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Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey I've been hanging onto these photos for a while now. Earlier this year, I made a quick visit to the historic downtown area of Texarkana, which is unique because it straddles two states: Texas and Arkansas. I spent most of my time on the Texas side, but it’s pretty cool that the city is split right down the middle, with one side in Texas and the other in Arkansas. 

 Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey Nestled between the Texas towns of Texarkana and Domino lies a place of tranquility and natural splendor - Wright Patman Lake. Formed by a dam built by the Army Corps of Engineers on the Sulphur River, this majestic lake had long piqued my curiosity as I passed the exit while driving to Domino.

 Photos and Story By Ken Hulsey Yesterday, my travels took me through Lufkin, one of my favorite cities in East Texas. I've been wanting to check out the old railroading equipment at the Texas Forestry Museum, so I made sure to set aside time on this trip to visit. Admission to the museum is surprisingly free, so I was able to stroll right up to their wonderful displays without any issues. I was struck by the number of families taking advantage of the warm spring day to enjoy the museum's outdoor attractions, with some even having picnics on the lawn.

 Photos and Story By Ken Hulsey I couldn't resist sharing more photos of the State Capitol Building in Baton Rouge. Even though I just posted a bunch of images last December, I'm enamored with our capitol and had to capture it again on my latest visit. I love strolling through the adjacent park - it's truly one of my favorite spots in Louisiana. As I wander the grass and trees, I can't help but gaze up at the grand building and wonder about the conversations and legislation happening within those walls. Sadly, not much impactful work seems to get done these days, but that's a discussion for another time.

 Story and Photos by Ken Hulsey In 2023, I captured a delightful image of the Kansas City Southern Executive Train powered by vintage FP9 and F9B locomotives as it passed through Pineville, Louisiana at night. This photo has always been a favorite of mine, as it was one of my first successful attempts at photographing a train in action after dark.

 Photo and Story by Ken Hulsey Back in 2013, Terri and I embarked on our first trip to Las Vegas together. As we're not big gamblers, we decided to take our time and soak in all the sights Vegas had to offer. The city is truly a one-of-a-kind destination, with an array of attractions you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

 Photo and Story by Ken Hulsey This morning, I decided to dive into my photo archives and find an image to share. As luck would have it, the very first image that popped up was a shot I took during our cross-country trip from Winston-Salem, North Carolina to our new home in Victorville, California. Terri and I had stopped in the historic town of Williams, Arizona along the way, and I snapped a photo of a classic car in front of an old gas station on the famous Route 66.

 Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey As a dedicated railfan, I'm truly fortunate to inspect the DeQueen & Eastern Railroad facilities in DeQueen, Arkansas once a month. In my role as an inspector, I have full access to the property, allowing me to observe the railroad's operations in detail. This insider access grants me, as a railroad photographer, unique opportunities to capture images that other fans simply cannot obtain. Perhaps some of my exclusive photos will even make it into the company calendar!

 Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey This past week, I was blessed to spend time in what is quickly becoming my favorite place in the South: Natchez, Mississippi. I was in the area on business, making sales visits with local companies. Our company is trying to expand our presence in Mississippi, so I spent much of my day being charming and witty, discussing the importance of safety meetings and inspections.

Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey A couple of weeks back, I was passing through Kinder, Louisiana, when I spotted Union Pacific Heritage Locomotive #1982 switching a block of railcars onto a siding. I was surprised to see such a locomotive relegated to switching duties. I pulled off the highway to get a few shots of the locomotive, which is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey My work has taken me across our state, and I have encountered dozens of abandoned locations. Louisiana is dotted with such sites where prosperity has given way to poverty and then abandonment. This is a testament to what once was. The reasons for this widespread phenomenon range from declining economic opportunities to the development of highways that bypass small towns and rural areas.

 Story and Photos by Ken Hulsey The winter before our family moved to Louisiana, a snowstorm swept through southern California on Christmas Eve, blanketing the local mountains in several inches of the white stuff. The next day, we decided to take a short drive from our home in Victorville to the picturesque mountain town of Wrightwood to enjoy a rare white Christmas.

 Story and Photos By Ken Hulsey A month ago, my travels took me through McComb, Mississippi, where I had the opportunity to view several pieces of vintage Illinois Central Railroad equipment. This included a 4-8-2 steam locomotive, #2542 , and the consist of railcars behind it. If you read my piece from last month, you'll recall that I spotted an old concrete coaling tower in the distance and vowed to explore it on my next visit. Well, on Monday, I got my chance to do just that. During my research on McComb's rich railroad history, I had also viewed an aerial view of the site and discovered the locations of the old roundhouse and car shops that had once served as the railroad's regional headquarters for many decades, before the line was acquired by the Canadian National Railroad. I was able to find these locations, now overgrown with brush.

 Photos and Story By Ken Hulsey Back in November, I had the chance to revisit one of my favorite spots in Louisiana - Capitol City Park in Baton Rouge. I used to spend many a lunch break strolling the peaceful grounds when I worked in the city for several years. The park's quiet, serene atmosphere provided a welcome escape from the hectic pace of the office.

 Photos and Story By Ken Hulsey A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to make a brief stop in one of Terri's and my favorite towns - Lufkin, Texas. With enough time for a stroll downtown, I admired how the area had been decorated for Christmas. The lamp posts were wrapped in red tinsel, and strings of lights hung over the streets. Every storefront and restaurant window was festively adorned for the holidays. It was an enjoyable stroll, and I took the time to appreciate all the holiday flair.

 Photos and Story By Ken Hulsey Yesterday, I took advantage of a free afternoon to explore the grounds of the Southern Forrest Heritage Museum in Long Leaf, Louisiana. The museum is located on the site of the former Long Leaf Sawmill Complex, which was once one of hundreds of mill complexes in the region. While the mill itself is fascinating to explore, on this rainy day I decided to spend my time walking around the old facilities of the Red River and Gulf Railroad.

Story and Photos by Ken Hulsey Yesterday, our family journeyed to New Iberia to spend the afternoon immersed in the captivating Joseph Jefferson House and the surrounding Rip Van Winkle Gardens - undoubtedly one of Louisiana's most beautiful and intriguing destinations. This historic site seamlessly blends the past with breathtaking natural splendor, transporting visitors to a world apart from the remote southern Louisiana setting. Situated on the shores of Lake Peigneur on Jefferson Island, the impeccably manicured gardens brim with lush, vibrant flora, luring the senses and inviting one to lose themselves in the illusion of exploring an exotic foreign locale. 

Story and Photos By Ken Hulsey The incredible geological wonder known as Mormon Rocks in Cajon Pass is one of our family's favorite hiking spots. Travelers on Interstate 15 to and from Los Angeles can't miss these mysterious rock formations just off the highway. The area offers numerous hiking trails and the rocks themselves are easy to climb, even for a middle-aged hiker like myself. It's a wonderful place to explore the outdoors and capture stunning nature photography, as evidenced by the photos in this post.

 Photos and Story By Ken Hulsey This weekend, our granddaughter wanted to visit the newly built playground at the corner of Masonic Drive and Babe Ruth Drive. While my wife and the little one went to play, I decided to take a stroll around the old Bringhurst Field - once the home of the minor league Alexandria Aces baseball team. The once-beautiful ballpark is now just a shell, with most of the brick gone and only the metal skeleton of the old bleachers remaining.

 Story and Photos by Ken Hulsey Is it morally questionable for a person to develop an emotional attachment to an inanimate object, such as an old railroad locomotive? Yesterday, I was traveling through McComb, Mississippi on my way to a job site. As I exited the highway, a sign for a "Railroad Museum" caught my eye, pointing to the left. Although my actual destination was to the right, as a railfan, I couldn't resist the opportunity to visit the museum.