Railroading In The South | 2025 in Review | A Year in Photos | Rails West

The famous City of New Orleans arrives in McComb, Mississippi

 Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey

In 2025, I traveled to various locations throughout the southern United States. As an avid photographer and railfan, I seized every opportunity to photograph trains. Over the past decade and a half, I have earned a reputation for capturing images of trains, railroad-related items, and significant locations. I've also shared a wealth of regional railroad history that relates to the photographs and sites I've documented.

The states of Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi each have a rich railroad history and provide excellent spots for train watching and photography today. Throughout my years of photographing trains in the southwest, I’ve captured hundreds of images and built a solid following on social media, particularly through my Railwest Facebook page.

In the south, spotting trains can be a bit more challenging due to rural areas and the limited number of trains running. In contrast, the southwestern region boasts a higher frequency of trains, with major rail lines usually running parallel to significant highways and roads. Iconic locations like Cajon Pass and the Tehachapi Loop have been replaced by spots such as Ashdown, Arkansas, and Gibsland, Louisiana. While these places may not be as visually stunning, they still offer excellent opportunities for capturing railroad images. 

Ashdown is a hotspot on the CPKC mainline, while Gibsland serves as a prime junction on the famous Meridian Speedway. Spending time at either location often yields fruitful results. Additionally, I find that Shreveport, Louisiana—my favorite city in the state—is a fantastic place for railfans, as it is where both the lines that run through Ashdown and Gibsland come together. I've taken many great photos in Shreveport, though I’m not featuring any of them in this piece. I promise to share some of those in the future.

Today, I have selected twenty of my favorite photos taken in 2025. I spent a considerable amount of time sorting through my rail photographs, and this is the collection that truly resonated with me. I hope you enjoy them, and I look forward to sharing more railroad-related features in 2026.