Congratulations to Cooper Smith our first place and Bill Grady second place winners of our May 2022 chapter photo contest ! A reminder also that our July 2022 contest is currently underway and it runs for the whole month. All the entries may be viewed on the chapter’s website or our Facebook Group.
Each dues paying member is allowed to submit two photographs taken anywhere during the month. Entries with captions should be sent to jim@jimpearsonphotography.com by midnight on August 7th, 2022.
Get out trackside and shoot some pictures!!!
1st Place winner of the West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS May 2022 Photo Contest by Cooper Smith – An Amtrak Heritage Unit leads a westbound train through the semaphore signals at Bernal, NM on May 27th, 2022.2nd Place winner of the West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS May 2022 Photo by Bill Grady – Thursday, May 9, 2022 finds the President of CSX on a Inspection Trip across the LH&StL Subdivision “Texas”. Seen here on the East end of Owensboro at “Steelton”, the P001-09 originated at Indianapolis, ran to Louisville, across the Texas into Evansville, then south to Atlanta, Georgia.Locomotive CSX 1 pulling a “Presidential Train” south at the North end of Casey Yard, Pembroke, Kentucky. – Photo by Bill FarrellIn a surprise of sorts, the CSX 911 “Spirit of Our First Responders” is the leader on CSX B419-14(Coke Loads) and is in a holding pattern at North King Siding just South of Princeton, Indiana. Seen here about to depart with a fresh crew, the B419 will head to Madisonville, KY and tie down at Atkinson Yard then wait for a P&L Crew to take it on to Calvert City for unloading. May 15, 2022. Photo by Bill Grady – Photo by Bill GradyA southbound Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train glides along the coast at Ventura, CA. – Photo by Cooper SmithA CSX Mixed freight heads southbound on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, KY with CSXT 8181 leading. – Photo by Ricky Bivins.CSX 4535 leads a mixed freight northbound on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, KY. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
1st Place winner of the West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS January 2022 Photo Contest by Bill Farrell. CSX locomotive 87 on the head of a north bound mixed freight at Pembroke Yard as it heads through the blowing snow at Hopkinsville, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision.
Congratulations to the winners in our January 2022 Chapter Photo Contest!
1st Place – Bill Farrell, 2nd Place – Cooper Smith and 3rd Place was also Bill Farrell.
Also, at the last chapter meeting it was decided to change the bi-monthly chapter contest to the whole month instead of the last two weeks. This will not affect the October Contest however which will remain October 1-11th, This is to allow judging and printing of the Calendar in time for the November meeting.
Therefore, we are currently in the beginning of the March Photo Contest which runs the whole month. So get out trackside and shoot something! Each dues paying member is allowed to submit up to two JPGs for each contest. Deadline for submissions remain the same, the 7th of the following month.
Here’s the schedule for the current and upcoming contests!
March 1-31, 2022 Submission Deadline: April 7, 2022
May 1-31, 2022 Submission Deadline: June 7, 2022
July 1-31, 2022 Submission Deadline: August 7, 2022
September 1-30, 2022 Submission Deadline: October 7, 2022
October 1-11, 2022 Submission Deadline: October 14, 2022 to allow time for the chapter calendars to be printed in time for the holidays.
January 1-31, 2023 Submission Deadline: February 7, 2022
Winners of the January 2022 Photo Contest and other entries are:
2nd Place winner of the West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS January 2022 Photo Contest by Cooper Smith. A Norfolk Southern manifest kicks up snow as it heads westbound through St. Louis, MO.3rd Place winner of the West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS January 2022 Photo Contest by Bill Farrell. Looking North from Pembroke Yard as the snow falls at Pembroke, KY.West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS January 2022 Photo Contest Entry: CSX 6914 heads south at Guthrie, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision. Photo by Cooper Smith.West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS January 2022 Photo Contest Entry: CSX 4547 leads a mixed freight south through Mortons Gap KY on the Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by Ricky BivinsWest Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS January 2022 Photo Contest Entry: CSX 3184, Honoring Law Enforcement unit, leads one of the intermodals north on my birthday at Mortons Gap KY on the Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
Just as a reminder that our first Chapter Photo Contest for 2021 will run from 5-31 January 2022!
Each dues paying member is allowed to submit two photographs taken anywhere during the above timeframe. Entries with captions should be sent to jim@jimpearsonphotography.com by midnight on February 7th, 2021.
1st Place winner of the West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS October 2021 Photo Contest by Bill Grady. As the early Fall air has cooled down during the late afternoon, sunset begins to shine down on Norfolk Sothern’s Louisville District at Buechel, Kentucky.2nd Place winner of the West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS October 2021 Photo Contest by Ricky Bivins. The tail end of a Florida Brightline Trainset makes its way south at Mortons Gap, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on CSX W989.Norfolk Southern #60P led by CP #8138 (AC4400CWM) is a loaded Potash Train from Canada and is headed to the Clark Maritime Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana.CSX J732 heads south through Mortons Gap KY on the Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
1st Place winner of the West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS September 2021 Photo Contest by Chris Dees. Milwaukee Road 261 arrives back in Chanhassen, Minnesota on the evening of October 2, 2021, with The Gourmet Express, a wonderful fall colors excursion and culinary delight on the Twin Cities & Western Railroad.2nd Place winner of the West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS September 2021 Photo Contest by Bill Grady. What looks like a Company Train, CSX U738-11 sports fresh GE CM44AH rebuilds 7253 and 7249 as they cross the Etowah River Northbound at Emerson, Georgia on September 17, 2021. This is on CSX’s historic W&A Subdivision.On a perfect early fall morning, Norfolk Southern eastbound #223 is notching it out at Fisherville, Kentucky as he makes his way toward Danville, Kentucky. September 29, 2021. – Photo by Bill Grady1776 Southbound at Cartersville, GA. 2021 during the L&NHS Convention. – Photo by Keith KittingerA CSX mixed freight southbound on the Henderson Subdivision at Mannington, KY. – Photo by Keith KittingerA loaded CSX coal train passes through the Hwy 1337 crossing at Richland, KY as it heads to Calvert City on the Paducah and Louisville Railway.A CSX Mixed freight heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap KY. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
1st Place West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS July 2021 Photo Contest by Cooper Smith. CSX 3194, Honoring Our Law Enforcement Unit, leads Q025 south at Pembroke, KY on the Henderson Subdivision. 2nd Place West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS July 2021 Photo Contest by Cooper Smith. Paducah and Louisville Railway 2129 leads LML1 south through Do-Stop, KY with loaded Scotty’s Rock Cars, headed for Madisonville, KY. 3rd Place West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS July 2021 Photo Contest by Bill Grady. Waiting for its 1600 Call Time, INRD 9025 sits patiently for its crew member to arrive. A decent summer day allows you to see some of the buildings in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana on July 22, 2021. Entry: Getting into the “sucker hole” of sunshine, Norfolk Southern westbound #77J rolls downhill on the roller coaster profile of the Louisville East District. – Photo by Bill Grady West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS July 2021 Photo Contest Entry: Canadian National 3141 and 2823 lead a southbound K train through downtown Mortons Gap, KY on the Henderson Subdivision on July 15, 2021. – Photo by Rick Bivins West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS July 2021 Photo Contest Entry: CSX Honoring Our Law Enforcement unit 3194 leads CSX Q025 as it passes through downtown Mortons Gap, KY on the Henderson Subdivision on July 18, 2021. – Photo by Rick Bivins
First Place – West Ky NRHS March 2021 Photo Contest by Matt Gentry – Having heard of a southbound with UP power on the point on this bright and sunny spring day I wanted to get a unique shot. Remembering that almost all UP power has the American flag on the long hood and realizing that I was close to Crofton, I remembered an idea I had back in January. But this time there is a theme – Flags! Not long after setting up the shot, the train became audible and, to my surprise, traffic on US41 cooperated and left a huge window for this unobstructed shot.Second Place – West Ky NRHS March 2021 Photo Contest by Cooper Smith – A Dash 8 rebuild CSX 7779 leads a K train north from Nashville, TN after meeting a southbound autorack train.CSX rail train preparing to drop new continuous rail north of Crofton, KY. – Photo by William Farrell, 3/30/2021.Rolling along at track speed, the always reliable CSX Q025 and his 12,700 foot train are about to cross Peddler McDonald Road just North of Sebree, KY on a wonderful spring Saturday on March 27, 2021. Photo by Bill GradyMarch 28, 10:35 AM a South bound CSX Q-029 passes through Mortons Gap KY on the Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by Rick BivinsOn March 30th, 2021 CSXT 434 pulls CSX W029 pulls a military train as it passes over the grade crossing at the north end of Kelly, KY as it heads south on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by William FarrellHaving finished getting his train out of the Ohio River Valley, Norfolk Southern #224 is westbound and about to go under the new overpass for Lanesville Road just west of Georgetown, Indiana on March 24, 2021. – Photo by Bill GradyOn March 28th, 2021, Some foreign visitors head up a northbound covered hopper train headed out of Evansville, IN. Seen here going under the bridge that is Baseline Rd. on Evansville’s north side, the train has taken the siding to hold for a southbound manifest that will pass by shortly. – Photo by Matt GentryThe rising sun peeks through a loaded CSX coal train as it heads south bound on the Henderson Subdivision on March 30, 2021 at Mortons Gap, Kentucky. – Photo by Rick BivinsPAL 4516 heads up the northbound LG train as it passes Rob Roy Rd near Beaver Dam, KY. – Photo by Cooper Smith
1st Place West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS Trains in the Snow Contest winner – NS #22A has made the trip up from the south through the second snow storm where the snow was heavier and the cold air managed to make it stick. Here, #22A is in the siding for a meet with eastbound #23G at the Buechel, KY Depot on 2-17-2021 – Photo by Bill Grady2nd Place West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS Trains in the Snow Contest winner – February 19, 2021: Southbound CSX N013 passes the Ex L&N Hopkinsville, Ky depot with a blanket on snow surrounding it as it heads south on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by Cooper Smith3rd Place West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS Trains in the Snow Contest winner – February 19, 2021: UP 4601 leads K403 south at the last light of day in Slaughters, KY as Q500?s DPU can be seen in the background. – Photo by Cooper SmithNS #22A (dim headlight) has “dogged Lawed” in the siding at Buechel, KY on this cold day of 11 February 2021. The other train, NS #172 has pulled up next to 22A to pick up the crew and take them on to Louisville so everyone can get home. The focus on the bush shows that the Louisville area received about 1/4″ of Ice. – Photo by Bill GradyCSX E303 ascends Barnsley Hill between Morton’s Gap and Earlington, KY, February 20, 2021, with nearly 100 empty coal hoppers. This is the ruling northbound grade on CSX’s Henderson Subdivision. ES44DC 5471 is under a Restricted Proceed signal (lunar) as it closely follows a “Tote” train. – Photo by Bill ThomasSB CN ethanol train at Bobo Road, West Paducah, KY on February 20, 2021. – Photo by Ricky BivinsCSX Q028 heads through Mortons Gap KY on the Henderson Subdivision on February 17, 2021. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
1st Place West Kentucky Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society Photo Contest – KCS units lead an ethanol train south, at the location known as Monarch, where they duck under the P&L railway line, on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Ky on January 30th, 2021. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
2nd Place West Kentucky Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society Photo Contest – January 31, 2021: C841 heads south as it passes the Lothair intermediates just outside of Hazard, KY. – Photo by Cooper Smith
3rd Place West Kentucky Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society Photo Contest -Having dropped off his train of Autoracks at the Mixing Center in Shelbyville, KY, NS #23J rolls westbound towards the yard at Louisville on the “best” Snow Day of 2021. #23J is run as a extra Autorack Train on January 28, 2021. – Photo by Bill Grady
Honorable Mention – West Kentucky Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society Photo Contest – CSX locomotive 912 on the lead of a five locomotive lash up pulling a mixed freight south at Caskey Lane in Hopkinsville, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by William Farrell
Click on images for full view of photo!
CSX locomotive 6972 sitting at ideal in Caskey Yard, ready to pull a train of covered hoppers north bound. – Photo by William Farrell
With Reitz High School looming in the background, CSX Q501-23 is winding his way south to the #1 Main in the Evansville Terminal. Due to congestion at Evansville, Q501 will tie down well south of Howell Yard and will do his work later in the evening, on January 23, 2021. – Photo by Bill Grady
January 31, 2021: C841 departs Hazard, KY over the river and heads south towards Shelby, KY where it?ll drop off the empties. – Photo by Cooper Smith
A North bound CSX at Mortons Gap, Ky, heads north on the Henderson subdivision against the early morning sun on January 30, 2021. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
First Place November 2020 – A southbound mixed freight passes the grainery between Trenton and Guthrie, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by Cooper SmithSecond Place November 2020 – A southbound freight prepares to pass through then north end of Latham Siding as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Hopkinsville, Ky. – Photo by Tom Steiner3rd Place November 2020 – Workers from Track Tech in Calvert City, KY, are framed by the long reach of their track hoe as they work to replace the CSX spur at Fortner Gas’s transloading facility in Madisonville, KY, in late October 2020. The joint project by CSX and Fortner Gas upgraded the spur to 115 lb. rail, a few new ties, and switches. The track to the right on which the track hoe sits, is the lead to the Madisonville Industrial Park on the other side of Hwy 41A. – Photo by Bill Thomas
1st Place, September 2020, West Ky Chapter of the NRHS Photo Contest – September 27, 2020 – Champaign IL BNSF6900 ES44C4 – Feast or famine on the IC. After allowing the southbound Amtrak commuter train pass by at points north, southbound oil train, led by BNSF 6900, snakes its way into the north end of Champaign yard. Thanks to the low light, a second southbound train, led by a CN SD70M-2, passes the grain elevators at Leverette and approaches north Champaign right on the heels of the oil train. – Photo by Matt Gentry2nd Place, September 2020, West Ky Chapter of the NRHS Photo Contest – September 26, 2020: CSX 8315 (SD40-2) leads Q501 around the curve at NE Kelly on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by Cooper Smith3rd Place, September 2020, West Ky Chapter of the NRHS Photo Contest – PAL 4522 heads up the southbound LG train through Caneyville, KY on a nice fall afternoon. – Photo by Cooper Smith
Locomotive 5446 north bound on the lead of a mixed freight just south of the Christian county line on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.- Photo by William Farrell
Norfolk Southern’s Conrail Heritage Unit is leading the Daily Autorack train #124. But, is in the siding at West Crandall, Indiana holding for 2 eastbounds on a wonderful fall afternoon. September 21, 2020 – Photo by Bill Grady
It?s a beautiful mid morning, September 22, in Madisonville, Kentucky, as CSX crews do preliminary work on the Arch Street bridge adjacent to the former L&N depot. The bridge will later receive a new piece of ?snap track? and modified walkways. Photo by Bill Thomas with Canon EOS Digital at 1/1000, f 4.3.
September 20, 2020 – A southbound freight train is framed by trees at Mortons Gap KY on the Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
CSX locomotive 3006 south bound pulling a mixed freight in Crofton, KY on the Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by William Farrell
The Daily Norfolk Southern Train #172 is westbound chasing the last rays of sun on another beautiful fall afternoon. #172 is near Fisherville, KY on NS’s Louisville District. September 30, 2020. Photo by Bill Grady
Septtmber 26, 2020 – Ormonde IL AMTK131 P42DC – Seen here at Ormonde, IL, Amtrak’s Southwest Chief train #3 hustles west on an early fall afternoon. Strange consist to note; 3 locomotives and no baggage car. Covid traffic sure has changed the landscape of present day passenger rail as noted by the consist and the fact that this is one of the last daily Southwest Chief’s to run before schedule change go into effect in October. – Photo by Matt Gentry
September 24, 2020 CSXT 3182 leads a southbound intermodal through downtown Mortons Gap, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
1st Place West KY NRHS July 2020 Chapter Photo Contest by Bill Thomas – CP No. 7021 (Canadian National) has a Desert Sand color with black markings used on military vehicles used in modern conflicts such as Afghanistan and Iraq. This locomotive dons the modernized ?Army? stencil font for the road numbers. The unit is a rebuilt SD70ACU, one of five locomotives honoring Canadian and U.S. armed forces. The train is southbound on CSX?s Henderson Subdivision just south of the Badgett Loop overpass off of Stagecoach Road, Madisonville, KY. – Photo by Bill Thomas2nd Place West KY NRHS July 2020 Chapter Photo Contest by Blair Terry – South bound CSX locomotive # 3020 pulling a train of mixed freight. The locomotive has just cleared the lift bridge that crosses the Tennessee River at Decatur, Alabama. Photo by Blair Terry3rd Place West KY NRHS July 2020 Chapter Photo Contest by Cooper Smith – CSX 5331 leads Q688 northbound on the Louisville and Indiana Railroad in Seymour, IN.
Other entries – Click picture for full view
July 24, 2020 – A Trio of CSX locomotives on the lift bridge at Decatur, Alabama. CSX engine # 5112 on the lead of a mixed freight over the Tennessee River. – Photo by William Farrell
July 21, 2020 – CP 7021 roars around the MP 211 curve as it approaches Adams, TN on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by Cooper Smith
July 28, 2020 – Q026 heads northbound with CSXT 777 leading on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap KY. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
July 28, 2020 – Jim Pearson tells me “Shhhh” as he starts to record a video of a southbound CSX train on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap KY. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
Congratulations to the winners of our Chapter’s May 2020 photo contest! We had a total of 6 entries this month and congratulations to Bill, Cooper and Ricky for their winning entries! Our next contest will run from July 15-31 with a submission deadline of August 7th of not more than two entries per chapter member!
The May winners are are:
1st Place Winner, West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS May 2020 Photo Contest by Bill Grady – Loaded Duke Energy Coal Train NS 70A with the Sonic Bonnet #4001, is waiting his turn to enter the tracks at the powerplant and is in the siding at Lyle, Indiana, just west of Princeton.
In the meantime, NS intermodal #224 is in a hurry westbound on the main with the NS #8123 in charge on May 23, 2020.2nd Place Winner, West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS May 2020 Photo Contest by Cooper Smith – C842 crawls over the bridge at Jeff, KY after getting a fresh crew at Hazard, KY.3rd Place Winner, West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS May 2020 Photo Contest by Ricky Bivins – NB BNSF comes from the P&I onto the CN at West Paducah, KY on May 30, 2020.
The other entries were…
Always the hottest train on the Henderson Subdivision, CSX Q025-25 is slowing down to the 35 mph speed limit through the town of Sebree, Kentucky on May 25, 2020. – Photo by Bill GradyC842 echoes through the mountains as it passes the Viper, KY intermediate signals on the CSX Rockhouse Sub. – Photo by Cooper SmithSB Manifest, DPU at Mortons Gap KY. Saturday, May 30, 2020. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
Our March 2020 chapter photo contest ran from April 15-30th and we had a total of 10 entries from 5 chapter members. The winning entries are below and the other entries are below them. Congratulations to our winners and we hope that everyone will participate in our May contest that runs from May 15-31st. If we are still in the pandemic please observe social distancing! Submission deadline is June 7th and we need a caption with each entry! – Jim Pearson
First Place March 2020 by Cooper Smith – Canadian Pacific 9814 leads K815 southbound through the Red River cut just north of Adams, Tennessee on the Henderson Subdivision as the conductor holds a flag out his window as they pass under the hwy 41 overpass.
Second Place March 2020 by Ricky Bivins – CSXT 397 leads a mixed freight at Mortons Gap KY as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on March 25, 2020.
Third Place March 2020 – CSXT #3092 on the lead followed by #5320 pulling a northbound intermodal out of Pembroke Yard. On a siding sits CSX locomotive #5468 waiting for its CSX grain train to be unloaded at Siemer Milling Company on March 30, 2020.
The other outstanding entries are presented below.
CSX locomotive #3092 on the lead followed by #5320 pulling a northbound intermodal. The lead locomotive is just about ready to pass under the Walnut Street overpass, Hopkinsville, Kentucky on March 30, 2020 on the Henderson Subdivision. – Photo by William Farrell
Norfolk Southern #375 skirts along Brush Creek with a mixed freight near Louisville, Ky on March 29, 2020. – Photo by Bill Grady
Norfolk Southern #375 with Southern Heritage Unit #8099 pulls through the crossovers at Buechel, KY on March 31, 2020. – Photo by Bill Grady
RJ. Corman 3803 leads the Cumberland City turn southbound over the Cumberland River bridge in Clarksville, Tennessee. – Photo by Cooper Smith
Put Me In, Coach! – CN/GTW GP38-2 #6228 is found hustling a very late (appx. 8hrs) northbound City of New Orleans after just completing their station stop a few miles south in Champaign, IL. The ex-DT&I veteran is running long hood forward after being added to the train earlier in long distance journey due to mechanical issues with the aged P42DC locomotive. – Photo by Matt Gentry
Special Delivery – Canadian National SD70s 1037 and 1031 snake their way into south Champaign yard to do more work before continuing on their way north. Seen behind the veteran SD70s are 2 recently repainted (verdict is still out on if they were completely overhauled or just repainted) SD70ACe locomotives headed for North Shore Mining. The units are ex-PRLX, ex-CSX SD70ACe units 4833 and 4839. – Photo by Matt Gentry
Two BNSF and a UP locomotive leads a southbound freight at Mortons Gap, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on March 25, 2020. – Photo by Ricky Bivins
We had a total of nine entries for the January 2020 chapter photo contest and the chapter members selected the winners during our February meeting.
First Place, West Kentucky Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society’s January Photo Contest Winner – A northbound CSXT 5291 pulls a mixed freight north on the Henderson Subdivision as it passes a south bound CSXT 763, leading a mixed freight in the siding at Kelly, Ky. – Photo by William Farrell2nd Place by Jonathan Young, January 2020
Second Place winner of the West Kentucky Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society’s January Photo Contest – My content 2-year-old, Hayden does some railfanning from the backseat as he watches a northbound mixed freight pass through Mortons Gap, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision. A young railfan in the making for sure!! – Photo by Jonathan Young
West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS Photo Contest Winner – 1st Place November – 2019 – CSX coal train (N015) heads south on a snowy night in Guthrie, KY. – Photo by Cooper Smith West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS Photo Contest Winner – 2nd Place – The daily Chattanooga-Louisville manifest #172 is taking the siding at “Bryan” in Louisville, KY on 11-9-2019. The #172 almost always has a nice set of power leading. – Photo by Bill Grady West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS Photo Contest Winner – 3rd Place – November 5, 2019 – F7P in push-pull configuration pictured at Branson Station, Branson, Missouri. – Photo by Jim Kemp
