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!

May 30, 2020 - CSX was nice and sent several interesting trains my way for my 70th birthday! This on of CSX J732 meeting CSX Q028 at the north end of Pembroke at Hopkinsville, Ky. J732 was pulling into the yard at Casky with Paducah and Louisville Railway units 3803, 3804 and 3808 in tow as the trailing units. I've not been able to find out where they're headed, other than they should go out sometime tonight on J733 south to Nashville, TN on the Henderson Subdivision. Either way, it made for one of several nice shots for my birthday! Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300mm @70mm, f/9, 1/1000sec with ISO 560.

May 30, 2020 – CSX was nice and sent several interesting trains my way for my 70th birthday! This one of CSX J732 meeting CSX Q028 at the north end of Pembroke at Hopkinsville, Ky. J732 was pulling into the yard at Casky with Paducah and Louisville Railway units 3803, 3804 and 3808 in tow as the trailing units.

I’ve not been able to find out where they’re headed, other than they should go out sometime tonight on J733 south to Nashville, TN on the Henderson Subdivision. Either way, it made for one of several nice shots for my birthday!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300mm @70mm, f/9, 1/1000sec with ISO 560.

May 8, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 60P pulls through the Paducah and Louisville Railways Oak Street yard headed to the Louisville and Indiana Railroad in Jeffersonville, Indiana with a loaded CP Potash train, on a wet, rainy afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 270mm, f/5.6 at 1/400sec, ISO 450.

Norfolk Southern 60P at Louisville, Ky

May 8, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 60P pulls through the Paducah and Louisville Railways Oak Street yard headed to the Louisville and Indiana Railroad in Jeffersonville, Indiana with a loaded CP Potash train, on a wet, rainy afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 270mm, f/5.6 at 1/400sec, ISO 450.

May 13, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, University of Kentucky engine, leads a Scotty's Rock train on LV1, with PAL 2100 and 2121 trailing, as it heads south through Central City, Kentucky. Tech Info:Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 210mm, 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 220.

Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998 at Central City, Ky

May 13, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, University of Kentucky engine, leads a Scotty’s Rock train on LV1, with PAL 2100 and 2121 trailing, as it heads south through Central City, Kentucky.

Tech Info:Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 210mm, 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 220.

May 13, 2020 - For me, some photos just need to be black and white like this one of Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, University of Kentucky engine, as it leads a Scotty's Rock train through a tunnel of trees, as it approaches the Ky 70 crossing just south of Madisonville, Ky. Tech Info:Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 350mm, 1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 350.

Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998 southbound with a Scotty’s Rock Train…

May 13, 2020 – For me, some photos just need to be black and white like this one of Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, University of Kentucky engine, as it leads a Scotty’s Rock train through a tunnel of trees, as it approaches the Ky 70 crossing just south of Madisonville, Ky.

Tech Info:Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 350mm, 1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 350.

May 13, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, University of Kentucky engine, leads a Scotty's Rock train as it rounds a curve in the valley south of Caneyville, Ky on LV1 with PAL 2100 and 2121 trailing, bound for Madisonville, Ky Tech Info:Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, 1/500 sec, f/6.3, ISO 560.

PAL Scotty’s Rock train south of Caneyville, Ky

May 13, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, University of Kentucky engine, leads a Scotty’s Rock train as it rounds a curve in the valley south of Caneyville, Ky on LV1 with PAL 2100 and 2121 trailing, bound for Madisonville, Ky

Tech Info:Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, 1/500 sec, f/6.3, ISO 560.

May 13, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 1998, University of Kentucky engine, leads a Scotty's Rock train south on LV1 with PAL 2100 and 2121 trailing. The pull at this point is a hard one as they work upgrade out of Litchfield, Kentucky after picking a load of rock cars from Scotty's Contracting & Stone at Litchfield, bound for their Madisonville operation. Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Fuji 18-55mm @ 18mm, 1/1000 sec, f/2.8, ISO 250.

PAL Scotty’s Rock Train southbound…

May 13, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 1998, University of Kentucky engine, leads a Scotty’s Rock train south on LV1 with PAL 2100 and 2121 trailing.

The pull at this point is a hard one as they work upgrade out of Litchfield, Kentucky after picking a load of rock cars from Scotty’s Contracting & Stone at Litchfield, bound for their Madisonville operation.

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Fuji 18-55mm @ 18mm, 1/1000 sec, f/2.8, ISO 250.