On National Train Day PAL 2013 and 4518 Load at Warrior Coal, Nebo, KY Paducah and Louisville Railway 2013 (University of Louisville Unit) and 4518 lead the Louisville Gas and Electric (LG1) as it snakes its way out of the Warrior Coal loadout on May 8th, 2021 at Nebo, Kentucky on the 2021 National Train Day. According to the Web: National Train Day is a holiday that’s honors the history of the train in the U.S and promotes rail travel for all Americans. It’s observed annually on the Saturday closest to the 10th of May every year and is an opportunity for everyone to learn about how trains have revolutionized civilization and united a country at the same time. National Train Day was invented in May of 2008 by Amtrak. They wanted a way to promote rail travel, to spread information about trains to the public, and to reiterate the history of trains, so they invented this holiday. In 2011, Amtrak used the holiday as a part of its 40th-anniversary celebration. Amtrak discontinued National Train Day in 2015 to replace it with Amtrak Train Days, but people all over the world continue to celebrate this holiday as it was originally imagined. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.

On National Train Day PAL 2013 and 4518 Load at Warrior Coal, Nebo, KY

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2013 (University of Louisville Unit) and 4518 lead the Louisville Gas and Electric (LG1) as it snakes its way out of the Warrior Coal loadout on May 8th, 2021 at Nebo, Kentucky on the 2021 National Train Day.

According to the Web: National Train Day is a holiday that’s honors the history of the train in the U.S and promotes rail travel for all Americans. It’s observed annually on the Saturday closest to the 10th of May every year and is an opportunity for everyone to learn about how trains have revolutionized civilization and united a country at the same time.

National Train Day was invented in May of 2008 by Amtrak. They wanted a way to promote rail travel, to spread information about trains to the public, and to reiterate the history of trains, so they invented this holiday. In 2011, Amtrak used the holiday as a part of its 40th-anniversary celebration. Amtrak discontinued National Train Day in 2015 to replace it with Amtrak Train Days, but people all over the world continue to celebrate this holiday as it was originally imagined.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.

Northbound Paducah and Louisville Railway LG1 at Rosine, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway 4516 and 2012 lead a loaded Louisville Gas and Electric (LG1) loaded coal train through the cut just north of Rosine, Kentucky as it makes its way toward Louisville on April 14th, 2021. According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The 270-mile line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100.

Northbound Paducah and Louisville Railway LG1 at Rosine, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway 4516 and 2012 lead a loaded Louisville Gas and Electric (LG1) loaded coal train through the cut just north of Rosine, Kentucky as it makes its way toward Louisville on April 14th, 2021.

According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The 270-mile line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern 4334 and 4433 Southbound at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky Thanks to a heads up from good friend Bill Grady I found out this southbound NS empty coal train was coming out of Louisville, Ky and heading down the Paducah and Louisville Railway to pickup a load of coal from Warrior Coal at Madisonville, Ky. It left Louisville around midnight and I wasn't sure if I'd catch it on its way to the loadout, but I was fortunate enough to catch it passing over the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Monarch in Madisonville, Ky on April 20th, 2021. I was surprised to see it arrive with a single unit leading the train and the two units on the rear acting as DPUs. They do this from time to time when the train is empty and after it loads, what was the DPUs on the Southbound run become the lead units when it heads back north. One of these days I'll catch a scene here with trains on both tracks! I'm still working on it! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern 4334 and 4433 Southbound at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky

Thanks to a heads up from good friend Bill Grady I found out this southbound NS empty coal train was coming out of Louisville, Ky and heading down the Paducah and Louisville Railway to pickup a load of coal from Warrior Coal at Madisonville, Ky.

It left Louisville around midnight and I wasn’t sure if I’d catch it on its way to the loadout, but I was fortunate enough to catch it passing over the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Monarch in Madisonville, Ky on April 20th, 2021.

I was surprised to see it arrive with a single unit leading the train and the two units on the rear acting as DPUs. They do this from time to time when the train is empty and after it loads, what was the DPUs on the Southbound run become the lead units when it heads back north.

One of these days I’ll catch a scene here with trains on both tracks! I’m still working on it!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville LG1 northbound at Summit, Kentucky I love a spot that allows for good use of leading lines in a photograph, such as this shot! Here, Paducah and Louisville 4516 and 2012 lead loaded coal train LG1 (Louisville Gas & Electric) as they make their way through Summit, Kentucky on April 14th, 2021 on the way to the LG power plant at Louisville, Ky. Judging from the right of way, maintenance of way crews are preparing to replace ties and rails in the curves here, which is a never-ending job on the railroad! From Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The 270-mile line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986. The 223-mile main route runs between Paducah and Louisville with branch lines from Paducah to Kevil and Mayfield, Kentucky, and another from Cecilia to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The PAL interchanges with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Canadian National (CN), formerly Illinois Central Railroad, in Paducah. In Madisonville, the line interchanges with CSX Transportation (CSXT). In Louisville, the line interchanges with the Indiana Railroad (INRD), CSX Transportation (CSXT) and Norfolk Southern (NS). Class III line connections are at Princeton with the Fredonia Valley Railroad (FVRR) and at Louisville with the Louisville and Indiana Railroad (LIRC). The line today carries over 200,000 carloads of traffic on a CTC-controlled mainline with welded rail and even a section of double track nearly 20 miles long between Paducah and just east of Calvert City. This is a huge improvement from the little amount of traffic and poor condition the line was in by the time the ICG had sold it. Today it is a big regional class II railroad connecting with four class I railroads (listed above), as well as the three shortline connections it makes which are also listed above. It has 270 route-miles of track, of which 233 miles are its mainline running between its namesake towns of Paducah and Louisville, as well as branch lines to Mayfield, Kevil, and Elizabethtown. The railroad serves "many chemical plants and other manufacturing companies, several coal mines, numerous clay and stone quarries, lumber and propane distributors, farm [including a few large grain elevators] and mine equipment suppliers, warehouses, transloads, bulk terminals, riverports, and one military base." The parent company of the PAL, P&L Transportation, also operates the Evansville Western Railway and the Appalachian and Ohio Railroad. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 290mm, f/7.6, 1/640, ISO 1800.

Paducah and Louisville LG1 northbound at Summit, Kentucky

I love a spot that allows for good use of leading lines in a photograph, such as this shot! Here, Paducah and Louisville 4516 and 2012 lead loaded coal train LG1 (Louisville Gas & Electric) as they make their way through Summit, Kentucky on April 14th, 2021 on the way to the LG power plant at Louisville, Ky.

Judging from the right of way, maintenance of way crews are preparing to replace ties and rails in the curves here, which is a never-ending job on the railroad!

From Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The 270-mile line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986. The 223-mile main route runs between Paducah and Louisville with branch lines from Paducah to Kevil and Mayfield, Kentucky, and another from Cecilia to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The PAL interchanges with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Canadian National (CN), formerly Illinois Central Railroad, in Paducah. In Madisonville, the line interchanges with CSX Transportation (CSXT).

In Louisville, the line interchanges with the Indiana Railroad (INRD), CSX Transportation (CSXT) and Norfolk Southern (NS). Class III line connections are at Princeton with the Fredonia Valley Railroad (FVRR) and at Louisville with the Louisville and Indiana Railroad (LIRC). The line today carries over 200,000 carloads of traffic on a CTC-controlled mainline with welded rail and even a section of double track nearly 20 miles long between Paducah and just east of Calvert City. This is a huge improvement from the little amount of traffic and poor condition the line was in by the time the ICG had sold it.

Today it is a big regional class II railroad connecting with four class I railroads (listed above), as well as the three shortline connections it makes which are also listed above. It has 270 route-miles of track, of which 233 miles are its mainline running between its namesake towns of Paducah and Louisville, as well as branch lines to Mayfield, Kevil, and Elizabethtown. The railroad serves “many chemical plants and other manufacturing companies, several coal mines, numerous clay and stone quarries, lumber and propane distributors, farm [including a few large grain elevators] and mine equipment suppliers, warehouses, transloads, bulk terminals, riverports, and one military base.”

The parent company of the PAL, P&L Transportation, also operates the Evansville Western Railway and the Appalachian and Ohio Railroad.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 290mm, f/7.6, 1/640, ISO 1800.

Signs of Spring at the Paducah and Louisville Railway as CN heads to Fulton, Ky! With signs of spring in the trees, Canadian National Fulton to Paducah (FUPU) turn heads over the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard as it heads back to Fulton, Ky after making its drop-off and pick-up at Paducah, Ky. I've been trying to catch this shot ever since I got my first drone and it finally happened today, April 3rd, 2021st while myself and fellow railfan Ryan Scott spent the day chasing trains around Paducah and Fulton, Ky! While we didn't get a lot of trains, what we did catch was nice and you'll see more in the days to come! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Signs of Spring at the Paducah and Louisville Railway as CN heads to Fulton, Ky!

With signs of spring in the trees, Canadian National Fulton to Paducah (FUPU) turn heads over the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard as it heads back to Fulton, Ky after making its drop-off and pick-up at Paducah, Ky.

I’ve been trying to catch this shot ever since I got my first drone and it finally happened today, April 3rd, 2021st while myself and fellow railfan Ryan Scott spent the day chasing trains around Paducah and Fulton, Ky! While we didn’t get a lot of trains, what we did catch was nice and you’ll see more in the days to come!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Princeton, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2100 leads the daily local south, as it arrives at their yard in Princeton, Ky after making its pickup from CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it's pickup on January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the National Railway Equipment shops in Paducah, Kentucky. The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, dead in tow were, CIT/CBFX 1579, 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northside Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 46mm, f/4, 1/800, ISO 220.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Princeton, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2100 leads the daily local south, as it arrives at their yard in Princeton, Ky after making its pickup from CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it’s pickup on January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the National Railway Equipment shops in Paducah, Kentucky.

The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, dead in tow were, CIT/CBFX 1579, 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northshore Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 46mm, f/4, 1/800, ISO 220.

A snowy Paducah and Louisville Railway local Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads a short snow covered local south after passing the south end of Pond River Siding at Madisonville, Ky on the early afternoon of February 16th, 2021. The one thing I'm still getting used to is the delay you get when photographing moving objects with a drone. This shot for instance was at least 1/2 engine length back when I fired the shutter on the drone controller, but the train moved that much before the drone actually made the photo. I still obviously like the shot, but there's been more than one shot I missed due to the delay and with patience and practice I'm getting better at my timing! When shooting, I try my best to frame the picture the way I want the final shot to look as this is the full frame I shot. However, it seems the answer may be to shoot a little wider then crop in a little when I process the image. When shooting the Air 2 at 48mp RAW/JPG this isn't a problem, but then at that quality I'll only get one shot as it takes longer to save the image to the card and the train will be past the position I want before I can shoot again. If shooting at the 12mp RAW/JPG size I can shoot several shots, but I like the larger 48mp size to work with, so I'll continue to work on my timing. If any of my fellow Drone pilots out there have any suggestions please leave them in the comments below! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

A snowy Paducah and Louisville Railway local

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads a short snow covered local south after passing the south end of Pond River Siding at Madisonville, Ky on the early afternoon of February 16th, 2021.

The one thing I’m still getting used to is the delay you get when photographing moving objects with a drone. This shot for instance was at least 1/2 engine length back when I fired the shutter on the drone controller, but the train moved that much before the drone actually made the photo. I still obviously like the shot, but there’s been more than one shot I missed due to the delay and with patience and practice I’m getting better at my timing!

When shooting, I try my best to frame the picture the way I want the final shot to look as this is the full frame I shot. However, it seems the answer may be to shoot a little wider then crop in a little when I process the image.

When shooting the Air 2 at 48mp RAW/JPG this isn’t a problem, but then at that quality I’ll only get one shot as it takes longer to save the image to the card and the train will be past the position I want before I can shoot again. If shooting at the 12mp RAW/JPG size I can shoot several shots, but I like the larger 48mp size to work with, so I’ll continue to work on my timing.

If any of my fellow Drone pilots out there have any suggestions please leave them in the comments below!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

PAL 2104 Dashing through the Snow! The Princeton to Madisonville, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway local dashes through the snow past the backside of my property on the right as it heads north at Richland, Kentucky through the freshly fallen snow! We got probably another 3-5 inches of fresh snow this morning, February 18th, 2021, and while listening to my scanner and trying to decide if I wanted to venture down off the hill at my home I heard the Paducah and Louisville Railway local getting track warrants about 3 miles from the house. I put on my boots and went dashing through the snow to put my drone up before it got to me and grabbed this shot of PAL 2104, 2101, 2121 and 2112 leading. At Madisonville they'll do their interchange work in the cold frigid weather with CSX at Atkinson Yard, dropping of these cars and picking up others! A scene repeated all around the country on various railroads, by dedicated railroaders! Hats off to all the crews that run during frigid weather like this and all the behind the scenes folks that make it all happen! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

PAL 2104 Dashing through the Snow!

The Princeton to Madisonville, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway local dashes through the snow past the backside of my property on the right as it heads north at Richland, Kentucky through the freshly fallen snow!

We got probably another 3-5 inches of fresh snow this morning, February 18th, 2021, and while listening to my scanner and trying to decide if I wanted to venture down off the hill at my home I heard the Paducah and Louisville Railway local getting track warrants about 3 miles from the house.

I put on my boots and went dashing through the snow to put my drone up before it got to me and grabbed this shot of PAL 2104, 2101, 2121 and 2100 leading.

At Madisonville they’ll do their interchange work in the cold frigid weather with CSX at Atkinson Yard, dropping of these cars and picking up others!

A scene repeated all around the country on various railroads, by dedicated railroaders! Hats off to all the crews that run during frigid weather like this and all the behind the scenes folks that make it all happen!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

Broom work is never done after a good snow on the PAL! It's February 16th, 2021 and a cool 10 degrees outside (even colder with the wind chill) as two Paducah and Louisville Railway employees work on clearing snow and ice from the switches at West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. On shortline and regional railroads this scene is repeated a lot, even on many of the class ones, epically with the recent snow front that moved through much of south in areas that normally don't get snow! I'm told that CSX in the Nashville area had crews doing this same thing all around the city! Remember, it's not always about the power on the railroad! It's folks behind the scenes like the maintainers, MOW folks, Dispatchers, ect. that make it all move! Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 185mm f/5, 1/1250, ISO 100 -0.7 Exp. Comp.

Broom work is never done after a good snow on the PAL!

It’s February 16th, 2021 and a cool 10 degrees outside (even colder with the wind chill) as two Paducah and Louisville Railway employees work on clearing snow and ice from the switches at West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky.

On shortline and regional railroads this scene is repeated a lot, even on many of the class ones, epically with the recent snow front that moved through much of south in areas that normally don’t get snow! I’m told that CSX in the Nashville area had crews doing this same thing all around the city!

Remember, it’s not always about the power on the railroad! It’s folks behind the scenes like the maintainers, MOW folks, Dispatchers, ect. that make it all move!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 185mm f/5, 1/1250, ISO 100 -0.7 Exp. Comp.

Northbound load of coal at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 4522 and 2012 power their way north as they cross over the CSX Mainline on the Henderson Subdivision, at the location known as Monarch, in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 9th, 2021. They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky, after picking up a load of coal the Warrior Coal Mine in Nebo, Ky. This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Northbound load of coal at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 4522 and 2012 power their way north as they cross over the CSX Mainline on the Henderson Subdivision, at the location known as Monarch, in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 9th, 2021.

They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky, after picking up a load of coal the Warrior Coal Mine in Nebo, Ky.

This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Waiting for a fresh crew Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) two University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 2012 and 4522 sit tied down on the main at West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 6th, 2021. They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky and are waiting on a fresh crew to take the train onto the Warrior Coal Mine loop at Nebo, Ky for another load of coal. This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture! #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #jimpearsonphotography Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Waiting for a fresh crew

Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) two University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 2012 and 4522 sit tied down on the main at West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 6th, 2021.

They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky and are waiting on a fresh crew to take the train onto the Warrior Coal Mine loop at Nebo, Ky for another load of coal.

This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Dawson Springs, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads the daily local south, approaching the US 62 overpass after making it's pickup from CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it's pickup on January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the National Railway Equipment shops in Paducah, Kentucky. The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, dead in tow were, CIT/CBFX 1579, 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northside Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 150mm, f/5, 1/3200, ISO 640.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Dawson Springs, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads the daily local south, approaching the US 62 overpass after making it’s pickup from CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it’s pickup on January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the National Railway Equipment shops in Paducah, Kentucky.

The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, dead in tow were, CIT/CBFX 1579, 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northside Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 150mm, f/5, 1/3200, ISO 640.

PAL Blue picking up black coal! Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky (Wildcats) locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead a empty coal under the beltline against the setting sun as they arrive at Warrior Coal Loop in Nebo, Kentucky for another load of black coal on January 23rd, 2021. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm DX Lens @15mm f/4, 1/1000, ISO 180.

PAL Blue picking up black coal!

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky (Wildcats) locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead a empty coal under the beltline against the setting sun as they arrive at Warrior Coal Loop in Nebo, Kentucky for another load of black coal on January 23rd, 2021.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm DX Lens @15mm f/4, 1/1000, ISO 180.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads the daily local through PAL's west yard after doing its interchange work with CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it's pickup today, January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the NRE shops at Paducah, Kentucky after a brief stay at Princeton. The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, CIT/CBFX 1579 and 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northside Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads the daily local through PAL’s west yard after doing its interchange work with CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it’s pickup today, January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the NRE shops at Paducah, Kentucky after a brief stay at Princeton.

The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, CIT/CBFX 1579 and 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northside Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville load of coal southbound on a winter's day A loaded Paducah and Louisville coal train pulls south out of Warrior Coal Mine at Nebo, Kentucky, as it starts its run to Calvert City Terminal in Calvert City, Kentucky on a cold December 11th, 2020. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville load of coal southbound on a winter’s day

A loaded Paducah and Louisville coal train pulls south out of Warrior Coal Mine at Nebo, Kentucky, as it starts its run to Calvert City Terminal in Calvert City, Kentucky on a cold December 11th, 2020.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville WW1 NB at Monarch The January 8, 2021 Paducah and Louisville Railway local WWW1 returns south running engines light after dropping off a string of cars at CSX's Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Here the power is crossing over CSX's Henderson Subdivision at the location called Monarch as it heads back to the yard at Princeton, Kentucky under stormy skies with PAL 2101 leading 2104 and 2106. The drone was moved away from the track before the train went under it. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 200.

Paducah and Louisville WW1 NB at Monarch

The January 8, 2021 Paducah and Louisville Railway local WW1 returns south running engines light after dropping off a string of cars at CSX’s Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Here the power is crossing over CSX’s Henderson Subdivision at the location called Monarch as it heads back to the yard at Princeton, Kentucky under stormy skies with PAL 2101 leading 2104 and 2106. The drone was moved away from the track before the train went under it.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 200.

Dashing through the snow! Paducah and Louisville Railways 2012 (University of Louisville) locomotive leads PBX1, a loaded coal train, as it moves down the grade coming out of the Warrior Coal Mine loadout as heavy snow blows through the mine lead area at Madisonville, Ky on the early afternoon hours of January 7th, 2021. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 with a 1.4 Teleconverter @700mm f/10, 1/640, ISO 1400.

Dashing through the snow!

Paducah and Louisville Railways 2012 (University of Louisville) locomotive leads PBX1, a loaded coal train, as it moves down the grade coming out of the Warrior Coal Mine loadout as heavy snow blows through the mine lead area at Madisonville, Ky on the early afternoon hours of January 7th, 2021.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 with a 1.4 Teleconverter @700mm f/10, 1/640, ISO 1400.

Dashing through the Snow on PAL 2106... Well, since we don't have snow today on Christmas here in Western Kentucky I looked back and found a shot from the past that thought I'd share today! January 17, 2018 - A early morning Paducah and Louisville Railway 2106 leads a loaded coal train as it heads south through the snow covered cut at Charleston as it heads for the loadout at Calvert City, Ky. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 320. January 17, 2018 - A early morning Paducah and Louisville Railway loaded coal train heads south through the snow covered cut at Charleston, Ky as it heads for the loadout at Calvert City, Ky.

Dashing through the Snow on PAL 2106…

Well, since we don’t have snow today on Christmas here in Western Kentucky I looked back and found a shot from the past that thought I’d share today!

January 17, 2018 – A early morning Paducah and Louisville Railway 2106 leads a loaded coal train as it heads south through the snow covered cut at Charleston as it heads for the loadout at Calvert City, Ky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 320.

Paducah & Louisville PRX1 departs Warrior Coal, Nebo, Ky The late afternoon light plays across the marshland as Paducah and Louisville 4504 and 4501 begin to pull their freshly loaded coal train away from the Warrior Coal Mine loop from Nebo, Kentucky on December 5th, 2020 as they head south to Calvert City Terminal at Calvert City, Ky. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Paducah & Louisville PRX1 departs Warrior Coal, Nebo, Ky


The late afternoon light plays across the marshland as Paducah and Louisville 4504 and 4501 begin to pull their freshly loaded coal train away from the Warrior Coal Mine loop from Nebo, Kentucky on December 5th, 2020 as they head south to Calvert City Terminal at Calvert City, Ky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CN FUPD Local working the PAL yard at Paducah, Ky. Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad 907 heads up the CN Fulton to Paducah local as it passes Canadian Pacific 7015 as it moves north through the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard at Paducah, Kentucky. It was on its way to pickup its train for the return trip to Fulton during its interchange work on the first day of winter, December 21, 2020. Not sure what the Canadian Pacific 7015 Maroon and Gray Heritage Unit was doing at Paducah, but it made for a nice shot with the CN local. According to Wikipedia: "The Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad (reporting mark BLE) is a class II railroad that operates in northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio. The railroad's main route runs from the Lake Erie port of Conneaut, Ohio to the Pittsburgh suburb of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, a distance of 139 miles (224 km). The original rail ancestor of the B&LE, the Shenango and Allegheny Railroad, began operation in October 1869. Rail operations were maintained continuously by various corporate descendants on the growing system that ultimately became the B&LE in 1900. In 2004 B&LE came under the ownership of the Canadian National Railway (CN) as part of CN's larger purchase of holding company Great Lakes Transportation. B&LE is operated by CN as their Bessemer Subdivision. As a subsidiary of CN, B&LE has been largely unchanged (though repainting of B&LE locomotives into CN paint with "BLE" sub-lettering began in April 2015) and still does business as B&LE. B&LE locomotives, especially the former Southern Pacific SD40T-3 "Tunnel Motors", have been scattered across the CN system; many are being used in the line that feeds most of B&LE's traffic, the former Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range lines in Minnesota. The iron ore that originates on these lines is transloaded to ships at Two Harbors, Minnesota, then sent by ship to Conneaut, Ohio, where it is again transloaded to B&LE trains. It is then taken down to steel mills in the Pittsburgh region, mainly to the blast furnaces at US Steel's Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania, part of the Mon Valley Works." Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CN FUPD Local working the PAL yard at Paducah, Ky.

Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad 907 heads up the CN Fulton to Paducah local as it passes Canadian Pacific 7015 as it moves north through the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard at Paducah, Kentucky. It was on its way to pickup its train for the return trip to Fulton during its interchange work on the first day of winter, December 21, 2020.

Not sure what the Canadian Pacific 7015 Maroon and Gray Heritage Unit was doing at Paducah, but it made for a nice shot with the CN local
According to Wikipedia: “The Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad (reporting mark BLE) is a class II railroad that operates in northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio.

The railroad’s main route runs from the Lake Erie port of Conneaut, Ohio to the Pittsburgh suburb of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, a distance of 139 miles (224 km). The original rail ancestor of the B&LE, the Shenango and Allegheny Railroad, began operation in October 1869.

Rail operations were maintained continuously by various corporate descendants on the growing system that ultimately became the B&LE in 1900. In 2004 B&LE came under the ownership of the Canadian National Railway (CN) as part of CN’s larger purchase of holding company Great Lakes Transportation. B&LE is operated by CN as their Bessemer Subdivision.

As a subsidiary of CN, B&LE has been largely unchanged (though repainting of B&LE locomotives into CN paint with “BLE” sub-lettering began in April 2015[2]) and still does business as B&LE. B&LE locomotives, especially the former Southern Pacific SD40T-3 “Tunnel Motors”, have been scattered across the CN system; many are being used in the line that feeds most of B&LE’s traffic, the former Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range lines in Minnesota. The iron ore that originates on these lines is transloaded to ships at Two Harbors, Minnesota, then sent by ship to Conneaut, Ohio, where it is again transloaded to B&LE trains.

It is then taken down to steel mills in the Pittsburgh region, mainly to the blast furnaces at US Steel’s Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania, part of the Mon Valley Works.”

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.