Railroading In The South | January 2026 | Trains in Arkansas & Louisiana | Rails West

Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey

We are well into 2026, and I’ve promised myself to do a better job of sharing my railroad photos. Although I didn’t take many pictures in January, I really like the ones I did capture. These photos were taken in my usual spots, including Leesville, Bunkie, and Baton Rouge in Louisiana, as well as Ashdown and DeQueen in Arkansas. 

Remnants Of The Santa Fe Railroad Still Roll In The Mojave Desert - Edwards AFB California | BNSF

 Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey

I know I've mentioned this before, but there's an incredible amount of former Santa Fe Railroad equipment still in use on the BNSF network. Nearly a decade ago, when I lived in the Mojave Desert, I was fortunate to capture numerous images of ex-Santa Fe locomotives still hard at work. And on a trip to Tehachapi one afternoon, I came across even more examples of the ATSF legacy living on, over 20 years after the merger with Burlington Northern.

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.

Louisiana Through My Lens | The Remains of the Red River & Gulf Railroad Depot in Lecompte

 Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey

Tucked away in the brush in a field just south of Lecompte, Louisiana, is the intriguing remains of the former depot of the Red River & Gulf Railroad. This historic depot, which was constructed in 1906, was a pivotal stop for the railroad until its closure in 1954. If you take a moment to gaze towards the left side of the depot (In one of the photos below), you’ll spot a noticeable gap in the treeline where the Red River & Gulf tracks once existed.

Remembering the Ghosts Of The Santa Fe Railroad in La Mirada, California

 Photos and Story By Ken Hulsey

Today, I was reviewing some of my old railroad-themed photography, searching for my best shots to share with the railfan community. I came across a set of images taken back in 2012 of a group of locomotives and cabooses at the BNSF facilities in La Mirada, California, on a dreary May afternoon. What makes these images unique and particularly interesting for modern railfans is that every piece of equipment I photographed was still in the colors of the old Santa Fe Railroad.

California Through My Lens | A Trip Back In Time | Southern California Railway Museum

 Photo and Story By Ken Hulsey

This is one of my favorite photographs, and I cherish it for several reasons. Firstly, it was taken at the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris, California, which is one of my favorite places on Earth. Secondly, it’s railroad-related, and the intriguing part is that it looks as if I used a time machine to capture the scene. 

I took this shot back in 2009, but it could easily have been taken in the 1930s or 40s. Everything in this image is from that period—well, almost everything. From the streetcar to the buildings, the railroad crossing sign, the street lights, the power poles, and the traffic signal, all reflect vintage Southern California. I feel like I truly captured the essence of that era.

What I love most about this museum is that it features numerous well-preserved locations, including buildings, signs, vintage cars and trucks, as well as vintage railroad equipment, such as old LA streetcars like this one. Unfortunately, if you look closely enough, you can spot an item that seems out of place for the 1930s, which somewhat spoils the illusion.

I enhanced the photo using a couple of filters that give it a vintage look. These enhancements really bring out the nostalgic feel and composition of this photograph.

Check Out:

The History of Ventura County Railway No. 2 and Its Journey | Southern California Railway Museum

Memories of Santa Fe Locomotive 3751: San Bernardino Railroad Days 2012 Flashback

Uncover the Story Behind Abandoned Locomotive #400 in Long Leaf, Louisiana

See History Come Alive at the Kern County Museum

Thousands Of Fans Swarm To See The Worlds Biggest Monster ... Locomotive

Literally thousands of fans have lined up to catch a glimpse of the worlds largest superstar ... and it's not Godzilla. No the monster in question isn't a Hollywood terror but the newly restored Union Pacific 'Big Boy' locomotive 4014 which is now on a cross country tour to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad.

Related: Girl and Goliath Santa Fe 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive 3751 Limited Edition Print



History:

UP No. 4014 was part of the first group of 20 Big Boys, classified as 4884-1. In December 1941, ALCO delivered No. 4014 to Union Pacific, which placed it in revenue service. Designed to haul 3,600-ton trains over Utah's Wasatch Range, No. 4014 and the 24 other Big Boys routinely pulled trains of up to 4,200 tons. No. 4014's last routine repairs took place in 1956.

No. 4014 completed its final revenue run on July 21, 1959, just hours before the last revenue run by any Big Boy. It had traveled 1,031,205 miles (1,659,564 km) during its twenty years of revenue service. Union Pacific retired No. 4014 on December 7, 1961. All of the Big Boys were retired by 1962, their duties assumed by diesel locomotives and gas turbine-electric locomotives (GTELs). Union Pacific donated it to the Southern California chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society in Pomona, California, where it became one of the eight Big Boys preserved around the United States.

In late July 2016, UP officials announced that restoration work on No. 4014 had begun under Heritage Fleet Operations director Ed Dickens. No. 4014's driving wheels were sent to be repaired by the Strasburg Rail Road in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. To convert the coal-burning locomotive to run on No. 5 fuel oil, the firebox grates were replaced with a fire pan and an oil burner. In March 2018, it was reported that the process of putting the locomotive back together had begun; ten months later, the locomotive's restoration was nearly finished.

No. 4014 was successfully test fired on April 9, 2019, and on May 1 at around 9 p.m., it finally moved under its own power for the first time in over 59 years. The following day, the locomotive left Cheyenne on its first test run to Nunn, Colorado and return.

Upon the completion of the restoration, No. 4014 joined the railroad's No. 844 (FEF-3 4-8-4) and No. 3985 (Challenger 4-6-6-4) in excursion service. No. 4014 also became the world's largest operational steam locomotive, displacing No. 3985, which was the largest operational steam locomotive until it was taken out of service in 2010 due to mechanical problems.

No. 4014 made its first excursion run amid the celebrations marking 150 years since the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad. Following its May 4 christening at the Cheyenne Depot Museum, the locomotive — along with No. 844 — traveled to Ogden, Utah, making several brief stops in communities along the way. No. 4014 arrived at the city's Union Station on May 9, and departed on May 12. It derailed on May 16 while entering the yard at Rawlins, Wyoming; it took three hours to get the locomotive back on the rails. It then continued its journey the next day, and finally arrived back in Cheyenne on May 19.

Look for the 4014 to come to your area sometime this year. Keep track of it's progress at 2019 Union Pacific Steam Schedule.