Micah Turner Photography

Micah Turner Photography was at the Kentucky State Fair on behalf of Letcher County Tourism!! We were so Happy to have him along with the photography and the books he has written.

Railroad Gallery - Micah Turner Micah Turner is a photographer, videographer and author from Eastern Kentucky. He owns and operates Micah Turner Photography, as well as a YouTube media...

Picture This; A train of empties has just arrived at Spurlock and is heading straight through, scanning their hoppers as they go. Spurlock resides on the C&O’s Long Fork Branch and has only loaded a handful of trains this year, this being one of them. They don’t load much, but it’s great operations to shoot when they do. Spurlock is the only active loader on the E&BV, with word on the street being that Raven is in the demolition process. Today’s train sports CSX 1827, the Baltimore & Ohio Heritage Unit for motive power. Once finished, the train will tie down and load the following day. Printer, Ky, August 4th, 2024.

Picture This; CSX 1834 is the power for the evenings I198 and is on a dead end track in Etowah, Tn. 1834 is the 16th heritage unit in CSX’s heritage series and is painted for the Georgia Railroad, or Georgia Road for short. What I like about this shot is the wide angle view of the yard here. You can see the old depot in the background as well, in which now serves as a museum and a tourist center. It was our first visit, and was surely memorable. Etowah, Tn, July 27th, 2024.

Picture This; Though I cannot remember his last name, George demonstrates the process of panning for gold at Gold Dredge 8 outside of Fairbanks, Alaska. Gold dredges were large, multi-story machines built to overturn the ground in search of gold. Gold Dredge 8 was operated from 1928 to 1959, and has sat in this resting place ever since. The crew on site works hard in order to give visitors a glimpse of what life was like for a gold panner back in the day and it was a fantastic experience. The few specs in the pan is real, genuine gold. My results were worth about 12$ in today’s gold market. Fairbanks, Alaska, May 30th, 2024.

Picture This; Earlier this year, I was blessed to be able to take a trip and see the great state of Alaska. I have been slowly working on photos for over a month now a little at a time and am going to start sharing a few here as I get the chance. This one comes to you from the Denali National Park. When I say it was beautiful, it’s simply an understatement, as words cannot do it justice, nor can the photos. Although I unfortunately suffered a loss in some camera equipment, I still walked away with a selection like no other and I am thankful. Expect to see more from me soon. Denali, Alaska, May 23rd, 2024.

Picture This; CSX 1827, painted for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, made a surprise visit to Lynch 3 on R614. If it hadn't been for a good friend of mine, this unit would have come and gone and I wouldn’t have known a thing. The Baltimore & Ohio scheme shines in the mid-day sun as Engineer “The Dragon” pilots the unit and they begin loading. 1827 is the first Heritage Unit to make its appearance at Lynch 3 and is also the first Heritage Unit to grace CSX's roster. Good Times. Cloverlick, Ky, July 15th, 2024.

Picture This; 2024 Firework Shots Part 2. We were able to watch Cumberland's show last night, and tonight we went to Whitesburg. What I loved from our vantage point is that it showed how us Eastern Kentucky small towns can really come together and make celebrations like this special. The show lasted for just over 32 minutes, and I was able to capture a few moments as seen here. I will forever love my Eastern Kentucky home. Happy 4th and God Bless Yall. Whitesburg, Ky, July 4th, 2024.

Picture This; 2024 Firework Shots Part 1. I always enjoy getting to set up the camera every year and let the exposures fill the canvas. These were a hand full of shots captured last night, and we will be heading out again tonight for another batch. From Micah Turner Photography, I am wishing you all a Happy Independance Day! Cumberland, Ky, July 3rd, 2024.

Picture This; The McVicker prep plant and loadout have seen better days. Though it is a relatively new site built in the early 2000’s, it is standing amidst its last days. Last week the area began its demolition phase and several of the belt structures have already been taken down and cut up for scrap. Also of notice is the old Levisa Fork Bridge that was once the gateway to the Levisa Subdivision. The entire bridge was sold to a company out of Texas to cut up for scrap, and it will be completely removed by the end of the week. The echos of coal operations are still present in these mountains, and while some sites have picked up in production as of recent, others are on their way out. Millard, Ky, June 26th, 2024.

Picture This; E912 rolls amidst the Ivel mining complex in Ivel, Ky, with a quad of gevos and 220 empties for the Coal Run Subdivision. Fortunately, change is coming to the complex. Last week, the power was restored to the plant, and a whopping 22 million dollars has been invested to demolish the old tipple and construct a brand new flood loader to load trains with. From word of the company working to clean up the site, they hope to be operational in January of 2025, which is fantastic news. Coal is climbing again folks. Ivel, Ky, June 29th, 2024.

Picture This; In contrast to the nose-out DPU we had just shot on the rear of B639, E773 had one nose-in. After our mishap with our shot of the head end power, we went down into the yard for a shot. Upon arrival, we took a look and seen only 2 units rolling by. Thanks to earlier reports, I knew there was 3, and I also knew that E773 often ran in a 2x1 power setup. With the public side of the yard backlit, we went for the right-lighting on the east leg of the wye. I had no idea which way the DP would be facing, but regardless it would be a good shot, and I was right. The rear of CSX 3145 rolls beneath the bridge that once held the high line, as it exits the CV and rolls into the yard at Corbin. Corbin, Ky, June 22nd, 2024.

Picture This; M692-06 roars through the Pikeville Cut-Through on their journey to Russell, lead by heritage duo 1869 (C&O) and 1875 (P&LE). The 1869 is on home rails for the first time as a leader, and both units are fresh out of Waycross (the C&O for the second time). When the C&O constructed this line, the rails ran around this k**b and through the downtown Pikeville area, yet after years of flooding, the cut-through project was established to reroute the road, river and railroad straight through, hence why the mileposts here now jump from 103 to 106. We caught them in the last glimmer of light as the sun was replaced by the moon. These coalfields hold a lot of heritage, and this just added to it. Pikeville, Ky, June 9th, 2024.

Picture This; M692-06 roars through the Pikeville Cut-Through on their journey to Russell, lead by heritage duo 1869 (C&O) and 1875 (P&LE). The 1869 is on home rails for the first time as a leader, and both units are fresh out of Waycross (the C&O for the second time). When the C&O constructed this line, the rails ran around this k**b and through the downtown Pikeville area, yet after years of flooding, the cut-through project was established to reroute the road, river and railroad straight through, hence why the mileposts here now jump from 103 to 106. We caught them in the last glimmer of light as the sun was replaced by the moon. These coalfields hold a lot of heritage, and this just added to it. Pikeville, Ky, June 9th, 2024.

Picture This; CSX 911 leads the way for M693 southbound out of Kingsport in the evening sunlight. What made this encounter even more special, however, was the Kingsport Fire Department, who brought their truck out for the shot. 911 is one of three units in CSX’s Pride In Service series, it’s red and white color scheme corresponding with the fire department. I have always wanted to shoot something like this and it finally happened. It was a pleasure to witness such an event alongside Hunter Levi and Noah Johnson; more shots to come soon. Kingsport, Tn, May 16th, 2024.

Picture This; The lighting from the new mines on Orchard Branch gives the mountains a luminous glow underneath the stars. A slight pink haze is present as a hint of the Northern Lights return for a second showing. They were nowhere near as colorful tonight as the previous night, but there was still hints across Eastern Kentucky. Orchard Branch, Ky, May 11th, 2024.

Picture This; Happy International Train Day! R613 is running under a 10mph speed limit due to track maintenance on the Poorfork, seen here rounding the curve at Nolansburg. The iconic photo of the last passenger train to Lynch was shot of the southbound run on the opposite end of the curve here. There also was once a tipple that stood in this location, it to being long erased from history. If you look closely, you will notice the lead engine being CSX 1827, one of CSX’s “new” heritage units and painted for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which was the first railroad to be built in the US, hence the number. The train has just loaded its 75 cars at NRG near Dione and has now received clearance all the way to Corbin, where it will receive a new crew and head back north. I thought it fitting for the original railroad to be present on a day like today. Nolansburg, Ky, April 27th, 2024.

Picture This; Happy International Train Day! R613 is running under a 10mph speed limit due to track maintenance on the Poorfork, seen here rounding the curve at Nolansburg. The iconic photo of the last passenger train to Lynch was shot of the southbound run on the opposite end of the curve here. There also was once a tipple that stood in this location, it to being long erased from history. If you look closely, you will notice the lead engine being CSX 1827, one of CSX’s “new” heritage units and painted for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which was the first railroad to be built in the US, hence the number. The train has just loaded its 75 cars at NRG near Dione and has now received clearance all the way to Corbin, where it will receive a new crew and head back north. I thought it fitting for the original railroad to be present on a day like today. Nolansburg, Ky, April 27th, 2024.

Picture This; I present my quick take on tonight’s Northern Lights! From what I hear, they will be visable for a while longer if anyone wants to get out. It took some tweaking with the camera yet I think it turned out quite nice to be from the backyard. Take this opportunity to look for yourself! Partridge, Ky, May 10th, 2024.

Picture This; CSX's 8th heritage unit, dedicated to the New York Central, leads E900 into the yard in Peach Creek, WV. The unit hasn't been in service long, as after its release from Waycross, it soon returned to the shops for another month. After riding the system paired with the Monon heritage, it had finally broken away and was running DKPX empties for Brice, NC. Peach Creek, Wv, February 16th, 2024.

Picture This; A former NS unit, now belonging to PRLX, sits on the head of M542 in the Corbin yard. While it may look like we have a blind and boarded up leader, the actual CSX power has just pulled away to be refuled. We had caught this consist just by chance after spotting an approach medium signal. Corbin, Ky, February 24th, 2024.

We’re still here and until 4pm! Come see us!

Picture This; R613 slowly rolls off the Poorfork Branch having just received clearance to continue north to Corbin. They were told to stop just shy of the switch and await both E090 and W002. From the crews words across the scanner, "It's a mess down here." With ML1 out of service, a 3-way meet was staged just south of Loyall here at the old Baxter Tower. With a fresh crew, R613 with fresh NRG loads is now ready to head north to Corbin. Thanks to Jeremy for this one! He was behind the camera while I was “occupied.” Baxter, Ky, March 11th, 2024.

Picture This; Let’s get back with some photo action. A day before 2023's finale, an 80 car coal train for the West Rock paper mill begins the loading process at the NRG loadout on CSX's Poorfork Branch. The day prior we had packed our bags for a quick trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee when we stumbled upon the train tied down in Loyall. After learning that it would be a Poorfork run, we changed our plans and hung around. In the snow showers, my dad and I stood just shy of the loadout and shot what I believe turned out as a pretty nice photo. Dione, Ky, December 30th, 2023.

(I will post a link in the comments to the video on my YouTube channel)

Picture This; Once again, another edit that I never posted before, however it is the same flower. If I'm correct, this is a snowball bush, a pretty one at that. My previous shot was more closed in on the flower itself, hence why this one is more outward focused and you can see the surrounding nature. There is a beautiful world out there, if we would only stop sometimes to look at it. Big Laurel, Ky, October 14th, 2020.

Picture This; Squirrel! I recall on a visit to my grandparents house, I had flown the drone one day to view a peculiar squirrel in which had came down, taken a walnut, and ran back up the tree. I was attempting to shoot a photo, and I did, but never did anything with. I always thought the little guy would have said something along the lines of "Leave me alone!" or "What the heck is that thing?', but nonetheless his judgment was keen. Bledsoe, Ky, March 2022.

Picture This; A staple of Behnam has to be one of the miner memorial statues. I recall that I had captured this shot, but I never did anything with it. When I was sorting through my older SD Cards, I stumbled across a selection of shots and chose this one with the intention to render it in black and white. Something about it gives an eerie and haunting kind of feeling, I suppose just knowing how much coal had rolled by this very spot within the previous 100 years. Nonetheless, it is a great reminder and symbolic piece indeed. Behnam, Ky, August 22nd, 2020.

Picture This; What may be a familiar shot to some long-term fans of my page is this particular frame from the hillside of Behnam. I can't recall the exact location, only that we were riding the side by side and the trees opened up to a point where only this what seems to be abandoned church sat on the side of the hill in the distance. After recently revisiting the shot, I decided to make it the center piece for my new logo on this page. I felt it represented me as a person and my photography well and demonstrated that no matter what I do or where I go, all of my accomplishments and goals trace back to God. A humbling reminder. Behnam, Ky, August 22nd, 2020.