First light, first train! I was afraid I'd miss this loaded coal train CSX N302 at first light on the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee as it made its way south on the Henderson Subdivision. I left my house at about 5:30am, much earlier than I'm accustomed to getting out, but I was meeting fellow railfan Cooper Smith at 7am at Guthrie, Kentucky and we were to meet at the CSX yard in Guthrie to do a full day of railfanning in the snow. After stopping to shoot the sun popping over the horizon just north of Trenton, Ky I got back in my nice and toasty SUV after getting my shot in the cold 14 degree weather and headed on south to meet up with Cooper. It was about this time I found out that he was running late and that there was a loaded coal train just ahead of me headed south. This was just after the last big snowfall that swept through the region the day before and even though the Kentucky and Tennessee road crews had do a great job of plowing US 41, which follows the Henderson Subdivision, there was still ice on the roads to contend with so I was worried that I wouldn't make it to this spot and get the drone up before the train got there, but as you can tell, lady luck was smiling in my direction! I arrived at this spot probably about 10 minutes before the train on February 19th, 2021 and the sun was just above the tree line here and was sending that beautiful early morning golden light, raking across the bare trees. A great start to a great day of being trackside, even if it was real early and went till after dark! We both came back with some great shots! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

First light, first train!

I was afraid I’d miss this loaded coal train CSX N302 at first light on the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee as it made its way south on the Henderson Subdivision.

I left my house at about 5:30am, much earlier than I’m accustomed to getting out, but I was meeting fellow railfan Cooper Smith at 7am at Guthrie, Kentucky and we were to meet at the CSX yard in Guthrie to do a full day of railfanning in the snow.

After stopping to shoot the sun popping over the horizon just north of Trenton, Ky I got back in my nice and toasty SUV after getting my shot in the cold 14 degree weather and headed on south to meet up with Cooper. It was about this time I found out that he was running late and that there was a loaded coal train just ahead of me headed south.

This was just after the last big snowfall that swept through the region the day before and even though the Kentucky and Tennessee road crews had do a great job of plowing US 41, which follows the Henderson Subdivision, there was still ice on the roads to contend with so I was worried that I wouldn’t make it to this spot and get the drone up before the train got there, but as you can tell, lady luck was smiling in my direction!

I arrived at this spot probably about 10 minutes before the train on February 19th, 2021 and the sun was just above the tree line here and was sending that beautiful early morning golden light, raking across the bare trees. A great start to a great day of being trackside, even if it was real early and went till after dark! We both came back with some great shots!

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

Southbound Intermodal at Baker This morning (March 3rd, 2021) I got a text at about 10 minutes till 7am that there was a southbound phosphate train with three BNSF units on it! Needless to say I was still in bed and this isn't it! However, this turned out to be my favorite shot on a full day of chasing, which really was a spur of the moment thing starting with the early morning text message. It was about 30 miles later to the south on the Henderson Subdivision (HD) before I caught up with the BNSF train and so I figured since I was out in this early morning light and so far south I'd go ahead and spend the day shooting in the southern part of the HD so I could fly the drone in some locations that I hadn't done so yet, hence, this shot right here. Now, in all fairness this shot of hot intermodal Q029-03 heading south isn't the at spot I started out to shoot it at, but I'm glad I found it! I parked at the crossing on Baker Station Road, about 1.5 miles from the south end of the Baker Tunnel at Ridgetop, Tennessee and the plan was to fly back to the south end of Baker tunnel from there. However, due to the terrain, the drone had issues of maintaining a GPS signal unless I was was up much higher than I wanted to be. However, I passed the spot as I was flying back, about 1/2 mile from the crossing, and thought it'd make a good backup spot! When I got back to this location and got down low enough for what I wanted, I knew right away that I was going to love it! The only thing I was worried about is it was if the train would make it to the spot before I had to bring the drone back to me due to a lack of battery power and also if I could tell when it was coming so I could shoot in the spot I wanted! Keeping my ears open, eyes glued to the DJI Fly App on the iPhone screen, and I was able to get this shot of Q029 as it sliced its way south through this great crop of rocks! Yes, it was a good day to get out early (thanks Tom Wortham) for getting me out and trackside this morning! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100 Exposure Comp: -0.7 (helps control the highlights).

Southbound Intermodal at Baker

This morning (March 3rd, 2021) I got a text at about 10 minutes till 7am that there was a southbound phosphate train with three BNSF units on it! Needless to say I was still in bed and this isn’t it!

However, this turned out to be my favorite shot on a full day of chasing, which really was a spur of the moment thing starting with the early morning text message.

It was about 30 miles later to the south on the Henderson Subdivision (HD) before I caught up with the BNSF train and so I figured since I was out in this early morning light and so far south I’d go ahead and spend the day shooting in the southern part of the HD so I could fly the drone in some locations that I hadn’t done so yet, hence, this shot right here.

Now, in all fairness this shot of hot intermodal Q029-03 heading south isn’t the at spot I started out to shoot it at, but I’m glad I found it!

I parked at the crossing on Baker Station Road, about 1.5 miles from the south end of the Baker Tunnel at Ridgetop, Tennessee and the plan was to fly back to the south end of Baker tunnel from there. However, due to the terrain, the drone had issues of maintaining a GPS signal unless I was was up much higher than I wanted to be.

However, I passed the spot as I was flying back, about 1/2 mile from the crossing, and thought it’d make a good backup spot! When I got back to this location and got down low enough for what I wanted, I knew right away that I was going to love it!

The only thing I was worried about is it was if the train would make it to the spot before I had to bring the drone back to me due to a lack of battery power and also if I could tell when it was coming so I could shoot in the spot I wanted!

Keeping my ears open, eyes glued to the DJI Fly App on the iPhone screen, and I was able to get this shot of Q029 as it sliced its way south through this great crop of rocks!

Yes, it was a good day to get out early (thanks Tom Wortham) for getting me out and trackside this morning!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100 Exposure Comp: -0.7 (helps control the highlights).

TAG 80 on the Chickamauga Creek bridge Looking back to 2017 to pull an image for a customer, I realized that I hadn't ever processed this image from my trip to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's Railfest in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This was during their first night shoot and thanks to the lighting wizardry of Casey Thomason and Steve Barry we all had a outstanding night! September 9, 2017 - Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway engine #80 "The John A. Chambliss," sits on the Chickamauga Creek bridge with a passenger train, just east of the Tennessee Valley Railroad museum in Chattanooga, TN during the museums night photo shoot during their 2017 Railfest. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @36mm f/8, 20 seconds, ISO 800.

TAG 80 on the Chickamauga Creek bridge

Looking back to 2017 to pull an image for a customer, I realized that I hadn’t ever processed this image from my trip to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Railfest in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

This was during their first night shoot and thanks to the lighting wizardry of Casey Thomason and Steve Barry we all had a outstanding night!

September 9, 2017 – Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway engine #80 “The John A. Chambliss,” sits on the Chickamauga Creek bridge with a passenger train, just east of the Tennessee Valley Railroad museum in Chattanooga, TN during the museums night photo shoot during their 2017 Railfest.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @36mm f/8, 20 seconds, ISO 800.

Southbound Intermodal at Nashville, Tennessee CSX Q025-20 approaches Kayne Avenue, as it passes the old L&N Depot in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, on its way south on the Nashville Terminal Subdivision on January 20th, 2021. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @70mm f/4, 1/1250, ISO 400.

Southbound Intermodal at Nashville, Tennessee

CSX Q025-20 approaches Kayne Avenue, as it passes the old L&N Depot in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, on its way south on the Nashville Terminal Subdivision on January 20th, 2021.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @70mm f/4, 1/1250, ISO 400.

CSX intermodal meet at Nashville, Tennessee CSX Q026-19 (left) heads north as the crew on CSX Q025 does a roll by inspection, just south of CSX's Kayne Avenue Tower in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, as the afternoon sun sends an interesting pattern of shadows across the tracks. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @210mm f/7.1, 1/1600, ISO 2000.

CSX intermodal meet at Nashville, Tennessee

CSX Q026-19 (left) heads north as the crew on CSX Q025 does a roll by inspection, just south of CSX’s Kayne Avenue Tower in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, as the afternoon sun sends an interesting pattern of shadows across the tracks.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @210mm f/7.1, 1/1600, ISO 2000.

Northbound high and wide load at Red River CSX W991-29 heads north on the Henderson Subdivision across the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee on December 5th, 2020 with a High and Wide load for General Electric at a steady 25mph. The GE high and wide load is carried on GECX 021155 a Heavy load, 16-axle, depressed center flat car, which is owned by General Electrical Gas Turbine division. The car is 147 feet 10 inches long and the load deck length is 38 feet according to what I find on the web. It Was built in May of 1995 and is used to transport heavy gas turbines built by General Electric. A Kasgro Rail Corporation (KRL) caboose 072 brings up the rear with a full crew. The caboose and engine crews kept a close eye on clearances as they made their way north! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

Northbound high and wide load at Red River

CSX W991-29 heads north on the Henderson Subdivision across the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee on December 5th, 2020 with a High and Wide load for General Electric at a steady 25mph.

The GE high and wide load is carried on GECX 021155 a Heavy load, 16-axle, depressed center flat car, which is owned by General Electrical Gas Turbine division. The car is 147 feet 10 inches long and the load deck length is 38 feet according to what I find on the web. It Was built in May of 1995 and is used to transport heavy gas turbines built by General Electric. A Kasgro Rail Corporation (KRL) caboose 072 brings up the rear with a full crew. The caboose and engine crews kept a close eye on clearances as they made their way north!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

September 17, 2020 - CSXT 3411 and 3087 lead Q503 south across the bridge over the Red River as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Adams, Tennessee. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSXT 3411 and 3087 lead Q503 south at Adams, TN

September 17, 2020 – CSXT 3411 and 3087 lead Q503 south across the bridge over the Red River as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Adams, Tennessee.

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

September 17, 2020 - CSXT 710 & 3050 run point on CSX Q025-17 as they pull their hot intermodal train across the Sulfur Fork Creek Trestle headed south on the Henderson Subdivision at Springfield, Tennessee. They were running a bit late today as they encountered a truck on the tracks somewhere between Hopkinsville, Ky and this point, putting their train into emergency. From what I could find out no one was hurt in the incident, put it did cause a delay, which they don't like to have happen on this, one of four hot intermodals that run daily between Jacksonville, Florida and Chicago, Illinois on this subdivision. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSXT 710 & 3050 run point on CSX Q025-17

September 17, 2020 – CSXT 710 & 3050 run point on CSX Q025-17 as they pull their hot intermodal train across the Sulfur Fork Creek Trestle headed south on the Henderson Subdivision at Springfield, Tennessee.

They were running a bit late today as they encountered a truck on the tracks somewhere between Hopkinsville, Ky and this point, putting their train into emergency. From what I could find out no one was hurt in the incident, put it did cause a delay, which they don’t like to have happen on this, one of four hot intermodals that run daily between Jacksonville, Florida and Chicago, Illinois on this subdivision.

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

July 20, 2020 - CSX loaded coal train N040-18 makes its way south through the Red River cut at Adams, Tennessee with CSXT 956 leading the way. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 195mm, f/5.3, 1/320, ISO 220.

CSX N040-18 Southbound at Red River Cut, Adams, TN

July 20, 2020 – CSX loaded coal train N040-18 makes its way south through the Red River cut at Adams, Tennessee with CSXT 956 leading the way.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 195mm, f/5.3, 1/320, ISO 220.

July 20, 2020 - CSX Q500 with CSXT 3348 leading, heads over the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision on a beautiful summer day. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/4.5, 1/320, ISO 100.

CSX Q500 NB over the Red River at Adams, TN

July 20, 2020 – CSX Q500 with CSXT 3348 leading, heads over the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision on a beautiful summer day.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/4.5, 1/320, ISO 100.

June 2, 2020 - This is one of my favorite shots from a 5 state, 22hr railfan trip, with fellow railfan Ryan Scott! This is a Canadian Nation local running long hood forward as it passed the iconic Memphis Pyramid with Grand Trunk 4917 at the North Parkway crossing in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. We just barely made it to this crossing before it showed up! Although there was a work curfew at the diamond in downtown, which affected the traffic, we both came back with a nice set of pictures! A big shout out goes to the folks on the Memphis Railfans Group for their help!! We departed my house at 4am in the morning and railfanned through Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois over a span of the 22 hours. A long, but very productive trip for us both. Look for more images to come over the next few weeks! According to Wikipedia: The Memphis Pyramid, initially known as the Great American Pyramid, formerly referred to as the Pyramid Arena and locally referred to as The Pyramid, the Tomb of Doom and the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid, was originally built as a 20,142-seat arena located in downtown Memphis, in the U.S. state of Tennessee, at the banks of the Mississippi River. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/3200sec, ISO 140.

Grand Trunk 4917 at Memphis, Tennessee

June 2, 2020 – This is one of my favorite shots from a 5 state, 22hr railfan trip, with fellow railfan Ryan Scott! This is a Canadian Nation local running long hood forward as it passed the iconic Memphis Pyramid with Grand Trunk 4917 at the North Parkway crossing in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. We just barely made it to this crossing before it showed up!

Although there was a work curfew at the diamond in downtown, which affected the traffic, we both came back with a nice set of pictures! A big shout out goes to the folks on the Memphis Railfans Group for their help!!

We departed my house at 4am in the morning and railfanned through Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois over a span of the 22 hours. A long, but very productive trip for us both. Look for more images to come over the next few weeks!

According to Wikipedia: The Memphis Pyramid, initially known as the Great American Pyramid, formerly referred to as the Pyramid Arena and locally referred to as The Pyramid, the Tomb of Doom and the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid, was originally built as a 20,142-seat arena located in downtown Memphis, in the U.S. state of Tennessee, at the banks of the Mississippi River.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/3200sec, ISO 140.

June 2, 2020 - This is one of my favorite shots from a 5 state, 22hr railfan trip, with fellow railfan Ryan Scott! This is a Canadian Nation local running long hood forward as it passed the iconic Memphis Pyramid with Grand Trunk 4917 at the North Parkway crossing in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. We just barely made it to this crossing before it showed up! Although there was a work curfew at the diamond in downtown, which affected the traffic, we both came back with a nice set of pictures! A big shout out goes to the folks on the Memphis Railfans Group for their help!! We departed my house at 4am in the morning and railfanned through Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois over a span of the 22 hours. A long, but very productive trip for us both. Look for more images to come over the next few weeks! According to Wikipedia: The Memphis Pyramid, initially known as the Great American Pyramid, formerly referred to as the Pyramid Arena and locally referred to as The Pyramid, the Tomb of Doom and the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid, was originally built as a 20,142-seat arena located in downtown Memphis, in the U.S. state of Tennessee, at the banks of the Mississippi River. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/3200sec, ISO 140.

The CN Woodstock Switcher at Memphis, TN

June 2, 2020 – This is one of my favorite shots from a 5 state, 22hr railfan trip, with fellow railfan Ryan Scott! This is a Canadian Nation local (The Woodstock Switcher) running long hood forward as it passed the iconic Memphis Pyramid with Grand Trunk 4917 at the North Parkway crossing in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. We just barely made it to this crossing before it showed up!

Although there was a work curfew at the diamond in downtown, which affected the traffic, we both came back with a nice set of pictures! A big shout out goes to the folks on the Memphis Railfans Group for their help!!

We departed my house at 4am in the morning and railfanned through Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois over a span of the 22 hours. A long, but very productive trip for us both. Look for more images to come over the next few weeks!

According to Wikipedia: The Memphis Pyramid, initially known as the Great American Pyramid, formerly referred to as the Pyramid Arena and locally referred to as The Pyramid, the Tomb of Doom and the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid, was originally built as a 20,142-seat arena located in downtown Memphis, in the U.S. state of Tennessee, at the banks of the Mississippi River.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/3200sec, ISO 140.

May 15, 2020 - The crew of West Tennessee Railroad (WTNN) Fulton Turn (T92) sit on a rise at as it waits for permission to cross the WTNN/CSX Diamond southbound at Milan, Tennessee with 5543 and 4071 as power. According to their website: The West Tennessee Railroad began in 1984 on a portion of the former Mobile & Ohio Railroad main line between Jackson and Kenton, Tennessee. In 2001, the WTNN expanded operations, acquiring operating rights over the former ICG line between Corinth, Mississippi and Fulton, Kentucky. WTNN operates on a daily basis and has interchanges with CSX, KCS, NS, and CN. Car storage and transloading services are provided in several convenient areas along the WTNN line. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 lens @ 370mm, 1/640 sec, f/6.3, ISO 280.

West Tennessee Railroad (WTNN) Fulton Turn (T92)…

May 15, 2020 – The crew of West Tennessee Railroad (WTNN) Fulton Turn (T92) sit on a rise at as it waits for permission to cross the WTNN/CSX Diamond southbound at Milan, Tennessee with 5543 and 4071 as power.

According to their website: The West Tennessee Railroad began in 1984 on a portion of the former Mobile & Ohio Railroad main line between Jackson and Kenton, Tennessee. In 2001, the WTNN expanded operations, acquiring operating rights over the former ICG line between Corinth, Mississippi and Fulton, Kentucky.

WTNN operates on a daily basis and has interchanges with CSX, KCS, NS, and CN. Car storage and transloading services are provided in several convenient areas along the WTNN line.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 lens @ 370mm, 1/640 sec, f/6.3, ISO 280.

May 15, 2020 - Today I spent trackside with fellow railfan Cooper Smith, where he navigated me through some of his favorite spots in west Tennessee. I'd been here before back on New Years Day, but only caught 1 train moving on the trip. Today was a lot different as just about everywhere we went, a train showed up shortly after we got there! One of our goals was to catch the West Tennessee Railroad (WTNN) working somewhere in the area and we found their Fulton Turn (T92) crossing the WTNN/CSX Diamond at Milan, Tennessee as 5543 and 4071 lead the way south back to their yard at Jackson, TN past the old diamond sitting in the grass. A good day trackside and a big shout out to those that provided train updates and locations! According to their website: The West Tennessee Railroad began in 1984 on a portion of the former Mobile & Ohio Railroad main line between Jackson and Kenton, Tennessee. In 2001, the WTNN expanded operations, acquiring operating rights over the former ICG line between Corinth, Mississippi and Fulton, Kentucky. WTNN operates on a daily basis and has interchanges with CSX, KCS, NS, and CN. Car storage and transloading services are provided in several convenient areas along the WTNN line. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm lens, 1/800 sec, f/11, ISO 125.

West Tennessee Railroad Fulton Turn at Milan, TN

May 15, 2020 – Today I spent trackside with fellow railfan Cooper Smith, where he navigated me through some of his favorite spots in west Tennessee. I’d been here before back on New Years Day, but only caught 1 train moving on the trip. Today was a lot different as just about everywhere we went, a train showed up shortly after we got there!


One of our goals was to catch the West Tennessee Railroad (WTNN) working somewhere in the area and we found their Fulton Turn (T92) crossing the WTNN/CSX Diamond at Milan, Tennessee as 5543 and 4071 lead the way south back to their yard at Jackson, TN past the old diamond sitting in the grass. A good day trackside and a big shout out to those that provided train updates and locations!

According to their website: The West Tennessee Railroad began in 1984 on a portion of the former Mobile & Ohio Railroad main line between Jackson and Kenton, Tennessee.  In 2001, the WTNN expanded operations, acquiring operating rights over the former ICG line between Corinth, Mississippi and Fulton, Kentucky.


WTNN operates on a daily basis and has interchanges with CSX, KCS, NS, and CN.  Car storage and transloading services are provided in several convenient areas along the WTNN line.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm lens, 1/800 sec, f/11, ISO 125.

March 12, 2020 - In this 600mm view we find CSXT 436 slowly pulling Q237 into the siding at the north end of Chapel Hill on the S&NA North Subdivision to wait on a northbound Q028 intermodal at Chapel Hill, Tennessee. The 600mm lens compresses everything and as a result makes the track look worse than it is.

Q237 into the siding at the north end of Chapel Hill, TN

March 12, 2020 – In this 600mm view we find CSXT 436 slowly pulling Q237 into the siding at the north end of Chapel Hill on the S&NA North Subdivision to wait on a northbound Q028 intermodal at Chapel Hill, Tennessee. The 600mm lens compresses everything and as a result makes the track look worse than it is.

March 12, 2020 - Due to a slow order because of a bridge crew working, CSXT 3336 slowly leads intermodal Q026-11 across the Duck River as it makes its way north on the S&NA North Subdivision at Chapel Hill, Tennessee.

CSX Q026-11 crosses the Duck River at Chapel Hill, TN

March 12, 2020 – Due to a slow order because of a bridge crew working, CSXT 3336 slowly leads intermodal Q026-11 across the Duck River as it makes its way north on the S&NA North Subdivision at Chapel Hill, Tennessee.