CSX Transportation Historical Society

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PAL, BNSF, CN - Paducah KY -- 10-23-2020

Rail Fan Adventure --

After staying the night in Paducah, we went by the Paducah & Louisville yard. This is former Illinois Central and ICG.

1. Paducah & Louisville’s diesel shop at Paducah. In the far background is the overhead bridge of the Paducah & Illinois Railroad, an IC and CB&Q subsidiary (now CN and BNSF). A butt-head switcher works the north yard, but I didn’t dare walk up there. PAL Paducah KY shop.
Paducah & Louisville’s diesel shop at Paducah. In the far background is the overhead bridge of the Paducah & Illinois Railroad, an IC and CB&Q subsidiary (now CN and BNSF). A butt-head switcher works the north yard, but I didn’t dare walk up there. PAL Paducah KY shop.

2. Paducah rail yard layout. Between MP 224 & 227.64. Page 151. Click here for larger image.
Paducah rail yard layout. Between MP 224 & 227.64. Page 151.

3. PAL SD70MAC 2012 is former CSX 4505 nee-705. Paducah KY.
PAL SD70MAC 2012 is former CSX 4505 nee-705. Paducah KY.

4. The unit commemorates the 2012 NCAA division 1 men’s basketball tournament. UK beat Kansas 67-59 to win the championship (we didn’t even make the playoffs this year). PAL 2012 SD70MAC. View 2. Paducah KY.
The unit commemorates the 2012 NCAA division 1 men’s basketball tournament. UK beat Kansas 67-59 to win the championship (we didn’t even make the playoffs this year). PAL 2012 SD70MAC. View 2. Paducah KY.

5. EVWR (sister company Evansville Western) 4511 is ex-CSX 4511 nee 711. PAL 4503 is ex-CSX 4503 nee-703. Paducah KY.
EVWR (sister company Evansville Western) 4511 is ex-CSX 4511 nee 711. PAL 4503 is ex-CSX 4503 nee-703. Paducah KY.

6. PAL “GP40-3” 2123 is ex-CSX 6829, nee C&O GP40 4074. PAL 2125 is ex-CSX, nee-SCL. PAK 2106 is a slug converted from a GP35 and is mated to “GP40-3” 2107, an ex-NYC GP40. “GP40-3s” have odd numbers and slugs have even. Paducah KY.
PAL “GP40-3” 2123 is ex-CSX 6829, nee C&O GP40 4074. PAL 2125 is ex-CSX, nee-SCL. PAK 2106 is a slug converted from a GP35 and is mated to “GP40-3” 2107, an ex-NYC GP40. “GP40-3s” have odd numbers and slugs have even. Paducah KY.

7. BNSF SD70ACe 8499 (blt 11-2014) is on the rear of a TVA coal train. This will probably go to the Grand Rivers barge terminal at Jessup. Paducah KY.
BNSF SD70ACe 8499 (blt 11-2014) is on the rear of a TVA coal train. This will probably go to the Grand Rivers barge terminal at Jessup. Paducah KY.

8. BNSF ES44AC 5929 (blt 2005-06) and SD70ACe 9120 (class of 2012) are on the front in south yard. Leaving out the old IC Kentucky Division they will probably be DPUs. Foreign power on western coal trains coming in from Metropolis is common. Paducah KY.
BNSF ES44AC 5929 (blt 2005-06) and SD70ACe 9120 (class of 2012) are on the front in south yard. Leaving out the old IC Kentucky Division they will probably be DPUs. Foreign power on western coal trains coming in from Metropolis is common. Paducah KY.

9. South end of South Yard. PAL uses the old Mayfield District behind me, but Mayfield to Fulton is abandoned. BNSF 5929-9120. Paducah KY.
South end of South Yard. PAL uses the old Mayfield District behind me, but Mayfield to Fulton is abandoned. BNSF 5929-9120. Paducah KY.

10. Paducah & Illinois RR map. Click here for a larger image.
Paducah & Illinois RR map.

11. The L&N got into Paducah via merger with the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis around 1957. A connection with the Burlington was important to the NC&StL, but not to CSX. It’s gone now except what PAL operates in Paducah. KWT operates some of this line out of Bruceton TN. Paducah rail yard layout. Between MP 224 & 227. Page 150. Click here for a larger image.
The L&N got into Paducah via merger with the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis around 1957. A connection with the Burlington was important to the NC&StL, but not to CSX. It’s gone now except what PAL operates in Paducah. KWT operates some of this line out of Bruceton TN. Paducah rail yard layout. Between MP 224 & 227. Page 150.

12. Southbound CN L51371 (the Paducah turn out of Fulton) is around the location marked ICG passenger car yard as it approaches the “leased L&N track” which will take it to the Paducah & Illinois and out to the CN Bluford District at Maxon or Chiles. We shot this engine and train the previous day at Fulton and Dublin. Paducah KY.
Southbound CN L51371 (the Paducah turn out of Fulton) is around the location marked ICG passenger car yard as it approaches the “leased L&N track” which will take it to the Paducah & Illinois and out to the CN Bluford District at Maxon or Chiles. We shot this engine and train the previous day at Fulton and Dublin. Paducah KY.

13. Illinois Central Gulf Railroad - KY Division map. Click here for a larger image.
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad - KY Division map.

14. PAL operates the East Cairo District to the Atomic Energy Commission plant as well as the former ICG line to Central City and Louisville. Calvert City generates a huge amount of business with a coal-barge terminal and several industries. PAL runs a “Calvert Local” daily and probably keeps engines out there also. The “old line” is gone. Paducah District Timetable No 3. 25 Oct 1981. Click here for a larger image.
PAL operates the East Cairo District to the Atomic Energy Commission plant as well as the former ICG line to Central City and Louisville. Calvert City generates a huge amount of business with a coal-barge terminal and several industries. PAL runs a “Calvert Local” daily and probably keeps engines out there also. The “old line” is gone. Paducah District Timetable No 3. 25 Oct 1981.

15. Looking north from the north end of North Yard. On the left is the track to the river front and downtown. That blue switcher is the lead into National Railway Equipment’s (NRE) former IC/ICG Paducah shop complex. IC’s steam roundhouse, coal dock, etc. would have been located adjacent to the shop. To the right is the main line to Louisville and to the Paducah & Illinois. PAL river jct. Paducah KY.
Looking north from the north end of North Yard. On the left is the track to the river front and downtown. That blue switcher is the lead into National Railway Equipment’s (NRE) former IC/ICG Paducah shop complex. IC’s steam roundhouse, coal dock, etc. would have been located adjacent to the shop. To the right is the main line to Louisville and to the Paducah & Illinois. PAL river jct. Paducah KY.

16. Blueford District Timetable No 3. 25Oct 1981. Click here for a larger image.
Blueford District Timetable No 3. 25Oct 1981.

17. Paducah & Illinois Railroad Timetable No 3. 25 Oct 1981. Click here for a larger image.
Paducah & Illinois Railroad Timetable No 3. 25 Oct 1981.

18. Looking south at North Yard. BNSF 7429 (ES44DC blt 2010) and ES44C4 7103 (blt 2013) start to pull with 33 cars on the “BN Local” to Centralia IL. The P&I bridge is in the distance crossing the middle of the yard. The outgoing BNSF and CN locals will cross it in a few minutes. Paducah KY.
Looking south at North Yard. BNSF 7429 (ES44DC blt 2010) and ES44C4 7103 (blt 2013) start to pull with 33 cars on the “BN Local” to Centralia IL. The P&I bridge is in the distance crossing the middle of the yard. The outgoing BNSF and CN locals will cross it in a few minutes. Paducah KY.

19. BNSF 7429-7103. View 2. Paducah KY.
BNSF 7429-7103. View 2. Paducah KY.

20. BNSF 7429-7103. View 3. Paducah KY.
BNSF 7429-7103. View 3. Paducah KY.

21. PAL system map. Click here for a larger image.

A weather front was rolling in from the west. We headed downtown and hit the antique malls. There are also several good places to eat. We left town just ahead of the front heading east on US 60 to Henderson. The rain caught up with us, and the final few miles were in miserable driving conditions.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young