Smoky U28Bs on Coal Trains! - Transkentucky Transportation Railroad (TTI)

In this video, C. Vision Productions takes you to Kentucky in the 1990s, to view operations on coal-hauler Transkentucky Transportation Railroad (TTI). We’ll see the railroad’s classic fleet of GE U28B locomotives powering heavy coal trains through the hilly terrain of rural Kentucky. Videographer Dan Hadley documented TTI’s entire mainline, between Paris, Kentucky and Maysville, Kentucky, with additional coverage of TTI trains on CSX track in Maysville, leading to the rail-to-water transload facility on the Ohio River. As of 2023, TTI no longer operates coal trains, and their mainline sits in silence.
Tunnels, jointed rail, smoky U-Boats, and pleasant Kentucky scenery all came together to make Transkentucky Transportation the popular railfan destination that it had been for three and a half decades. Come along with C. Vision Productions, as we tour the railroad during better days.
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[@colinmulder6806]

This video comes to me as a SURPRISE. Had no idea Dan Hadley was responsible for a majority of the footage shot for U-BOAT SUVIVORS. His RAW DELETED FOOTAGE has astonished & astound me once again.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Hello, Colin! Welcome back. Yes, Mr. Hadley did shoot the U-Boat Survivors tape. We were pleasantly surprised to find so much unused TTI footage in the archives. We appreciate your comment, as always.

[@colinmulder6806]

@@CVisionProductions1 Thanks & glad to hear back from you. Did you happened to come across my last response to you from the KCS video?

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re welcome. Actually, we did not see anything from you on the KCS video. If we had, we absolutely would have replied. Just checked again, and also adjusted some settings. We’re not seeing anything.

[@colinmulder6806]

@@CVisionProductions1 Not to worry. It was mainly a long THANK YOU response to Dan Hadley to his work done for KCS & other railroads. Made a SHORT version to it.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Ahhhh, yes. We see your new KCS comment in queue. Not sure where the original went, but we appreciate you taking the time to type up another. We will respond to it soon. Thanks again, Colin!

[@alexpaumen3937]

I was in utter disbelief when I saw the U-Boat Survivors footage. I’m so happy to see it here!

[@CVisionProductions1]

We’re happy to share it with you, Alex! It was also nice to share so many previously unused scenes of the TTI. Mr. Hadley covered the railroad well. Thank you for watching.

[@GEVOlutionCPKC]

Old SCHOOL king power 🔥👌🏽

[@CVisionProductions1]

Oh, yeah. These old U-Boats really put on a show! Thank you for the comment.

[@dennisyoung4631]

They have *Soot,* too.

[@metalheadrailfan]

Cool to see unit 260 in the 9 unit lash up since it's preserved at IRM now.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes! We are very thankful that one of these TTI U28Bs was preserved. They were such neat units. Thank you for the comment, and also for pointing out the 260.

[@beeble2003]

It's also in the second unit in the sextuple-header at 10:20.

[@scotabot7826]

Wow, 9 U-Boats pulling that train!! Wow!!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes! We were surprised by that as well. Thank you for the comment.

[@jimpowell1802]

Those were empties headed south. Usually the trains used 6 locomotives in the lead with loads and 2 or three helper locomotives on the rear. Coming south back to Paris the engines are all coupled together. There were probably only 2 locomotives of the nine that were actually running. I worked at TTI from 1980 to 1994 and ran work trains from 1989 to1994.

[@jimpowell1802]

Thanks for the video. Brought back a lot of fond memories.

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re very welcome, Jim! Thank you for watching the video.

[@jimpowell1802]

@@CVisionProductions1 I worked for TTI from 1980 to 1994. I worked in MoW as a track supervisor and engineer/conductor.

[@GP30RDMT]

A picturesque line with rare motive power, TTI was always something I loved to hear about. Made it out there once on a whim 10+ years ago, and they weren't running. This place is on "my list" of things I wanted to shoot but never found running...just like the Escalante Western.

[@CVisionProductions1]

We have a list similar to yours. Escalante Western is on ours as well. Sometimes, you just don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Thank you for watching the video. It is appreciated.

[@purepressure2004]

What an amazing video!! The sound is incredible!! I would totally buy a full length video of this.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you so much! That may be in the works… Stay tuned!

[@mjrodriguez8670]

Those U28B locomotives look and sound awesome hauling coal in Kentucky! Dan surely captured some amazing diesel locomotives!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you so much, MJ! The TTI really put on a fantastic show for Mr. Hadley. Those massive consists of U28Bs were impressive!

[@mwand89]

Those GE U28B locomotives are like the Alco diesels that are also smokey.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes, we definitely can see the similarities! Lots and lots of smoke… Thank you for watching the video.

[@unutentequalsiasi5669]

​@@CVisionProductions1but why Emd dont do that?

[@CVisionProductions1]

@unutentequalsiasi5669 EMD’s locomotive designs were significantly different than those of Alco and GE. One of the main differences between them would be the prime movers themselves. Most EMDs are two-stroke, while Alcos and GEs are four-stroke.

[@wildbill9919]

Those locos can be seen in the Pentrex video "U-Boat Survivors".

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes! And we’ve added deleted scenes for your viewing pleasure. Thank you for the comment.

[@Nethanel773]

Shortline railroads and U-boats, that's all I needed to give this a like! And great video footage and shots! Thanks for putting this together.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you for appreciating this video! It was our pleasure to share it with you.

[@buckeyfan7623]

This is CHUGGING HEAVEN!! Lol

[@CVisionProductions1]

Ha! There certainly was a lot of that in this video. GEs doing GE things… Thank you for the comment.

[@jonathansabatino3987]

This is a Great Video WOW!

[@CVisionProductions1]

We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed the video. Thank you for watching!

[@gtptube]

Excellent video!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Much appreciated!!! Thank you for tuning in.

[@wjustice9188]

Very good video. I was hoping for at least a mention of the tunnel just south of Maysville. A key reason for the use of 4 axle power is that the bridges were considered too weak to handle 6 axle units. As far as I know, last use of this line was about 2014.

[@CVisionProductions1]

We appreciate the information and the kind words. Interesting to hear of those weight restrictions on the bridges, although it’s not surprising. From our research, we found that the line was quite active as late as 2015. There may have been a few movements in 2016 as well. But that was the end of regular operations on TTI’s mainline. Thank you for watching the video.

[@pittsburghrailfan]

There’s a lot of TTI videos from 2015, it’s nice to see something from a lot earlier.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Well, thank you! The U28B era on TTI was very special. We appreciate you watching.

[@crsrdash-840b5]

My first HO Scale locomotive as an adult was an Athearn U28B BN #5450 - blue box with the bronze bearings! Love that unit. I wish I took better care of it.

[@CVisionProductions1]

That sounds like an awesome locomotive. U28Bs were neat units, whether they be full size, or in model form. Thank you for the comment.

[@johnuhelski8613]

I am SO GLAD I got this on film in the day . Sad to see this great line rusting and washing away. Very nice coverage dude !

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you so much, John! But yes, it is hard to see this line wasting away. It’s a really neat piece of railroad.

[@gravesclay]

The line is set to be revived. The news broke just a few weeks ago. A new transload, and container facility is coming.

[@johnuhelski8613]

@@gravesclay Wait , WHAT ? Are you kidding me ? Who is gonna rehab and run this line ? TTI or RJ Corman , CSX ? Hauling coal again ? Details PLEASE !

[@johnuhelski8613]

@@gravesclay Dude , you are totally full of shite , this line is toast and your dreams are just that , dreams . There is NO way they are gonna rebuild and revive this line ; coal is DEAD !! At least write back with some solid info , but you will not because there is NONE !!

[@gravesclay]

@@johnuhelski8613 TTI is now owned by MBRail, and plans have been released to locate an intermodal rail-river-road gateway at Maysville. Speaking to a current employee the line is set to be repaired near Maysville as early as this year. Additional plans include automotive to river, (georgetown to paris to Maysville for export) though I'm not sure how that will work with the track in place. A large driver will be 40' single stacks on bulkhead flat cars from what I've heard.

[@rail.tennessee]

Fantastic coverage as always!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much! We appreciate you taking the time to watch the video.

[@edmaphet6]

When is this coming out to DVD? I'll buy two copy's it this helps to get it release to DVD. Thanks guys for the post.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you! I’m not sure exactly when but we also have some current footage just before TTI discontinued service. So we plan to put something together on DVD in the near future. Stay tuned!

[@grandcrappy]

What a drag, tying that many motors down. Bag that.

[@CVisionProductions1]

That would have been quite a bit of work! However, they weren’t required to lock locomotives back then, and who knows how serious they were about handbrakes. The good old days! We appreciate the comment.

[@andrewcrumb8027]

So, with no more coal trains operating, I fear the Transkentucky Transportation Railroad will go out of business.

[@CVisionProductions1]

That’s correct, Andrew. Only time will tell. With low demand for coal, and no other use for the line, things don’t look good. Thank you for the comment.

[@andrewcrumb8027]

@@CVisionProductions1 You're welcome.

[@Nicola636128]

Fantastic video gone down in history; of course they are the envy of the SP for the cleanliness of the locomotives, some have gone from the silver-blue color to black... But were the B36-7s sold after the bankruptcy of TTI?

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you! As for the locomotives, one of the TTI B36-7s ended up on CCET. Another recently surfaced on the Minnesota Commercial. From there, we’re not sure about the status of the remaining units. As always, we appreciate you watching and commenting.

[@beeble2003]

@@CVisionProductions1 Two went to CCET. They don't seem to use them any more, though, since they got the SD40-2 and GP15-1s on lease from IBCX.

[@royzug2847]

Thanks for posting this video. It's fun to go back in time and see how things were then. They did run some smokers, didn't They?

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re very welcome. Thank you for watching. And yes, those U28Bs were a smoky bunch!

[@ceccoonrailroad]

Que hermoso video, en que año funcionaban estos trenes ?

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you very much! From the information we could find, TTI ran these coal trains from 1981 until 2017. Traffic was much lower in the final years of operation.

[@ceccoonrailroad]

Muchas gracias muy buena la información saludos desde Argentina.

[@CVisionProductions1]

You’re very welcome. Greetings from Minnesota, USA!

[@thekentuckyrailfan]

As of 2024 the enitre line has been fixed up from paris to Maysville

[@CVisionProductions1]

Wow! We wish TTI the very best. Hopefully they can grow the traffic and keep their mainline in operation. Thank you very much for the update.

[@thekentuckyrailfan]

@@CVisionProductions1 it'll only be storage trains

[@CVisionProductions1]

Better than nothing, for sure. Thanks again.

[@thekentuckyrailfan]

@@CVisionProductions1 no problem!

[@williamcannon3885]

Are those crosses at the head of the tunnel

[@CVisionProductions1]

We didn’t see any crosses in the tunnel scene. In the lower left of that first zoom shot of the tunnel, we saw a milepost and what appeared to be old rails sticking out of the ground. Could that be what you’re seeing, perhaps?

[@jimpowell1802]

Those are rails we placed there using a pile driver to help hold the bank.

[@nw-by-n]

If IRM wasn’t run by C&NW freaks, they could have saved one of these Rock Island U-Boats

[@CVisionProductions1]

It would have been fantastic to save one of the TTI U28Bs sporting the older style carbody. Opportunity, lost… Thank you for the comment.

[@beeble2003]

Is there a difference between them and the ex-CB&Q unit that was preserved?

[@georgiacentralfan]

Any RAW unused footage of Georgia Central?

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes! We do have that. Nashville & Eastern as well.

[@georgiacentralfan]

​​​@@CVisionProductions1can't wait to see that footage of Georgia Central if it's released!

[@PetzMsbt]

Have you bought the copyright of Pentrex video scenes included in this upload ???

[@CVisionProductions1]

Hi there. Didn’t need to. Pentrex does not own the copyright on the raw footage that was used to produce this video. The copyright holder of the raw footage is Mr. Dan Hadley, the original videographer. We have an agreement in place with him for use of his footage. Thanks for watching!

[@demil3618]

They need a wash! Maybe someone could jetwash them with some water from the _Ohio_ River.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Ha! You’re right about that. Those smoky old U-Boats liked to cake themselves in oily soot. Thank you for the comment.

[@fasteddiesgarage5000]

And I'm supposed to drive an electric car

[@CVisionProductions1]

Right??? Those U-Boats could really smoke it up! Thanks for watching.

[@beeble2003]

Nobody was asking you to drive an electric car in the 1990s, when this was filmed.