September 29, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2109, 2110, 2117 and 2120 lead local WW1 across Interstate 69 at Madisonville, Kentucky as they head to CSX's Atkinson yard with a lone car today for interchange with CSX. From here they will take the junction trackage called East Diamond and head back across the other bridge in the background to Atkinson at Madisonville where they dropped the car and picked up a much longer string of cars for the return trip to Princeton, Ky. PAL runs this local pretty much M-S from Princeton to Madisonville and there's another local that runs from Paducah to Princeton to move traffic between those cities with pretty much the same schedule. There's also another local that runs from Louisville to Paducah and back, but it is normally a night run in both directions. Occasionally I see these trains run also on Sunday, but it's not the norm. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 200.

Paducah and Louisville Railway WW1 crosses I-69 at Madisonville, Ky

September 29, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2109, 2110, 2117 and 2120 lead local WW1 across Interstate 69 at Madisonville, Kentucky as they head to CSX’s Atkinson yard with a lone car today for interchange with CSX after dropping off a long string of cars at their West Yard in Madisonville. From here they will take the junction trackage called East Diamond and head back across the other bridge in the background to Atkinson at Madisonville where they dropped the car and picked up a much longer string of cars for the return trip to Princeton, Ky.

PAL runs this local pretty much M-S from Princeton to Madisonville and there’s another local that runs from Paducah to Princeton to move traffic between those cities with pretty much the same schedule. There’s also another local that runs from Louisville to Paducah and back, but it is normally a night run in both directions. Occasionally I see these trains run also on Sunday, but it’s not the norm.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 200.

DCIM100MEDIADJI_0173.JPG

Paducah and Louisville Coal Train southbound across Barkley Dam, Ky

September 24, 2020 – Paducah & Louisville (PAL) 4512 and Evansville Western 4511 lead a 5,400ft loaded coal train across Barkley Dam at Grand Rivers, Kentucky on the Cumberland River, as they head for the Calvert City Coal Terminal at Calvert City, Ky.

Barkley Dam construction along with Kentucky Dam formed the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area by stopping the flow of the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, forming Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake respectively and the PAL mainline runs right across the dam.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

May 13, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2107, leads LV1, a Scotty’s Rock train, south with PAL 2106, 2121 and 2100 trailing, on the elevated tracks past the location of the old Illinois Central (IC) Depot in Central City, Kentucky, after picking a load of rock cars from Scotty’s Contracting & Stone at Litchfield, bound for their Madisonville operation. Around 1920 the IC elevated the mainline through Central City, KY. As part of the project the IC built a new passenger station. The station was a bit unusual, for the actual depot was at street level, and passengers/baggage/freight would take an elevator up to the tracks. The IC crossed over the L&N's "Owensboro & Nashville" line (where the bridge is in the curve) from Owensboro south to Adairville, KY. The Louisville and Nashville (L&N) passenger trains also used the station until the L&N dropped service on the line in 1941. The IC discontinued passenger service on the Kentucky Division in 1957. It's suspected the Central City station was demolished soon afterwards. (Thanks to Cliff Downey for the information on the depot!) Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100.

PAL 2107 leads Scotty’s Rock train at Central City, Ky

May 13, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2107, leads LV1, a Scotty’s Rock train, south with PAL 2106, 2121 and 2100 trailing, on the elevated tracks past the location of the old Illinois Central (IC) Depot in Central City, Kentucky, after picking a load of rock cars from Scotty’s Contracting & Stone at Litchfield, bound for their Madisonville operation.
 
Around 1920 the IC elevated the mainline through Central City, KY. As part of the project the IC built a new passenger station. The station was a bit unusual, for the actual depot was at street level, and passengers/baggage/freight would take an elevator up to the tracks.
 
The IC crossed over the L&N’s “Owensboro & Nashville” line (where the bridge is in the curve) from Owensboro south to Adairville, KY. The Louisville and Nashville (L&N) passenger trains also used the station until the L&N dropped service on the line in 1941.
 
The IC discontinued passenger service on the Kentucky Division in 1957. It’s suspected the Central City station was demolished soon afterwards. (Thanks to Cliff Downey for the information on the depot!)
 
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100.
 
 
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Paducah & Louisville local WW1 at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky

September 22, 2020 – On the first day of fall Paducah & Louisville local WW1, led by PAL 2112 crosses of the CSX Henderson Subdivision at the location known as Monarch in Madisonville, Ky.

The local was on its way to CSX’s Atkinson yard to perform interchange work between the PAL and CSX after making their way from the PAL yard at Princeton, Kentucky. Still working on trying to catch two trains at this spot! It will happen!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/140, ISO 100.

September 21, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky locomotive 2012 leads the afternoon Louisville Gas and Electric coal train as it skirts the downtown area of Central City, Kentucky on its way north to Louisville. The grassy area below is the general location of the old Illinois Central depot from the days when passenger trains used to service Central City. There used to be an elevator that took the passengers up to the tracks to catch their trains. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky locomotive 2012…

September 21, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky locomotive 2012 leads the afternoon Louisville Gas and Electric coal train as it skirts the downtown area of Central City, Kentucky on its way north to Louisville.

The grassy area below is the general location of the old Illinois Central depot from the days when passenger trains used to service Central City. There used to be an elevator that took the passengers up to the tracks to catch their trains.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

September 10, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville 4518 & 4522 lead PRX1, a loaded coal train, as they depart Warrior Coal at Nebo, Kentucky, headed southbound for the barge loading and blending facility at Calvert City, Ky. I've shot trains coming out of here for well over 15 years now and this is the first time I'm able to get this view thanks to my new camera platform, the DJI Mavic Mini Drone. To say this device has opened up a whole new world of pictures and videos is an understatement! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm lens (24mm Equivalent), f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville 4518 & 4522 lead PRX1…

September 10, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville 4518 & 4522 lead PRX1, a loaded coal train, as they depart Warrior Coal at Nebo, Kentucky, headed southbound for the barge loading and blending facility at Calvert City, Ky.

I’ve shot trains coming out of here for well over 15 years now and this is the first time I’m able to get this view thanks to my new camera platform, the DJI Mavic Mini Drone. To say this device has opened up a whole new world of pictures and videos is an understatement!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm lens (24mm Equivalent), f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

August 26, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville 2118 heads up the Princeton to Madisonville, Ky local as it heads north through Dawson Springs, Ky to Madisonville to perform interchange work with CSX at Atkinson Yard. I love shooting spots that have interesting track or other features that help draw the viewer's eye to the subject of the photograph, such as in this case with the two small S curves just south of the highway 62 overpass. Always look for ways to help your photographs have more impact by looking for these interesting things that can help add interest to your shots. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 460mm, f/8, 1/800, ISO 900.

Paducah and Louisville 2118 heads up the Princeton to Madisonville, Ky local…

August 26, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville 2118 heads up the Princeton to Madisonville, Ky local as it heads north through Dawson Springs, Ky to Madisonville to perform interchange work with CSX at Atkinson Yard.

I love shooting spots that have interesting track or other features that help draw the viewer’s eye to the subject of the photograph, such as in this case with the two small S curves just south of the highway 62 overpass. Always look for ways to help your photographs have more impact by looking for these interesting things that can help add interest to your shots.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 460mm, f/8, 1/800, ISO 900.

August 15, 2020 - Canadian National 5485 leads the CN Fulton to Paducah local as it passes the LED signals at CN's P&I Junction in Paducah, Kentucky after making its drop-off and pickup at the Paducah & Louisville Railway. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 56mm, f/11. 1/500, ISO 220.

Canadian National 5485 leads the CN Fulton to Paducah local…

August 15, 2020 – Canadian National 5485 leads the CN Fulton to Paducah local as it passes the LED signals at CN’s P&I Junction in Paducah, Kentucky after making its drop-off and pickup at the Paducah & Louisville Railway.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 56mm, f/11. 1/500, ISO 220.

August 15, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Salute to Our Veterans unit, 2129 heads up an afternoon local as it works in the industrial area at Calvert City, Kentucky. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/11, 1/500, ISO 250.

Paducah and Louisville Salute to Our Veterans unit

August 15, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Salute to Our Veterans unit, 2129 heads up an afternoon local as it works in the industrial area at Calvert City, Kentucky.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/11, 1/500, ISO 250.

June 2, 2020 - It was the dead of night, crickets, frogs and an occasional car passing through the crossing breaking the silence at the Rosewood Crossing, as the moon illuminated the tracks headed out of the south end of the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Paducah, Kentucky toward Mayfield. Moonlight provides a mystical light in my opinion. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mn, f/5, 30 seconds, +2 stops, ISO 640 on a Gitzo Tripod, camera timer, 3 second delay, Mirror Locked up.

Moonlit Tracks on the PAL Railway, Paducah, Kentucky

June 2, 2020 – It was the dead of night, crickets, frogs and an occasional car passing through the crossing breaking the silence at the Rosewood Crossing, as the moon illuminated the tracks headed out of the south end of the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Paducah, Kentucky toward Mayfield. Moonlight provides a mystical light in my opinion.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mn, f/5, 30 seconds, +2 stops, ISO 640 on a Gitzo Tripod, camera timer, 3 second delay, Mirror Locked up.

June 22, 2020 - Norfolk Southern locomotive 1098 leads empty coal train WYX1 past a string of empty grain cars at the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard at Madisonville, Kentucky as it heads for Warrior Coal Main in Nebo, Ky to pickup a load of coal.. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, ISO 400.

NS 1098 SB at PAL West Yard, Madisonville, Ky

June 22, 2020 – Norfolk Southern locomotive 1098 leads empty coal train WYX1 past a string of empty grain cars at the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard at Madisonville, Kentucky as it heads for Warrior Coal Main in Nebo, Ky to pickup a load of coal.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, ISO 400.

June 4, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 4504 & 4502 pull a northbound loaded coal train through Cecilia, Kentucky as they head north to the Louisville Gas & Electric plant at Louisville, Ky. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/8, 1/1250, ISO 560.

Paducah and Louisville Railway 4504 & 4502 NB at Cecilia, Kentucky

June 4, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 4504 & 4502 pull a northbound loaded coal train through Cecilia, Kentucky as they head north to the Louisville Gas & Electric plant at Louisville, Ky.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/8, 1/1250, ISO 560.

June 22, 2020 - A fresh Paducah and Louisville Railway crew climbs aboard Norfolk Southern T4 locomotive 1098 at Central City, Kentucky as they prepare to continue to move empty coal train WYX1 on south to Warrior Coal mine, west of Madisonville, Ky. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 260mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 500.

Paducah and Louisville Railway on WYX1 prepares to depart…

June 22, 2020 – A fresh Paducah and Louisville Railway crew climbs aboard Norfolk Southern locomotive 1098 at Central City, Kentucky as they prepare to continue to move empty coal train WYX1 on south to Warrior Coal mine, west of Madisonville, Ky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 260mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 500.

June 26, 2020 - A scene about as timeless as railroading itself, the only thing that has changed is the equipment and people, is a crew change on the railroad. Here the crew on Paducah and Louisville's LG1 that loaded the coal train at Warrior coal in Nebo, Kentucky does a briefing with the engineer and conductor at West Yard in Madisonville, that will take the train on to the Mill Creek Louisville Gas and Electric plant at Louisville. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/11, 1/1600, ISO 220.

Paducah and Louisville Railway Crew Change, Madisonville, Ky

June 26, 2020 – A scene about as timeless as railroading itself, the only thing that has changed is the equipment and people, is a crew change on the railroad. Here the crew on Paducah and Louisville’s LG1 that loaded the coal train at Warrior coal in Nebo, Kentucky does a briefing with the engineer and conductor at West Yard in Madisonville, that will take the train on to the Mill Creek Louisville Gas and Electric plant at Louisville.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/11, 1/1600, ISO 220.

June 22, 2020 - Norfolk Southern T4 locomotive 1098 leads empty coal train WYX1 through the pouring rain as it pulls up a hill as it heads south on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Milepost 135, south of Bremen, Kentucky. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, ISO 5000.

Paducah & Louisville WYX1 SB with empty coal train…

June 22, 2020 – Norfolk Southern T4 locomotive 1098 leads empty coal train WYX1 through the pouring rain as it pulls up a hill as it heads south on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Milepost 135, south of Bremen, Kentucky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 5000.

June 16, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville loaded coal train PNX2 heads down the Warrior Coal lead after picking up a load of coal at the Warrior loadout at Nebo, Kentucky with 4518 leading the way. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 550mm, f/13, 1/1600sec, ISO 1000.

Paducah and Louisville loaded coal train PNX2…

June 16, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville loaded coal train PNX2 heads down the Warrior Coal lead after picking up a load of coal at the Warrior loadout at Nebo, Kentucky with 4518 leading the way.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 550mm, f/13, 1/1600sec, ISO 1000.

June 4, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 3800, 2100 and 2121 pull about 30 loaded Scotty's Rock through Cecilia, Kentucky as they head north to Scotty's rock yard in Vine Grove, Ky. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/5.6, 1/800sec, ISO 1400.

Paducah and Louisville Railways Scotty’s Rock at Cecilia, Kentucky

June 4, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 3800, 2100 and 2121 pull about 30 loaded Scotty’s Rock through Cecilia, Kentucky as they head north to Scotty’s rock yard in Vine Grove, Ky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/5.6, 1/800sec, ISO 1400.

June 4, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 3800, 2100 and 2121 pull about 30 loaded Scotty's Rock cars upgrade at Summit, Kentucky as they head north to Scotty's rock yard in Vine Grove, Ky. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 270.

PAL Scotty’s Rock train NB at Summit, Ky

June 4, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 3800, 2100 and 2121 pull about 30 loaded Scotty’s Rock cars upgrade at Summit, Kentucky as they head north to Scotty’s rock yard in Vine Grove, Ky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 270.

June 2, 2020 - The LED signal at the P&I Junction in Paducah, Ky illuminates the tracks approaching the switch, behind the camera, as a full moon begins to dip low in the sky over the scene. It's so bright it gives a Martian like view along the tracks as they disappear toward the bridge over the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm @ f/4, 30 seconds, ISO 400.

The LED signal at the P&I Junction in Paducah, Ky…

June 2, 2020 – The LED signal at the P&I Junction in Paducah, Ky illuminates the tracks approaching the switch, behind the camera, as a full moon begins to dip low in the sky over the scene. It’s so bright it gives a Martian like view along the tracks as they disappear toward the bridge over the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm @ f/4, 30 seconds, ISO 400.

June 4, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 3800, 2100 and 2121 lead Scotty's Rock train across the trestle at Big Clifty, Kentucky as they head north to their rock yard in Vine Grove, Ky with loaded rock cars. This is the highest trestle on the PAL railway. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/22, 1/800sec, 5 stops underexposed (exposed for the highlights so the sun wouldn't blow out completely), ISO 100. The smaller f/stop also gives the nice starburst on the sun!

PAL Scotty’s Rock Train at Big Clifty Trestle…

June 4, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 3800, 2100 and 2121 lead Scotty’s Rock train across the trestle at Big Clifty, Kentucky as they head north to their rock yard in Vine Grove, Ky with loaded rock cars. This is the highest trestle on the PAL railway.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/22, 1/800sec, 5 stops underexposed (exposed for the highlights so the sun wouldn’t blow out completely), ISO 100. The smaller f/stop also gives the nice starburst on the sun!