The Paducah and Louisville (PAL) 2101 and 2104 lead an empty rock train as they depart from the Scotty’s Rock Yard complex at Madisonville, Kentucky, and head north to Litchfield, KY, for another load, on September 15th, 2021.
Paducah and Louisville LGE coal train at Madisonville, KY
The Paducah and Louisville (PAL) LGE coal train, with UK 4522 locomotive leading, pulls off the Warrior Coal Mine lead onto the PAL main as they approach West Yard at Madisonville, Ky. From here they begin their run to the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant in the Kosmosdale neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 130, September 13, 2021.
Paducah and Louisville 2013 leads PRX1 South at Richland, KY
Hot off the drone we find Paducah and Louisville Railway 2013, in its University of Louisville paint, passing under the highway 70 west overpass as it leads PRX1, a loaded coal train, south through Richland, Kentucky, less than 30 minutes ago on September 11th, 2021.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 140, September 11, 2021.
PAL LG1 loaded coal headed north approaching Rockport, Kentucky
Paducah and Louisville University of Kentucky locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead the Louisville Gas & Electric loaded coal train north as they round a curve leading into Rockport, Kentucky, on its way to the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant in the Kosmosdale neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky.
Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100, August 17, 2021.
Decatur & Eastern Railroad eastbound at Tuscola, Illinois
Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad units WAMX 4244 and 4234 lead local 101 on its way to Terre Haute, Indiana as it passes through Tuscola, Illinois.
According to Wikipedia: “The Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (reporting mark DREI) is an American regional railroad that is a subsidiary of Watco 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: Fuji XT-1, RAW, sensor converted to 720nm B&W IR, Fuji 18-55 @21mm, f/5, 1/250, ISO 200, July 20, 2021.
PAL loaded coal headed north through the valley at Spring Lick, Kentucky
Paducah and Louisville University of Kentucky locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead the Louisville Gas & Electric loaded coal train north through the valley at Spring Lick, Kentucky on its way to the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant in the Kosmosdale neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky.
From the web: “The Paducah and Louisville Railway (reporting marks, PAL) is a regional operation based in Paducah, Kentucky that began operations in 1986 over ex-Illinois Central trackage.
Today it utilizes over 260 miles of railroad and is owned by P&L Transportation (previously known as Four Rivers Transportation), which itself is controlled by CSX Corporation (parent company to CSX Transportation, its railroad division).
The P&L also operates the Appalachian & Ohio in West Virginia. This road is predominately a coal hauler, which leases CSX’s Cowen Subdivision, a former Baltimore & Ohio corridor.”
Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100, August 17, 2021.
Paducah and Louisville Railway loaded coal at Big Clifty, Kentucky
Paducah and Louisville University of Kentucky locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead the Louisville Gas & Electric loaded coal train across the trestle at Big Clifty, Kentucky as it heads north along highway 62 on its way to the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant in the Kosmosdale neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky.
According to their website: “The Mill Creek Generation Station is LG&E’s largest coal-fired power plant, with a generating capacity of 1,465 megawatts. Mill Creek sits on 544 acres in southwest Jefferson County, Ky.
The late 1960s and early 1970s saw an unprecedented increase in the construction of new industrial, commercial, and residential facilities in the Louisville area.
As customers demand for energy increased, LG&E needed additional generating capability to guarantee supply and ensure reliability. Mill Creek began commercial operation in 1972 to meet this growing demand.”
Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100, August 17, 2021.
Northbound LG1 at Eastview Cut, Eastview, Kentucky
I spent this afternoon chasing the Paducah and Louisville Railway LG1 loaded coal train from Madisonville to Eastview, Kentucky. The latter was my goal for this chase as I’ve never photographed the cut at Eastview before and it’s been on my list for a while now.
I got to the location about 10 minutes before the train and checked out the scene with my Nikon first as the cut is right up against the bridge on Meeting Creek Road and I wasn’t sure I wanted or even needed to use the drone at this location. After consideration I decided to launch the drone as I felt it could give me the best platform for a shot that would offer the best perspective that was different from other photos I’ve seen taken from here.
With the drone in place, it was a short wait as I captured Paducah and Louisville University of Kentucky locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead the Louisville Gas & Electric loaded coal train as it made its way north and through the cut at Eastview, Kentucky.
Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100, August 17, 2021.
Ft. Campbell Rail southbound at Rock Bridge Branch bridge Hopkinsville, KY
I love it when a plan finally falls into place! If you’ve caught my last few posts, you’ll recall that I’ve talked about issues I had a couple days ago when I was trying to get shots of Ft. Campbell Rail picking up military loads from the Ft. Campbell Wye after BNSF brought their equipment north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. Well, today everything fell into place from my perspective as you can see in the attached photo. Train was where I wanted it, light was perfect, and I had great clouds!!
Here we have United States Army units USAX 6520, 6519 and 1871 headed from the Hopkinsville, KY on August 11th, 2021, as the train passes over the Rock Bridge Branch bridge, just south of Lovers Lane overpass.
This is another follow-up to my post yesterday where I discussed that my gear that just didn’t want to co-operate! Well today, I used my iPhone 11pro instead of the iPhone 6s that I normally keep on my drone controller, and I didn’t have any overheating problems at all and was able to fly normally. I guess the newer iPhones do a better job with the heat that the older ones as with the 11 I didn’t get any warnings at all during the flights, and it was much hotter than the other day.
Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.
Ft. Campbell Rail southbound at Rock Bridge Branch, Hopkinsville, KY
United States Army units USAX 6520, 6519 and 1871 head south after picking up a load of equipment from the Ft. Campbell wye in Hopkinsville, KY that was dropped off by CSX on August 9th, 2021, as the train approaches the Rock Bridge Branch bridge, just south of Lovers Lane overpass.
This is a follow-up to my post yesterday where I discussed that my gear just didn’t want to co-operate on this chase! This was my first spot with the drone and as soon as I launched it the DJI Fly app complained that the device (iPhone) was too hot, and performance would be reduced! Well, it’s been an ongoing issue since they updated their software a few weeks ago, so as you can see from these two shots, I didn’t get the drone in place where I wanted it, which is the far end of the bridge, looking back toward the train as it came toward me.
The drone moved so slow a sluggish that I couldn’t get far enough ahead of the train to get the camera into position and so what I got instead are a couple of going away shots of the power instead. Don’t get me wrong, I like both shots that I did get, but neither of them was what I had in mind. I wanted the power with the military loads trailing off into the distance. So, I will revisit this location and try again to get the shot I want!
I just got word this afternoon that there’s another loaded train headed for Hopkinsville for Ft. Campbell, which should arrive sometime tonight. My plan is to head back to this location early in the morning to hopefully get the shot I am looking for as they don’t normally pickup trains from the wye for Ft. Campbell after dark.
Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 110. Tight Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.
Ft. Campbell Rail southbound from Hopkinsville, KY
United States Army units USAX 6520, 6519 and 1871 head south after picking up a load of equipment from the Ft. Campbell wye in Hopkinsville, KY that was dropped off early this morning by CSX on August 9th, 2021.
My gear just didn’t want to co-operate on this chase today! At my first spot with the drone as soon as I launched it the DJI Fly app complained that the device (iPhone) was too hot, and performance would be reduced! Well, it’s been an ongoing issue since they updated their software a few weeks ago, so I didn’t get the drone in place where I wanted it. You’ll see that shot tomorrow.
This infrared shot is close to what I had in my mind, but I started my shots a little early and I had planned on the power being closer to the crossing, but the camera started dragging, and this was my closest frame. I’m happy with the shot, but not what I saw in my mind’s eye though! I could crop it in tighter, but after looking at the finished shot, I think I like better with having someplace for the train to go!
My next two spots I had planned to shoot as it made its way to the base, I never made it to in time because of traffic and lights! Go figure. Some days railfanning is like that!
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Fuji 18-55 @18mm, f/5, 1/1000, ISO 200.
Lines heading east on the Decatur & Eastern Railroad at Murdock, Illinois
Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad units WAMX 4244 and 4234 lead local Y101 on its way to Terre Haute, Indiana as it passes through the farming countryside as it heads east at Murdock, Illinois on July 20th, 2021.
According to Wikipedia: “The Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (reporting mark DREI) is an American regional railroad that is a subsidiary of Watco 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: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.
![Paducah and Louisville Railway PRX1 at Calvert City, Kentucky
Paducah and Louisville Railway 3811, 4504 and 4516 lead loaded coal train PRX1 around the outer loop at the Calvert City Terminal in Calvert City, Kentucky on July 23, 2021, after picking up a load of coal for the TVA Shawnee Power Plant in West Paducah, KY.
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. The 223-mile (359 km) 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 multiple main tracks nearly 20 miles (32 km) 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 (375 km) 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: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.](https://www.jimpearsonphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/WEB-07.23.21-PAL-PRX1-at-Calvert-City-KY-1170x878.jpg)
Paducah and Louisville Railway PRX1 at Calvert City, Kentucky
Paducah and Louisville Railway 3811, 4504 and 4516 lead loaded coal train PRX1 around the outer loop at the Calvert City Terminal in Calvert City, Kentucky on July 23, 2021, after picking up a load of coal for the TVA Shawnee Power Plant in West Paducah, KY.
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. The 223-mile (359 km) 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 multiple main tracks nearly 20 miles (32 km) 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 (375 km) 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: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.
Illinois rail action of Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad and CN.
In this video we catch Illinois rail action of a Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad local on its way to Terre Haute, Indiana and one of their locals working the yard at Decatur, Illinois along with a CN manifest headed to Chicago from Siegal, Illinois on July 21st, 2021.
Paducah and Louisville PRX1 departs Warrior Coal at Nebo, KY
In this Infrared shot, Paducah and Louisville Railway 4516 leads a loaded coal train, and it begins its run from the Warrior Coal mine loop at Nebo, Ky on July 17th, 2021, on the Warrior Coal Mine lead. This load of coal is headed for Calvert City Terminal at Calvert City, KY.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Sigma 150-600 @600mm, f/8, 1/500, ISO 800.
Eastern Maine Railway Shortline 6403 trails at Chiles Junction, West Paducah, Ky
Newly refurbished Eastern Maine Railway (EMRY) 6403, Owned by the New Brunswick Southern Railway (NBSR), trails as the third unit on the northbound Paducah to Centralia, IL BNSF local as it pulls north at Chiles Junction in West Paducah, Kentucky with BNSF 7901 and 6147 leading the way on July 23, 2021.
Locomotive 6403 is the second of six units that are being refurbished by Progress Rail at Mayfield, KY, for NBSR out of Saint John, NB, Canada. The other units are 6402-6406 and they are all SD70M-2 units and were former NS locomotives.
According to Wikipedia: The Eastern Maine Railway Company Limited (reporting mark EMRY) is a 99.5 mi U.S. short line railroad owned by the New Brunswick Railway Company, a holding company that is part of “Irving Transportation Services”, a division within the industrial conglomerate J.D. Irving Limited.
EMRY was established as a corporate entity on November 10, 1994, by J.D. Irving Ltd. to purchase the 99.5 mile right of way and physical railway assets of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Mattawamkeag Subdivision rail line within the state of Maine, running from its eastern terminus at the CanadaUnited States border, this being the midpoint of the Saint Croix-Vanceboro Railway Bridge at Vanceboro, west to Brownville Junction.
Both EMRY and NBSR began operations on January 6, 1995, approximately 1 week after Canadian Pacific Railway abandoned operations of its Canadian Atlantic Railway (CAR) subsidiary on December 31, 1994. In addition to owning the former CPR tracks in Maine, EMRY was an operating entity for the first several months of existence and had running rights over its sister company NBSR’s tracks from the International Boundary east to the yard at McAdam, New Brunswick. In spring 1995 Irving Transportation Services consolidated its railway operations as Eastern Maine Railway Company Limited came under NBSR operational control.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.
June 30, 2021 – BNSF local with NB Southern 6401 and a CN manifest at Chiles Junction, Paducah, KY
New Brunswick Southern Railway 6401 rounds the horn at Paducah, Ky
Newly refurbished New Brunswick Southern Railway (NBSR) 6401 trails as the third unit on the northbound Paducah to Centralia, IL BNSF local as it heads up the grade through what’s referred to as “The Horn” because of its shape where they depart the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) yard at Paducah, Ky on June 30th, 2021, with PRLX switcher 1308 trailing behind it and BNSF 1706 and HCLX 3889 leading.
Due to the length and weight of their train today they stalled on the grade leading up to the flyover at the PAL and had to do a reverse move and get another run at it from CNs P&I Junction, before getting up the grade to the flyover. That’s the photo I posted yesterday and is here on my page if you missed it.
Locomotive 6401 is the first of six units that are being refurbished by Progress Rail for NBSR out of Saint John, NB, Canada. The other units are 6402-6406 and they are all SD70M-2 units from what I understand. The other two units in the consist were BN 1706 leading (more photos to come on this unit) and HLCX 3889.
According to Wikipedia: The New Brunswick Southern Railway Company Limited (reporting mark NBSR) is a 131.7 mi (212.0 km) Canadian short line railway owned by the New Brunswick Railway Company Limited, a holding company that is part of “Irving Transportation Services”, a division within the industrial conglomerate J.D. Irving Limited.
Tech Info for each image is in that images caption: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.
New Brunswick Southern Railway 6401 NB on BNSF local from Paducah, Ky
Newly refurbished New Brunswick Southern Railway (NBSR) 6401 trails as the third unit on the northbound Paducah to Centralia, IL BNSF local as it passes over the CN flyover at the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard in Paducah, Ky on June 30th, 2021, with PRLX switcher 1308 trailing behind it.
Locomotive 6401 is the first of six units that are being refurbished by Progress Rail for NBSR out of Saint John, NB, Canada. The other units are 6402-6406 and they are all SD70M-2 units from what I understand. The other two units in the consist were BN 1706 leading (more photos to come on this unit) and HLCX 3889.
According to Wikipedia: The New Brunswick Southern Railway Company Limited (reporting mark NBSR) is a 131.7 mi (212.0 km) Canadian short line railway owned by the New Brunswick Railway Company Limited, a holding company that is part of “Irving Transportation Services”, a division within the industrial conglomerate J.D. Irving Limited.
Tech Info for each image is in that images caption: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 110.
June 26, 2021 – A video look at New Brunswick Southern Railway 6401 at Paducah & Louisville Railway, Paducah, Ky.
New Brunswick Southern Railway 6401 at Paducah & Louisville Railway, Paducah, Ky
Todays post is a bit different for me as I normally post only one picture a day, but today I’m submitting 12 images for your enjoyment of the newly refurbished New Brunswick Southern Railway (NBSR) tied down in the north end of the yard at the Paducah and Louisville Railway in Paducah, Ky with PRLX switcher 1308. Give me your thoughts on which image you like the best and why. Click on each thumbnail to view the full picture.
I considered posting these as just one a day but felt that folks would enjoy seeing the different views of this locomotive that was refurbished at the Progress Rail shops in Mayfield, Ky all at once. Locomotive 6401 is the first of six units that are being refurbished by Progress Rail for NBSR out of Saint John, NB, Canada. The other units are 6402-6406 and they are all SD70M-2 units that are ex-Norfolk Southern. Below is the list from what I’ve found.
• NBSR 6401 – ex-NS 2659
• NBSR 6402 – ex-NS 2779 (NS 2650)
• NBSR 6403 – ex-NS 2777
• NBSR 6404 – ex-NS 2666
• NBSR 6405 – ex-NS 2674
• NBSR 6406 – ex-NS 2715
According to Wikipedia: The New Brunswick Southern Railway Company Limited (reporting mark NBSR) is a 131.7 mi (212.0 km) Canadian short line railway owned by the New Brunswick Railway Company Limited, a holding company that is part of “Irving Transportation Services”, a division within the industrial conglomerate J.D. Irving Limited.
Together with its sister company Eastern Maine Railway (reporting mark EMRY), NBSR and EMRY form a continuous 189.5 mi (305.0 km) main line connecting Saint John, New Brunswick Canada, with Brownville Junction, Maine. NBSR also operates an additional 41.7 mi (67.1 km) of branch lines in New Brunswick.
NBSR was established as a corporate entity in November 1994 by J.D. Irving Ltd. to purchase 131.7 miles of physical railway assets of the Canadian Pacific Railway within the province of New Brunswick; these being the 84.4 mile McAdam Subdivision, the 5.6 mile section of the Mattawamkeag Subdivision within Canada, as well as the West Saint John Spur, Milltown Spur, and the St. Stephen Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 110
