Shortline & Regional Railroads – Page 12

Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad 4210 at Decatur, IL

August 29, 2020 – In this long lens shot from a public crossing we see Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (DERI) HLCX 4210 as it crosses over the Wabash & Illinois Central (WABIC) diamond at Decatur, Illinois as it heads back to its yard after working various industries around the city.

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: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 460mm, f/6, 1/1000, ISO 220.

Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad 101 EB at Pierson Station, IL

August 29, 2020 – Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (DERI) 101 with 4235 & 4236 leading the way, passes the Top Flight Grain elevators at Pierson Station, Illinois as it heads east to Terre Haute, Indiana (where they interchange with CSX) on the former CSX Danville Subdivision (now the DERI).

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: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 31mm, f/5, 1/1000, ISO 100.

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.

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.

Indiana Railroads 9007 leads (SAHW) at Linton, IN

August 4, 2020 – Indiana Railroads 9007 leads (SAHW) the Indianapolis to Jasonville, Indiana evening train as it passes over the diamond at Linton, Indiana as it heads south into the setting sun on the Indianapolis Subdivision as it crosses over the INRD Chicago Subdivision.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 350mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 220.

Indiana Railroad PAUT1-04 rolls past the Marathon Refinery

August 4, 2020 – Indiana Railroad PAUT1-04 rolls past the Marathon Refinery on the Indianapolis Subdivision at Robinson, Illinois as it heads back to the yard at Palestine, IL after finishing its morning work in the Robinson area.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, Sigma 150-600 @ 185mm, f/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200.

French Lick Scenic Railway

August 1, 2020 – Engine 465 leads the afternoon passenger train as it approaches the Gradman Station on the French Lick Scenic Railway under stormy skies. Despite the COVID19 restrictions the train had a good number of passengers on the train, all wearing masks and separated according the CDC guidelines.

According to their website: The Indiana Railway Museum is a tourist railway located in French Lick, Indiana. The Museum was founded in 1961 in the town of Westport, Indiana where the railroad operated a tourist excursion, utilizing one small locomotive, three passenger cars, and about twenty volunteers. Ridership was estimated at about 500 passengers in 1962. The museum and railway remained in Westport until a move was necessitated in 1971. The organization relocated to Greensburg, Indiana where it operated until 1976 when it again, it changed locations. The Museum was relocated to French Lick in 1978 after an agreement with the Southern Railway Company. They deeded the Museum a total of sixteen miles of track stretching from West Baden, Indiana, approximately one mile north of French Lick, to a small village named Dubois, to the south.

The Indiana Railway Museum currently operates as The French Lick Scenic Railway operating passenger trains over twenty-five miles of this track from French Lick to Jasper.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/11, 1/500, ISO 220.

The conductor on CSX Q513 shines a light on the track ahead from the nose of New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPD) 2005 as it and 2004 are backed into Howell Yard in Evansville, Indiana to perform a pickup before continuing its trip on south along the Henderson Subdivision on a wet and cool summer night.

According to a press release from The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB), it is in the process of upgrading its locomotive fleet with eight new locomotives to replace aging engines, improve efficiency, and lower overall emissions. Recognizable by their bright blue color, the new locomotives will provide reliable service and support the short-line railroads commitment to integrating more sustainable business and operational practices.

The new EPA-classified Tier One locomotives will allow NOPB to reduce its fleet size by 46 percent, from 15 locomotives to eight. Fuel consumption will be reduced by 25 percent, and emission reductions include a 40 percent reduction in nitrous oxide (NOx), which pollutes the ozone layer and creates smog, along with a 50 percent reduction in particulate emissions.

In addition to fuel and emissions savings, the new leasing structure allows NOPB to achieve significant operational and capital savings.

These are two of their new locomotives that are dead-in-tow on Q513 heading south to their new home.

According to Wikipedia: The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (reporting mark NOPB) is a Class III railroad, and a subsidiary of the Port of New Orleans. It connects with six Class I railroads serving the city, and provides switching and haulage service. It is estimated that one-third of the United States' east-west rail freight crosses the Mississippi on the Huey P. Long Bridge segment of the railroad.

The impetus for the NOPB came at the start of the 20th century era when multiple railroads terminating locally created both congestion at the Port of New Orleans and safety problems on city streets. The railroad began operation in 1908 with the intention of giving the major railroads "uniform and impartial" access to the port.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikkor 50mm, f/1.4, 1/30, ISO 3,600.

New Orleans Public Belt Railroad 2005 and 2004 at Evansville, IN

August 1, 2020 – The conductor on CSX Q513 shines a light on the track ahead from the nose of New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPD) 2005 as it and 2004 are backed into Howell Yard in Evansville, Indiana to perform a pickup before continuing its trip on south along the Henderson Subdivision on a wet and cool summer night.

According to a press release from – The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB), it is in the process of upgrading its locomotive fleet with eight new locomotives to replace aging engines, improve efficiency, and lower overall emissions. Recognizable by their bright blue color, the new locomotives will provide reliable service and support the short-line railroad’s commitment to integrating more sustainable business and operational practices.

The new EPA-classified Tier One locomotives will allow NOPB to reduce its fleet size by 46 percent, from 15 locomotives to eight. Fuel consumption will be reduced by 25 percent, and emission reductions include a 40 percent reduction in nitrous oxide (NOx), which pollutes the ozone layer and creates smog, along with a 50 percent reduction in particulate emissions.

In addition to fuel and emissions savings, the new leasing structure allows NOPB to achieve significant operational and capital savings.

These are two of their new locomotives that are dead-in-tow on Q513 heading south to their new home.

According to Wikipedia: The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (reporting mark NOPB) is a Class III railroad, and a subsidiary of the Port of New Orleans. It connects with six Class I railroads serving the city, and provides switching and haulage service. It is estimated that one-third of the United States’ east-west rail freight crosses the Mississippi on the Huey P. Long Bridge segment of the railroad.

The impetus for the NOPB came at the start of the 20th century era when multiple railroads terminating locally created both congestion at the Port of New Orleans and safety problems on city streets. The railroad began operation in 1908 with the intention of giving the major railroads “uniform and impartial” access to the port.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikkor 50mm, f/1.4, 1/30, ISO 3,600.

RJ Corman ALCAN train southbound at Midway, Ky

July 17, 2020 – RJ Corman ALCAN train southbound at Midway, Ky with RJC 7116 leading the way as it passes the old Spring Station, under stormy skies, between Jett and Midway, Ky on the Old Road Subdivision. The house at the crossing here used to be the Spring Station depot. The old freight house is to the left and hidden by the trees.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/6.3, 1/500, ISO 1000.

Northbound INRD 9001 at Switz City, Indiana

July 21, 2020 – Indiana Railroad (INRD) 9001 leads northbound daily train from Jasonville to Indianapolis, Indiana train (HWSA), with engineer Travis Collins at the controls as it approaches the county road 800, south of Switz City, Indiana. He will meet his southbound counterpart (SAHW) at the north end of the siding in Switz City, where they will trade trains and continue to their respective destinations on the INRD Indianapolis Subdivision.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, Sigma 150-600 @ 480mm, f/6, 1/1250, ISO 560.

Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railway, Mount Vernon, Illinois

July 15, 2020 – Progressive Rail Inc. 33 sits idling outside a engine house as it prepares for a day of work at the Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railway in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

According to Wikipedia: The Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railway (reporting mark COER) (formerly American Rail Heritage, Ltd. d/b/a Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railroad Company) is a Class III common carrier shortline railroad that operates in the cities of Marion and Herrin in the Southern Illinois region. It is most historically recognized by the FRA for being the last U.S. railroad of any kind to use steam locomotives exclusively in regular revenue freight service up until 1986.

The present-day shortline currently operates a total of 13.5 miles of track across the industrial centers of Williamson County in two separate railroad districts with a fleet of two diesel switcher engines. One line being known as the “Marion District”, which is the railroad’s main working division with roughly 8.5 miles of track; and the other division being the “Herrin District”, which mostly serves the city’s manufacturing industries along a 5-mile stretch of track.

t also has three different interchange points with two Class I railroads. Near their main offices in downtown Marion, the railroad has a junction with Union Pacific’s Marion Subdivision; another interchange is located in the nearby Marion suburb of Bainbridge with BNSF Railway’s Beardstown Subdivision. A second BNSF connection with the same line is also present in the Herrin district. Most of the CO&E Railroad’s revenue freight products primarily consist of coal, lumber, petroleum, grain, steel, paper, chemicals, manufactured goods, and railcar repair service.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/5, 1/640, ISO 100.

Indiana Railroad Palestine Utility train 1 at Palestine, IL

July 21, 2020 – Indiana Railroad (INRD) 301 and 3001 power the Palestine Utility train 1 (PAUT-1), as it passes through granaries at Palestine, Illinois, on it’s way north back to INRD’s Palestine Yard, after doing its work between the Marathon Refinery in Robinson, Illinois and Palestine on the INRD Indianapolis Subdivision.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Rail Road (reporting mark INRD) is a United States Class II railroad, originally operating over former Illinois Central Railroad trackage from Newton, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, a distance of 155 miles (249 km).

This line, now known as the Indiana Rail Road’s Indianapolis Subdivision, comprises most of the former IC line from Indianapolis to Effingham, Illinois; Illinois Central successor Canadian National Railway retains the portion from Newton to Effingham. INRD also owns a former Milwaukee Road line from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Burns City, Indiana (site of the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center), with trackage rights extending to Chicago, Illinois.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Nikkor 70-300 @ 80mm, f/4.5, 1/1250, ISO 125.

July 17, 2020 - RJ Corman 7116 moves at a snails pace as it leads the empty ALCAN train southbound through downtown Frankfort, Kentucky on its way to Logan Aluminum in Brea, Kentucky to pickup another load of aluminum ingots.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Nikkor 70-300 @ 75mm, f/5.6, 1/4000, ISO 220.

RJ Corman 7116 southbound with the ALCAN train at Frankfort, Ky

July 17, 2020 – RJ Corman 7116 moves at a snails pace as it leads the empty ALCAN train southbound through downtown Frankfort, Kentucky on its way to Tri-Arrows Aluminum in Brea, Kentucky to pickup another load of aluminum ingots.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Nikkor 70-300 @ 75mm, f/5.6, 1/4000, ISO 220.

Indiana Railroad 9004 passing 9005 at Switz City, IN

June 18, 2020 – Engineer Travis Collins heads southbound on the Indiana Railroad with engine 9004 leading, after meeting and trading trains with the northbound INRD 9005, at the north end of BLS Siding at Switz City, Indiana as the last light of day fades from the sky.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 2,500.

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.

Indiana Railroad HWSA-18 departs Jasonville, IN

June 18, 2020 – Indiana Railroad (INRD) engineer, Travis Collins, on HWSA-18 (Hiawatha, Jasonville, IN – Senate Ave, Indianapolis, IN) passes the signal at the south end of Latta, as it passes their main line around INRD Hiawatha Yard at Jasonville, Indiana. Their yard used to be owned by Canadian Pacific and was called Latta yard at that time.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Rail Road (reporting mark INRD) is a United States Class II railroad, originally operating over former Illinois Central Railroad trackage from Newton, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, a distance of 155 miles. This line, now known as the Indiana Rail Road’s Indianapolis Subdivision, comprises most of the former IC line from Indianapolis to Effingham, Illinois; Illinois Central successor Canadian National Railway retains the portion from Newton to Effingham.

INRD also owns a former Milwaukee Road line from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Burns City, Indiana (site of the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center), with trackage rights extending to Chicago, Illinois. INRD serves Louisville, Kentucky, and the Port of Indiana on the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, Indiana, through a haulage agreement with the Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC).

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 240mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 500.

Indiana Southern Railway 3385 at Switz City, Indiana

June 18, 2020 – Indiana Southern Railway 3385 heads through a cut of trees with the daily local as it heads into Switz City, Indiana where it will interchange with the Indiana Railroad. (Note: Train was over a mile away, running at 10mph and I was at a crossing when image was shot.)

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

Indiana Railroad SAHW-18 at the White River, Elliston, IN

June 18, 2020 – After a 3 hour wait for maintenance-of-way to clear up, the crew of a southbound Indiana Railroad train (SAHW-18) from Indianapolis, with engine 9005 leading, rolls across the bridge over the White River at Elliston, Indiana at dusk to meet it’s northbound counterpart at Switz City, Indiana.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 2,500.

Indiana Railroad HWSA-18 Northbound at Linton, Indiana

June 18, 2020 – Indiana Railroad (INRD) engineer, Travis Collis, heads across the INRD Chicago Subdivision Diamond at Linton, Indiana with his train, as he heads north with HWSA-18 on the INRD Indianapolis Subdivision.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, -3 f/stops (exposed for the highlights and processed for the shadows), ISO 100.

Indiana Railroad (INRD) engineer, Travis Collis, swings the stop sign…

June 18, 2020 – Indiana Railroad (INRD) engineer, Travis Collis, swings the stop sign to the Indiana Southern Railroad track at the diamond in Switz City, Indiana, as he makes his way north with his train, INRD HWSA-18, to the north end of the BLS Siding at Switz City, to meet it’s counterpart SAHW-18 coming from Indianapolis.

This is the point where the crew from each train will swap out and the Indy train will return there, whereas Collins train will make a run to Palestine, Illinois before returning to the Hiawatha Yard in Jasonville, Indiana on the Indianapolis Subdivision.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 360mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 140.

Indiana Railroad (INRD) 9004 leads SAHW-18…

June 18, 2020 – Indiana Railroad (INRD) 9004 leads SAHW-18 (Switz City, IN – Hiawatha, IN), as engineer Travis Collins keeps a watchful eye as he passes through the diamond over the Indiana Southern Railroad at Switz City, Indiana, as he heads north on the INRD Indianapolis Subdivision, as the last light of the day fades from the sky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 50mm @ 1.4, 1/125, ISO 6,400, Car head lights for lighting.