January 29, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 4516 & 2012 head up a northbound loaded Louisville Gas & Electric Coal train as it pulls out of the siding at Pond River, at Madisonville, Ky. Behind it sits a PAL Local waits patiently for it to clear.

Paducah and Louisville Railway LG&E Coal Train…

January 29, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 4516 & 2012 head up a northbound loaded Louisville Gas & Electric Coal train as it pulls out of the siding at Pond River, at Madisonville, Ky. Behind it sits a PAL Local waits patiently for it to clear.

January 15, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway 2121 leads the yard job as it works on moving cars just past the CN crossover in the yard at Paducah, Ky on a foggy morning.

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2121…

January 15, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway 2121 leads the yard job as it works on moving cars just past the CN crossover in the yard at Paducah, Ky on a foggy morning.

December 21, 2019 - BNSF 6417 departs the loop with its empty coal train at Calvert City Terminal where it will connect with the Paducah and Louisville Railway for its return trip south from Calvert City, Kentucky for another load. At right is a recently arrived CSX load taking its place in the loop.

BNSF 6417 departs the loop at Calvert City, Ky

December 21, 2019 – BNSF 6417 departs the loop with its empty coal train at Calvert City Terminal where it will connect with the Paducah and Louisville Railway for its return trip south from Calvert City, Kentucky for another load. At right is a recently arrived CSX load taking its place in the loop.

December 21, 2019 - Paducah and Louisville Railway's Salute to Our Veterans GP40-2 runs long nose forward as it crosses the bridge at Kentucky Dam at Gilbertsville, Kentucky pulling a CSX loaded coal train over the Tennessee river. They were headed south to Calvert City Terminal with their loaded train when they passed my house in Richland, Kentucky and it was very unusual to see the lash-up this way so I had to give chase!! A nice early Christmas present for me!!

Paducah and Louisville Railway’s Salute to Our Veterans unit at Gilbertsville, Ky

December 21, 2019 – Paducah and Louisville Railway’s Salute to Our Veterans GP40-2 runs long nose forward as it crosses the bridge at Kentucky Dam at Gilbertsville, Kentucky pulling a CSX loaded coal train over the Tennessee river. They were headed south to Calvert City Terminal with their loaded train when they passed my house in Richland, Kentucky and it was very unusual to see the lash-up this way so I had to give chase!! A nice early Christmas present for me!!

Paducah and Louisville Railway’s 2118…

November 27, 2019 – Paducah and Louisville Railway’s 2118 heads up the afternoon local as it heads into the setting sun as it heads south through Richland, Kentucky on it’s way south.

October 2, 2019 - This afternoon I caught this rainbow power move as it took the siding at the north end of the siding at Dawson Springs, Ky, on the Paducah and Louisville Railway. The power is, PAL 4518, CITIRAIL 1204, BNSF 9651 and 5653. The BNSF power came north earlier this morning and dropped off a string of empty coal cars, before the power being moved back to Paducah, Ky. Not sure of the reason for the strange move however.

This afternoon I caught this rainbow power move…

October 2, 2019 – This afternoon I caught this rainbow power move as it took the siding at the north end of the siding at Dawson Springs, Ky, on the Paducah and Louisville Railway. The power is, PAL 4518, CITIRAIL 1204, BNSF 9651 and 5653. The BNSF power came north earlier this morning and dropped off a string of empty coal cars, before the power being moved back to Paducah, Ky. Not sure of the reason for the strange move however.

September 19, 2019 - The sun begins to set over the Paducah and Louisville Railway at the crossing from West Yard in Madisonville, Ky as we approach the first day of fall.

The sun begins to set…

September 19, 2019 – The sun begins to set over the Paducah and Louisville Railway at the crossing from West Yard in Madisonville, Ky as we approach the first day of fall.

September 12, 2019 - It has been several weeks since Dotki Mine in Clay, Kentucky shut down and today the town of Providence, Ky turnout for the last load of coal (20 cars or so) from the mine. The last run today was dedicated in honor the miners who worked there–and the miner Jeremy Elder–who died just one week ago in an accident at Warrior Coal Mine outside Madisonville, Ky.

The  Elder family, from left, brother Adam Elder, wife Kristi Elder, mother Loretta Elder, son Holden Elder and father Terry Elder. Not pictured is son Rylan Elder,
who was on a field trip with his school, posing for pictures on Paducah and Louisville Railway's 4522, University of Kentucky engine, which was heading up CSX Z464-12 on the last trip along the CSX Morganfield Branch.

Coal trains have been passing through Providence since the 1800's according to a Facebook post by Providence Mayor Doug Hammers and a banner on the last coal car read; for the last 52 years the railroad has hauled a total of over 193 Million tons of coal from the Dotki Mine.

The mine was operated by Alliance Resource Partner's (ARP) subsidiary, Webster County Coal LLC and according to recent news reports by the Gleaner Newspaper in Henderson, Kentucky, the mine closed due to a decline in the coal market. "Unfortunately, weak market conditions made this action necessary," said Joseph W. Craft III, chairman, president and chief executive officer of ARP. "We are saddened that production will be ending at the Dotiki Mine, which was opened in 1969 and is the oldest mine operated by ARLP."

Last Train from Dotki Mine at Providence, Kentucky

September 12, 2019 – It has been several weeks since Dotki Mine in Clay, Kentucky shut down and today the town of Providence, Ky turnout for the last load of coal (20 cars or so) from the mine. The last run today was dedicated in honor the miners who worked there–and the miner Jeremy Elder–who died just one week ago at Warrior Coal Mine in Madisonville, Ky.

In this photo we see the Elder family posing for pictures on Paducah and Louisville Railway’s 4522, University of Kentucky engine, which was heading up CSX Z464-12 on the last trip along the CSX Morganfield Branch.

Coal trains have been passing through Providence since the 1800’s according to a Facebook post by Providence Mayor Doug Hammers and a banner on the last coal car read; for the last 52 years the railroad has hauled a total of over 193 Million tons of coal from the Dotki Mine.

The mine was operated by Alliance Resource Partner’s (ARP) subsidiary, Webster County Coal LLC nad according to recent news reports by the Gleaner Newspaper in Henderson, Kentucky, the mine closed due to a decline in the coal market. “Unfortunately, weak market conditions made this action necessary,” said Joseph W. Craft III, chairman, president and chief executive officer of ARP. “We are saddened that production will be ending at the Dotiki Mine, which was opened in 1969 and is the oldest mine operated by ARLP.”

August 17, 2019 - Norfolk Southern WYX1 craws downgrade on the Warrior Lead is it departs Warrior Coal with a loaded coal train bound for the Paducah and Louisville Railway and points north.

Norfolk Southern WYX1 craws downgrade…

August 17, 2019 – Norfolk Southern WYX1 craws downgrade on the Warrior Lead is it departs Warrior Coal with a loaded coal train bound for the Paducah and Louisville Railway and points north.

WEB-04.17.19 BNSF 6999 NB at PAL West Yard, Madisonville, Ky

BNSF 6999 pulls a load of empty flats…

April 17, 2019 – BNSF 6999 pulls a load of empty flats past the Warrior Coal lead switch as it heads north on the Paducah and Louisville Railway. – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #bnsf #bnsfrailway #pal #palrailway

WEB-04.13.19 NS 1005 Loaded Coa on the PALl at East Diamond, Madisonville, KY

Norfolk Southern Railway 1005 heads up…

April 13, 2019 – Norfolk Southern Railway 1005 heads up a loaded coal train as it sits at Milepost 143 as it waits for a green signal, just south of the Pond River Siding on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Madisonville, Ky. – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #PAL #paducahandlouisvillerailway #norfolksouthernrailway

February 2, 2019 - Union Pacific 4091 heads up Paducah and Louisville Railway WYX1 (Z4091) as it pulls away from  Grand Rivers, Ky, after completing a crew change, with a loaded train of coke bound for Calvert City Terminal. - #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #pal #palrailway #paducahandlouisvillerailway

February 2, 2019 – Union Pacific 4091 heads up…

February 2, 2019 – Union Pacific 4091 heads up Paducah and Louisville Railway WYX1 (Z4091) as it pulls away from Grand Rivers, Ky, after completing a crew change, with a loaded train of coke bound for Calvert City Terminal. – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #pal #palrailway #paducahandlouisvillerailway

February 2, 2019 - Paducah and Louisville Railway 3811 heads up a local as it finishes a dropoff and pickup at the Lubrizol plant in Calvert City, Ky. - #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #pal #palrailway #paducahandlouisvillerailway

February 2, 2019 – Paducah and Louisville Railway 3811…

February 2, 2019 – Paducah and Louisville Railway 3811 heads up a local as it finishes a dropoff and pickup at the Lubrizol plant in Calvert City, Ky. – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #pal #palrailway #paducahandlouisvillerailway

February 2, 2019 - Union Pacific 4091 heads up Paducah and Louisville Railway WYX1 (Z4091) as it heads away southbound over the Tennessee River at Kentucky Dam in Gilbertsville, Ky with a loaded train of coke bound for Calvert City Terminal. - #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #pal #palrailway #paducahandlouisvillerailway

February 2, 2019 – Union Pacific 4091 heads up…

February 2, 2019 – Union Pacific 4091 heads up Paducah and Louisville Railway WYX1 (Z4091) as it heads away southbound over the Tennessee River at Kentucky Dam in Gilbertsville, Ky with a loaded train of coke bound for Calvert City Terminal. – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #pal #palrailway #paducahandlouisvillerailway

February 2, 2019 - Union Pacific 4091 heads up Paducah and Louisville Railway WYX1 (Z4091) as it heads south over the Tennessee River at Kentucky Dam in Gilbertsville, Ky with a loaded train of coke bound for Calvert City Terminal. - #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #pal #palrailway #paducahandlouisvillerailway

February 2, 2019 – Union Pacific 4091 heads up…

February 2, 2019 – Union Pacific 4091 heads up Paducah and Louisville Railway WYX1 (Z4091) as it heads south over the Tennessee River at Kentucky Dam in Gilbertsville, Ky with a loaded train of coke bound for Calvert City Terminal. – #jimstrainphotos #kentuckyrailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #pal #palrailway #paducahandlouisvillerailway