Center for Railroad Photography & Art

John Gruber Creative Photography Awards

Submit up to three photos for the 2026 contest, “Water.” Deadline is May 18th!

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Introducing our new blog

In our “Collection Tracking” blog, we connect images from our archive to more recent views.

Conversations 2026 recap

Conversations 2026 is a wrap! Thanks to all who joined us. Check back soon for more.

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New issue of Railroad Heritage

Chasing the 1970s American Freedom Train; Eric Williams explores the Hudson Highlands

Digital
collections

Explore digitized selections from our archive of more than 600,000 images of railroading

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Latest news

Collection Tracking: Madison, Wisconsin, with John Gruber

May 18, 2026

Madison, Wisconsin, might be the only place in the world where two railroad lines cross at grade on causeways in the middle of a lake. The Badger State’s capital city is also home to the Center for Railroad Photography & Art’s offices and archives, and that’s because of John Gruber, our principal founder. Gruber (1936-2018)…
David Kahler, 1937-2026

May 15, 2026

All of us at the Center for Railroad Photography & Art mourn the passing of David Kahler, who died in May 2026 at the age of 89. He was our longest-serving board member and a visionary photographer who reminded us to pay attention to the inherent art of everyday places. David practiced architecture for more…
David Plowden, 1932-2026

May 14, 2026

We’re deeply saddened to report the passing of David Plowden, one of the giants in American photography and a friend of the CRP&A from its founding. Plowden passed away on May 4th, at age 93; memorial service plans have yet to be determined. “Getting to know David over the years ranks awfully close to the…

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What we do

Since 1997, the Center for Railroad Photography & Art has been committed to telling railroading’s stories through imagery: interpreting the past creatively, connecting it to the present while looking to the future. The Center, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit arts and education organization, achieves its mission through exhibitions, conferences, and publications that spring from its core commitment to collect, preserve, and then make widely available imagery that portrays the 200-year history of railroads.