March 22nd, 2025 – Episode 116 Railfanning the Paducah, Kentucky Area

March 22nd, 2025 – Episode 116 Railfanning the Paducah, Kentucky Area Saturday Edited Video from Jim Pearson Photography In this week’s video I’m taking you on a tour of some of my favorite spots to railfan around the Paducah, Kentucky area. Sit back, turn up the sound, expand to full screen and enjoy the trains!! Please like, share, subscribe and thanks for watching!

Southbound CSX M513 waits at Romney, south of Nortonville, Kentucky as CSX northbound Intermodal I128 passes them on track 2, on January 17th, 2025, on the Henderson Subdivision. M513 has PCS Group Switcher 1144 as the third unit and an ex-Union Pacific 4669 with reporting marks of SPTX stenciled on the side of the cab, with both units dead in tow. According to their website, “PSC Group provides turnkey solutions for safe and efficient rail switching in some of the most challenging and complex sites throughout North America. We manage more than 75 rail switching sites using our own fleet of advanced locomotives and mobile railcar movers, proven safety methods, and highly skilled personnel. By working closely with our customers, we tailor our services to their unique needs, utilizing over 80 locomotives, 30 mobile railcar movers (Trackmobiles and Shuttle Wagons), and more than 1,000 skilled employees to enhance safety, decrease cycle time, prevent derailments, and optimize railcar utilization. Over the years, we have found that performing railcar switching alongside loading/unloading, railcar repair, and inspections, creates a safer and more efficient operating environment while simultaneously delivering considerable savings. By bundling these synergistic services together, we can provide the most value to our customers' operations.” Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 320. #bestphoto #trains #bestsoldpicture #JimPearsonPhotography #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone

CSX M513 waits at Romney at it meets I128, south of Nortonville, Kentucky

Southbound CSX M513 waits at Romney, south of Nortonville, Kentucky as CSX northbound Intermodal I128 passes them on track 2, on January 17th, 2025, on the Henderson Subdivision.

M513 has PCS Group Switcher 1144 as the third unit and an ex-Union Pacific 4669 with reporting marks of SPTX stenciled on the side of the cab, with both units dead in tow.

According to their website, “PSC Group provides turnkey solutions for safe and efficient rail switching in some of the most challenging and complex sites throughout North America. We manage more than 75 rail switching sites using our own fleet of advanced locomotives and mobile railcar movers, proven safety methods, and highly skilled personnel. By working closely with our customers, we tailor our services to their unique needs, utilizing over 80 locomotives, 30 mobile railcar movers (Trackmobiles and Shuttle Wagons), and more than 1,000 skilled employees to enhance safety, decrease cycle time, prevent derailments, and optimize railcar utilization.

Over the years, we have found that performing railcar switching alongside loading/unloading, railcar repair, and inspections, creates a safer and more efficient operating environment while simultaneously delivering considerable savings. By bundling these synergistic services together, we can provide the most value to our customers’ operations.”

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 320.

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. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography

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.

Savatrans SVTX 1981 and Evansville Western 4519 head up an empty coal train as it snakes through the countryside at the Sitran Dock at West Franklin, Indiana as the train waits for a relief crew to show up to take it to the Sugar Camp Mine in Akin IL for another load on February 4th, 2023. The Chris Cline Group are owners of the company “Savatrans” which purchased three ES44AC locomotives that operate from Sugar Camp Mine in Akin, IL to West Franklin, IN near the Mount Vernon/West Franklin area. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 200. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #coaltrain

Savatrans SVTX 1981 and Evansville Western 4519 head up an empty coal train at Franklin, IN

Savatrans SVTX 1981 and Evansville Western 4519 head up an empty coal train as it snakes through the countryside at the Sitran Dock at West Franklin, Indiana as the train waits for a relief crew to show up to take it to the Sugar Camp Mine in Akin IL for another load on February 4th, 2023.

The Chris Cline Group are owners of the company “Savatrans” which purchased three ES44AC locomotives that operate from Sugar Camp Mine in Akin, IL to West Franklin, IN near the Mount Vernon/West Franklin area.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 200.

Indiana Southern railroad locomotive 3387 leads the morning local across the marshlands as it heads to the Algers, Winslow and Western Railway (AWW) yard (now belongs to Norfolk Southern Railway) at Oakland City, Indiana to do its interchange work on October 20th, 2022. According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property,[1] and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012. The Algers, Winslow and Western Railway (reporting mark AWW) was a Class III short-line railroad that served the surface mining operations in Pike County, Indiana. It operated approximately 19 miles of track which reached from the coal mines west of Cato south to those at Enos Corner and ran close to the Norfolk Southern Railway and Indiana Southern Railroad. It was acquired in March 2007 by Norfolk Southern, but still operating under the original company's name. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 130. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #csxce&dsubdivison #indianasouthernrailroad #indianarailroads #trainsfromtheair

Indiana Southern railroad locomotive 3387 leads the morning local across the marshlands…

Indiana Southern railroad locomotive 3387 leads the morning local across the marshlands as it heads to the Algers, Winslow and Western Railway (AWW) yard (now belongs to Norfolk Southern Railway) at Oakland City, Indiana to do its interchange work on October 20th, 2022.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

The Algers, Winslow and Western Railway (reporting mark AWW) was a Class III short-line railroad that served the surface mining operations in Pike County, Indiana. It operated approximately 19 miles of track which reached from the coal mines west of Cato south to those at Enos Corner and ran close to the Norfolk Southern Railway and Indiana Southern Railroad. It was acquired in March 2007 by Norfolk Southern, but still operating under the original company’s name.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 130.

December 28th, 2024 – Episode 104 – Saturday Edited Video from Jim Pearson Photography

In this week’s video I caught Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, CSX and the Paducah and Louisville Railway from the ground and air for your viewing pleasure! Sit back, turn up the sound, expand to full screen and enjoy the trains!! Please like, share, subscribe and thanks for watching! Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to Subscribe and Ring the Notification Bell so you won’t miss any of my future videos! Have a blessed day everyone!!

Tennessee Moonshine Sippin’ Excursion Train Departs Nashville, TN The Tennessee Moonshine Sippin’ Excursion Train departs from the Tennessee Central Railway Museum (TCRX), which operates out of Nashville, TN, on June 12th, 2021 with downtown Nashville in the distance. Here we find L&N 405 leading the train as it passes the Nashville & Eastern Railroad where myself and fellow railfan Ryan Scott, of Steelrails, caught our first shots while chasing this train from Nashville to Watertown, TN and back, along the Nashville, and Eastern Railway line. Once restoration is complete Nashville Steam’s Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway steam locomotive No. 576 will lead trains along this same route! The rest of the power in the consist was L&N” F7B 715 & 719, plus TCRX E8A 6902 trailing which led on the return trip. According to their website: The Tennessee Central Railway Museum is a volunteer, non-profit organization. Our mission is to preserve, restore, interpret, and operate historic railroad equipment to educate our guests about America's railroads. Since 1989, TCRM has been running passenger excursions from Nashville to points east such as Lebanon, Watertown, Baxter, Cookeville, and Monterey, Tennessee. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #jimpearsonphotography Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Tennessee Moonshine Sippin’ Excursion Train Departs Nashville, TN

The Tennessee Moonshine Sippin’ Excursion Train departs from the Tennessee Central Railway Museum (TCRX), which operates out of Nashville, TN, on June 12th, 2021 with downtown Nashville in the distance. Here we find L&N 405 leading the train as it passes the Nashville & Eastern Railroad where myself and fellow railfan Ryan Scott, of Steelrails, caught our first shots while chasing this train from Nashville to Watertown, TN and back, along the Nashville, and Eastern Railway line.

Once restoration is complete Nashville Steam’s Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway steam locomotive No. 576 will lead trains along this same route! The rest of the power in the consist was L&N F7B 715 & 719, plus TCRX E8A 6902 trailing which led on the return trip.

According to their website: The Tennessee Central Railway Museum is a volunteer, non-profit organization. Our mission is to preserve, restore, interpret, and operate historic railroad equipment to educate our guests about America’s railroads.

Since 1989, TCRM has been running passenger excursions from Nashville to points east such as Lebanon, Watertown, Baxter, Cookeville, and Monterey, Tennessee.

 

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2118 heads up the morning local on January 28, 2009 as it waits for a MOW crew to arrive at Richland, Kentucky to remove an ice laden tree from the tracks during the 2009 Ice Storm, as people around the state woke to over 2” of ice covering most of Western Kentucky. This photo was made from the bottom of my driveway the morning of the ice storm, after I slowly made my way down the driveway to get the photo. At this time, I was still working for the Messenger Newspaper, and it ran on the front page as well on the Associated Press wire services. It was an interesting time and my home, which is on a hill to the right out of frame, was without power for about 10 days, till I was finally able to get a generator to power the house. Of course, a day later I got the power restored, but the generator has been used several times since then when we lost power! Tech Info: Nikon D300, JPG, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 1600.

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2118 heads up the morning local on January 28, 2009…

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2118 heads up the morning local on January 28, 2009 as it waits for a MOW crew to arrive at Richland, Kentucky to remove an ice laden tree from the tracks during the 2009 Ice Storm, as people around the state woke to over 2″ of ice covering most of Western Kentucky.

This photo was made from the bottom of my driveway the morning of the ice storm, after I slowly made my way down the driveway to get the photo. At this time, I was still working for the Messenger Newspaper, and it ran on the front page as well on the Associated Press wire services.

It was an interesting time and my home, which is on a hill to the right out of frame, was without power for about 10 days, till I was finally able to get a generator to power the house. Of course, a day later I got the power restored, but the generator has been used several times since then when we lost power!

Tech Info: Nikon D300, JPG, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 1600.

 

October 22, 2007 – Paducah and Louisville Railway 2111 leads the way as it exits the tunnel at Dawson Springs, Ky as it makes its way south. According to 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 (430 km) line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August, 1986. Tech Info: Nikon D200, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 48mm, f2.8, 1/500, ISO 400. #railroad #railroads #train, #trains #railway #railway #steamtrains #railtransport #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailways #besttrainphotograph #bestphoto #photographyoftrains #bestsoldpicture #JimPearsonPhotography

October 22, 2007 – Paducah and Louisville Railway 2111 leads the way as it exits the tunnel at Dawson Springs, Ky

October 22, 2007 – Paducah and Louisville Railway 2111 leads the way as it exits the tunnel at Dawson Springs, Ky as it makes its way south.

According to 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 (430 km) line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August, 1986.

Tech Info: Nikon D200, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 48mm, f2.8, 1/500, ISO 400.

A Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad local with Wisconsin & Southern 3870 leading the way, works the yard at Decatur, Illinois, on August 24th, 2024. According to Wikipedia: The Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (reporting mark DREI) is an American regional railroad that is a subsidiary of Watco Companies operating in eastern Illinois and western Indiana. In January 2018, CSX Transportation announced that it was seeking offers to buy the Decatur Subdivision and the Danville Secondary Subdivision as part of a system-wide sale of low-traffic routes, and in July, Watco, via the DREI, was identified as the winning bidder. Following regulatory approval from the Surface Transportation Board, The DREI began operations on September 9, 2018. The DREI operates two intersecting routes totaling 126.7 miles (203.9 km)—the former Decatur Subdivision between Montezuma, Indiana and Decatur, Illinois, and the former Danville Subdivision between Terre Haute, Indiana and Olivet, Illinois. It interchanges traffic with CSX, the Eastern Illinois Railroad, the Norfolk Southern Railway, the Canadian National Railway, and the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad is headquartered in Decatur, Illinois. Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 440mm, f/6, 1/1250, ISO 80. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #DecaturandEasternRailroad #IllinoisRailroads

A Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad local with Wisconsin & Southern 3870 works the yard at Decatur, Illinois

A Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad local with Wisconsin & Southern 3870 leading the way, works the yard at Decatur, Illinois, on August 24th, 2024.

According to Wikipedia: The Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (reporting mark DREI) is an American regional railroad that is a subsidiary of Watco Companies operating in eastern Illinois and western Indiana.

In January 2018, CSX Transportation announced that it was seeking offers to buy the Decatur Subdivision and the Danville Secondary Subdivision as part of a system-wide sale of low-traffic routes, and in July, Watco, via the DREI, was identified as the winning bidder. Following regulatory approval from the Surface Transportation Board, The DREI began operations on September 9, 2018.

The DREI operates two intersecting routes totaling 126.7 miles (203.9 km)—the former Decatur Subdivision between Montezuma, Indiana and Decatur, Illinois, and the former Danville Subdivision between Terre Haute, Indiana and Olivet, Illinois. It interchanges traffic with CSX, the Eastern Illinois Railroad, the Norfolk Southern Railway, the Canadian National Railway, and the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad is headquartered in Decatur, Illinois.

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 440mm, f/6, 1/1250, ISO 80.