depot is also known as the New York Central Railroad Depot and is a historic train station located at Pleasant Lake, Steuben Township, Steuben County, Indiana. It was built in 1882 by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, and is a one-story, rectangular, Gothic Revival style frame building. It has a gable roof and is clad in board and batten siding.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 as the Pleasant Lake Depot.

Nickel Plate Road 765 is a class “S-2” 2-8-4 “Berkshire” type steam locomotive built for the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, commonly referred to as the “Nickel Plate Road”.

No. 765 continues to operate in mainline excursion service and is owned and maintained by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 1996.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.

Two engines from Brightline’s Orange 2 trainset sit nose to nose in the siding at Crofton, Kentucky on CSX S993 as it waits to continue its move south on the CSX Henderson subdivision, on February 13th, 2023, on its way to Orlando, Florida. According to the GoBrightline Facebook page, “This completes our fleet of 10 train sets and is the final of the five new trains for our Orlando extension! We can’t wait to welcome Bright Orange 2 to our Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Orlando. Safe travels, and see you soon, Bright Orange 2!” Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/4000, ISO 200. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #csx #trainsfromadrone #kentuckytrains #brightlinetrain #csxhendersonsubdivision

Two engines from Brightline’s Orange 2 trainset sit nose to nose at Crofton, Ky

Two engines from Brightline’s Orange 2 trainset sit nose to nose in the siding at Crofton, Kentucky on CSX S993 as it waits to continue its move south on the CSX Henderson subdivision, on February 13th, 2023, on its way to Orlando, Florida.

According to the GoBrightline Facebook page, “This completes our fleet of 10 train sets and is the final of the five new trains for our Orlando extension! We can’t wait to welcome Bright Orange 2 to our Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Orlando. Safe travels, and see you soon, Bright Orange 2!””

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/4000, ISO 200.

Digital Photo Art-CSX P001-23 Office Car Special passenger train makes its way across the old L&N bridge over the Ohio River as it heads south at Henderson, Kentucky with CSXT 1, 2 and 3 leading the way on the Henderson Subdivision on August 23rd, 2022. CSX repainted these three-executive fleet F40PH locomotives in a paint scheme inspired by predecessor Baltimore & Ohio and a fleet of cars to finish out the train set. The city of Baltimore chartered the railroad on Feb. 28, 1827, to build west to a suitable point on the Ohio River. Ground was broken on July 4, 1828, at Carrollton, Md. By 1929 the railroad operated 5,658 miles of track and had 2,364 locomotives. In the 1970s the B&O became part of Chessie System and in the 1980s it became part of CSX. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

Digital Photo Art-CSX P001-23 Office Car Special at Henderson, Kentucky

Digital Photo Art-CSX P001-23 Office Car Special passenger train makes its way across the old L&N bridge over the Ohio River as it heads south at Henderson, Kentucky with CSXT 1, 2 and 3 leading the way on the Henderson Subdivision on August 23rd, 2022.

CSX repainted these three-executive fleet F40PH locomotives in a paint scheme inspired by predecessor Baltimore & Ohio and a fleet of cars to finish out the train set. The city of Baltimore chartered the railroad on Feb. 28, 1827, to build west to a suitable point on the Ohio River. Ground was broken on July 4, 1828, at Carrollton, Md. By 1929 the railroad operated 5,658 miles of track and had 2,364 locomotives. In the 1970s the B&O became part of Chessie System and in the 1980s it became part of CSX.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

Union Pacific 4477 leads Brightline’s Orange 2 trainset as it passes through downtown Hanson, Kentucky on CSX S993 as it heads south on the CSX Henderson subdivision, on February 13th, 2023, on its way to Orlando, Florida. According to the GoBrightline Facebook page, “This completes our fleet of 10 train sets and is the final of the five new trains for our Orlando extension! We can’t wait to welcome Bright Orange 2 to our Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Orlando. Safe travels, and see you soon, Bright Orange 2!” Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 200. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #csx #trainsfromadrone #kentuckytrains #brightlinetrain #csxhendersonsubdivision

Brightline Orange 2 trainset southbound at Hanson, Ky

Union Pacific 4477 leads Brightline’s Orange 2 trainset as it passes through downtown Hanson, Kentucky on CSX S993 as it heads south on the CSX Henderson subdivision, on February 13th, 2023, on its way to Orlando, Florida.

According to the GoBrightline Facebook page, “This completes our fleet of 10 train sets and is the final of the five new trains for our Orlando extension! We can’t wait to welcome Bright Orange 2 to our Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Orlando. Safe travels, and see you soon, Bright Orange 2!”

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 200.

Brightline’s Orange 2 trainset rolls over the Red River trestle with Union Pacific 4477 leading the way as it heads south on the CSX Henderson subdivision on CSX S993, at Adams, Tennessee, on February 13th, 2023. According to the GoBrightline Facebook page, “This completes our fleet of 10 train sets and is the final of the five new trains for our Orlando extension! We can’t wait to welcome Bright Orange 2 to our Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Orlando. Safe travels, and see you soon, Bright Orange 2!” Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 200. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #csx #trainsfromadrone #kentuckytrains #brightlinetrain #redriver

Brightline trainset move at Red River Trestle, Adams, TN

Brightline’s Orange 2 trainset rolls over the Red River trestle with Union Pacific 4477 leading the way as it heads south on the CSX Henderson subdivision on CSX S993, at Adams, Tennessee, on February 13th, 2023.

According to the GoBrightline Facebook page, ‘“’This completes our fleet of 10 train sets and is the final of the five new trains for our Orlando extension! We can’t wait to welcome Bright Orange 2 to our Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Orlando. Safe travels, and see you soon, Bright Orange 2!’”’

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 200.

Saturday, October 29th, 2022, the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) ran their Office Car Special (OCS) between Calvert City, Kentucky to just north of Barkley Dam to the railroad location known as Eureka, about 10 miles round trip. This event was in conjunction with their company picnic at Calvert City and the passengers were employees and their families. Here we catch them after they crossed the bridge over the Tennessee River at Kentucky Dam, north of Gilbertsville, Kentucky. The consist was led by their 35th anniversary units PAL 2021 and 1986, followed by PAL 10, a generator car, built from an ex-L&N Milk Car that was manufactured in January 1958. Next was PAL II - lounge car or diner car from what I can find online, then PAL 1 "Bluegrass State I" business or lounge car, (ex-ICG 2, exx-IC 6, exxx-16). If anyone has more information on these cars, I’d apricate your comments. The trailing engine is PAL 2127, Salute to our Troops locomotive, which led the train heading southbound to Calvert City, KY. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 120. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #paducahandlouisvillerailway #pal #kentuckytrains

Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) ran their Office Car Special at Kentucky Dam

Saturday, October 29th, 2022, the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) ran their Office Car Special (OCS) between Calvert City, Kentucky to just north of Barkley Dam to the railroad location known as Eureka, about 10 miles round trip. This event was in conjunction with their company picnic at Calvert City and the passengers were employees and their families. Here we catch them after they crossed the bridge over the Tennessee River at Kentucky Dam, north of Gilbertsville, Kentucky.

The consist was led by their 35th anniversary units PAL 2021 and 1986, followed by PAL 10, a generator car, built from an ex-L&N Milk Car that was manufactured in January 1958. Next was PAL II – lounge car or diner car from what I can find online, then PAL 1 “Bluegrass State I” business or lounge car, (ex-ICG 2, exx-IC 6, exxx-16). If anyone has more information on these cars, I’d apricate your comments. The trailing engine is PAL 2127, Salute to our Troops locomotive, which led the train heading southbound to Calvert City, KY.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 120.

Saturday, October 29th, 2022, the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) ran their Office Car Special (OCS) between Calvert City, Kentucky to just north of Barkley Dam to the railroad location known as Eureka, about 10 miles round trip. This event was in conjunction with their company picnic at Calvert City and the passengers were employees and their families. Here we catch them as they cross Ky 282 at Gilbertsville, Kentucky. The consist was led by their 35th anniversary units PAL 2021 and 1986, followed by PAL 10, a generator car, built from an ex-L&N Milk Car that was manufactured in January 1958. Next was PAL II - lounge car or diner car from what I can find online, then PAL 1 "Bluegrass State I" business or lounge car, (ex-ICG 2, exx-IC 6, exxx-16). If anyone has more information on these cars, I’d apricate your comments. The trailing engine is PAL 2127, Salute to our Troops locomotive, which led the train heading southbound to Calvert City, KY. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 140. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #paducahandlouisvillerailway #pal #kentuckytrains

Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) ran their Office Car Special northbound at Gilbertsville, KY

Saturday, October 29th, 2022, the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) ran their Office Car Special (OCS) between Calvert City, Kentucky to just north of Barkley Dam to the railroad location known as Eureka, about 10 miles round trip. This event was in conjunction with their company picnic at Calvert City and the passengers were employees and their families. Here we catch them as they cross Ky 282 at Gilbertsville, Kentucky.

The consist was led by their 35th anniversary units PAL 2021 and 1986, followed by PAL 10, a generator car, built from an ex-L&N Milk Car that was manufactured in January 1958. Next was PAL II – lounge car or diner car from what I can find online, then PAL 1 “Bluegrass State I” business or lounge car, (ex-ICG 2, exx-IC 6, exxx-16). If anyone has more information on these cars, I’d apricate your comments. The trailing engine is PAL 2127, Salute to our Troops locomotive, which led the train heading southbound to Calvert City, KY.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 140.

Saturday, October 29th, 2022, the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) ran their Office Car Special (OCS) between Calvert City, Kentucky to just north of Barkley Dam to the railroad location known as Eureka, about 10 miles round trip. This event was in conjunction with their company picnic at Calvert City and the passengers were employees and their families. Here we catch them as they cross the Tennessee River passing Kentucky Dam, just north of Gilbertsville, Kentucky. The consist was led by their 35th anniversary units PAL 2021 and 1986, followed by PAL 10, a generator car, built from an ex-L&N Milk Car that was manufactured in January 1958. Next was PAL II - lounge car or diner car from what I can find online, then PAL 1 "Bluegrass State I" business or lounge car, (ex-ICG 2, exx-IC 6, exxx-16). If anyone has more information on these cars, I’d apricate your comments. The trailing engine is PAL 2127, Salute to our Troops locomotive, which led the train heading southbound to Calvert City, KY. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/730, ISO 110. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #paducahandlouisvillerailway #pal #kentuckytrains

Saturday, October 29th, 2022, the Paducah and Louisville Railway Office Car Special at Kentucky Dam

Saturday, October 29th, 2022, the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) ran their Office Car Special (OCS) between Calvert City, Kentucky to just north of Barkley Dam to the railroad location known as Eureka, about 10 miles round trip. This event was in conjunction with their company picnic at Calvert City and the passengers were employees and their families. Here we catch them as they cross the Tennessee River passing Kentucky Dam, just north of Gilbertsville, Kentucky.

The consist was led by their 35th anniversary units PAL 2021 and 1986, followed by PAL 10, a generator car, built from an ex-L&N Milk Car that was manufactured in January 1958. Next was PAL II – lounge car or diner car from what I can find online, then PAL 1 “Bluegrass State I” business or lounge car, (ex-ICG 2, exx-IC 6, exxx-16). If anyone has more information on these cars, I’d apricate your comments. The trailing engine is PAL 2127, Salute to our Troops locomotive, which led the train heading southbound to Calvert City, KY.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/730, ISO 110.

The American History Train, being led by Nickel Plate Road (NKP) steam locomotive 765, works on turning its train on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad line at Hillsdale, Michigan on September 23rd, 2022. NKP 765 was pulling the American History Train between Pleasant Lake from Angola, Indiana during the annual American History Days Festival on September 24-25th, 2022. It took guests back to the 1940s for a living history experience. The passengers then got a 45-minute layover at Pleasant Lake where they visited with WWII reenactors, listened to live music and much more. Nickel Plate Road 765 is a class "S-2" 2-8-4 "Berkshire" type steam locomotive built for the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, commonly referred to as the "Nickel Plate Road". Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/3000, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

Nickel Plate Road (NKP) steam locomotive 765, on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad line at Hillsdale, Michigan

The American History Train, being led by Nickel Plate Road (NKP) steam locomotive 765, works on turning its train on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad line at Hillsdale, Michigan on September 23rd, 2022.

NKP 765 was pulling the American History Train between Pleasant Lake from Angola, Indiana during the annual American History Days Festival on September 24-25th, 2022. It took guests back to the 1940s for a living history experience. The passengers then got a 45-minute layover at Pleasant Lake where they visited with WWII reenactors, listened to live music and much more.

Nickel Plate Road 765 is a class “S-2” 2-8-4 “Berkshire” type steam locomotive built for the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, commonly referred to as the “Nickel Plate Road”.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/3000, ISO 100.

The Black Hills Central Railway locomotive 108 rounds a curve as it heads through the countryside as it makes its first trip of the day in stormy, wet weather of the forest to Keystone, South Dakota on my birthday, May 30th, 2022! I for one can’t recall a better way to spend the day then chasing a steam locomotive and they later in the day riding it with family! Despite the wet and rainy weather, it was a great day, and I even got the drone up a few times! According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington. The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced “Malley”) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm @ 16mm, f/4, 1/400, ISO 180. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

he Black Hills Central Railway locomotive 108 rounds a curve out of Hill City, SD

The Black Hills Central Railway locomotive 108 rounds a curve as it heads through the countryside as it makes its first trip of the day in stormy, wet weather of the forest to Keystone, South Dakota on my birthday, May 30th, 2022! I for one can’t recall a better way to spend the day then chasing a steam locomotive and they later in the day riding it with family! Despite the wet and rainy weather, it was a great day, and I even got the drone up a few times!

According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced “Malley”) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm @ 16mm, f/4, 1/400, ISO 180.

CSX P001-23 Office Car Special passenger train sits at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky with CSXT 1, 2 and 3 leading the way on the Henderson. The officials onboard the train conducted an inspection of the yard and facilities during a 40-minute stop over before continuing their run south Subdivision on August 23rd, 2022. CSX repainted these three-executive fleet F40PH locomotives in a paint scheme inspired by predecessor Baltimore & Ohio and a fleet of cars to finish out the train set. The city of Baltimore chartered the railroad on Feb. 28, 1827, to build west to a suitable point on the Ohio River. Ground was broken on July 4, 1828, at Carrollton, Md. By 1929 the railroad operated 5,658 miles of track and had 2,364 locomotives. In the 1970s the B&O became part of Chessie System and in the 1980s it became part of CSX. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/730, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

CSX P001-23 Office Car Special passenger train sits at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Ky

CSX P001-23 Office Car Special passenger train sits at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky with CSXT 1, 2 and 3 leading the way on the Henderson. The officials onboard the train conducted an inspection of the yard and facilities during a 40-minute stop over before continuing their run south Subdivision on August 23rd, 2022.

CSX repainted these three-executive fleet F40PH locomotives in a paint scheme inspired by predecessor Baltimore & Ohio and a fleet of cars to finish out the train set. The city of Baltimore chartered the railroad on Feb. 28, 1827, to build west to a suitable point on the Ohio River. Ground was broken on July 4, 1828, at Carrollton, Md. By 1929 the railroad operated 5,658 miles of track and had 2,364 locomotives. In the 1970s the B&O became part of Chessie System and in the 1980s it became part of CSX.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/730, ISO 100.

CSX P001-23 Office Car Special passenger train makes its way across the old L&N bridge over the Ohio River as it heads south at Henderson, Kentucky with CSXT 1, 2 and 3 leading the way on the Henderson Subdivision on August 23rd, 2022. CSX repainted these three-executive fleet F40PH locomotives in a paint scheme inspired by predecessor Baltimore & Ohio and a fleet of cars to finish out the train set. The city of Baltimore chartered the railroad on Feb. 28, 1827, to build west to a suitable point on the Ohio River. Ground was broken on July 4, 1828, at Carrollton, Md. By 1929 the railroad operated 5,658 miles of track and had 2,364 locomotives. In the 1970s the B&O became part of Chessie System and in the 1980s it became part of CSX. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

CSX P001-23 Office Car Special passenger train makes its way across the old L&N bridge over the Ohio River…

CSX P001-23 Office Car Special passenger train makes its way across the old L&N bridge over the Ohio River as it heads south at Henderson, Kentucky with CSXT 1, 2 and 3 leading the way on the Henderson Subdivision on August 23rd, 2022.

CSX repainted these three-executive fleet F40PH locomotives in a paint scheme inspired by predecessor Baltimore & Ohio and a fleet of cars to finish out the train set. The city of Baltimore chartered the railroad on Feb. 28, 1827, to build west to a suitable point on the Ohio River. Ground was broken on July 4, 1828, at Carrollton, Md. By 1929 the railroad operated 5,658 miles of track and had 2,364 locomotives. In the 1970s the B&O became part of Chessie System and in the 1980s it became part of CSX.

Amtrak 144 and 14 pass through Santa Fe Junction as it heads for Union Station in downtown Kansas City, Missouri on June 30th, 2022, from Chicago, Illinois. Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing in addition to Tower 3, which is used by maintenance of way these days. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit. The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KC’s Busiest locations. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 110. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

Amtrak 144 and 14 pass through Santa Fe Junction as it heads for Union Station in downtown Kansas City, Missouri

Amtrak 144 and 14 pass through Santa Fe Junction as it heads for Union Station in downtown Kansas City, Missouri on June 30th, 2022, on its way to Chicago, Illinois.

Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing in addition to Tower 3, which is used by maintenance of way these days. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit.

The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KC’s Busiest locations.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 110.