July Zoom program: Stories of the Kalmbach Art Collection

For over 90 years, Kalmbach Publishing Co.—and its successor Kalmbach Media—presided over a remarkable collection of original railroad art, featuring some of the most famous artists in the field, such as Gil Reid, Ted Rose, and Howard Fogg. Now this priceless collection has found its permanent home with the Center for Railroad Photography & Art. Join former Trains editor Kevin P. Keefe on Tuesday, July 22, for a program that showcases a selection of these works, sharing their fascinating backstories. It’s an expanded version of his May 16 gallery talk, presented during the opening reception of the Center’s current exhibition at the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Grohmann Museum, which continues through August 18. Don’t miss an evening of celebrating railroad art at its finest! 

Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 7:00 pm Central Time (8pm Eastern, 6pm Mountain, and 5pm Pacific)

Register here for the free program

Pictured:
Kevin Keefe, former Trains magazine editor and vice president-editorial for Kalmbach, speaks at the May 16 reception for “The Kalmbach Art Collection: Pairing Words and Imagery.” The image beside him is Only Yesterday by Ted Rose, picturing a young Trains editor David P. Morgan. 

The Mohawk that Refused to Abdicate, by Larry Luser, Ink on paper, c. 1975, published on cover of book, The Mohawk that Refused to Abdicate and Other Tales, 1975. While railroad book covers of the time typically used color paintings, Luser felt that only a monochromatic cover would do for a work featuring so much outstanding black-and-white photography. He based his pen-and-ink drawing on a Phil Hastings photograph from the titular tale: New York Central 4-8-2 No. 3005 bearing down on Shelby, Ohio, “with all the implications of destiny of the Book of Revelations.”

Integral Train, by John Swatsley, Acrylic on board, c. 1965, published on the cover of Trains, March 1965. The bold notion of the “integral train”—as proposed by John Kneiling, an engineer with the Theodore J. Kauffeld consulting firm—needed an equally bold cover for the March 1965 Trains. Kalmbach artist John Swatsley rendered a futuristic and moody impression with deep blues, purples, and reds. Those colors were lost in the era’s standard cover treatment; this issue appeared near the middle of a nine-year span when the Trains budget could afford only black-and-white imagery with a red accent on its covers.

Zoom program: Railroad promotional filmmaking with Nick Ozorak

Save the date to join us Tuesday, June 17, 2025, for Nick Ozorak’s presentation, “The Art of Railroad Promotional Filmmaking,” a free public Zoom program. NOTE: The program will soon be posted on the Center’s YouTube page.

As with other forms of railroad advertising media, filmmaking is its own art. Nick Ozorak has been creating videos for nearly 20 years. His projects include creating the relaunch trailer for the East Broad Top Railroad in Pennsylvania, developing a business showcase for the Iowa Interstate Railroad, and promoting various track rehabilitation programs. He has documented parts of railroading that often go overlooked, such as maintenance of way crews and machinery, and obscure short lines in remote locations. Nick will share samples of his work and discuss his approach to visual storytelling as a means of helping railroads establish their narrative and accomplish their goals.

Tuesday, June 17, at 7:00 P.M. (U.S. Central Time); 8 pm Eastern / 6 pm Mountain / 5 pm Pacific

This program has already taken place.

Pictured (from top):

Two eastbound Iowa Interstate trains await their turn on the main line at South Amana, IA on September 10, 2021. The railroad constructed a yard and locomotive facility at this location for servicing its fleet of GEVO locomotives. Note the Rock Island heritage unit on the left train.

A conductor walks to line the switches for a Panhandle Northern Railway freight train at Panhandle, TX on October 13, 2021. The PNR hauls commodities for gasoline, fertilizer, and carbon industries in Borger, Texas, and interchanges with BNSF in Panhandle. 

A scene from the video “trailer” announcing the East Broad Top’s Foundation launch and the rebirth of the historic steam railroad. See the video here.

Zoom program: Tracking the Long Island Rail Road with Joe Stroppel

Long Island photographer Joe Stroppel will share spectacular scenes from his adventures growing up along the tracks of the Long Island Rail Road, the busiest commuter railroad in North America.

Joe’s photography will include captures of a variety of equipment — from fast, new M7 & M9 electric trains to 1970s-delivered MP15AC-hauled work trains plodding along the rails. You’ll also enjoy dramatic weather conditions, historic LIRR landmarks, and some of the most beautiful scenery the Island has to offer. Branch lines prominently featured will be the Main Line, Oyster Bay Branch (where Joe grew up), and the Montauk Branch, though there will be various other selections of interesting LIRR locations taken from Joe’s portfolio.

“The Route of the Dashing Commuter” is a fascinating operation in a hard-to-access location for many railroad photographers … the traffic over NYC’s bridges is absolutely devastating at rush hour, which is unfortunately when the LIRR puts on its most exciting show! Joe hopes to share some of the railroad’s most interesting characteristics for those who haven’t yet experienced it.

Tuesday, April 8, at 7:00 P.M. (U.S. Central Time); 5 pm PT / 6 pm MT / 8 pm ET

This program was recorded and will be posted soon on our YouTube page at @railphotoart

Pictured:

“Colorful Wilds”: During peak leaf peeping season on Long Island’s East End, a train bracketed by EMD DM30ACs rockets through the gorgeous Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge in Shirley, NY. The two dual mode engines are flying eastward with 8710, an express service to Montauk.

“Twilight at Jay”: Fresh snow has just fallen on the morning of January 7, 2022. During the evening rush hour, in gorgeous twilight, a train of Bombardier M7s snakes past JAY tower and over the flyover in Jamaica, Queens. The flaming switch heaters below the train and the mountain-like purple clouds above greatly enhance the beauty of the scene.

Member-exclusive program: John Gruber’s rolling studios collection

Join us for our next members-only webinar, focused on the latest addition to the John Gruber Collection: portraits and stereographs produced in specially equipped rail photo cars that traveled the burgeoning U.S. railroad system during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Fascinated for decades by what he called “rolling studios,” CRP&A founder John Gruber researched and published multiple times about the topic, and amassed more than 200 period examples of rail photo car photography during his life. After processing Gruber’s collected images, and researching the photo cars as well as their operators, collections team members Adrienne Evans and Jordan Craig are ready to share insights into these nomadic photographers of the railroad and the mediums with which they worked. You won’t want to miss this webinar – register today!

Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 7:00 pm Central Time (8pm Eastern, 6pm Mountain, and 5pm Pacific)

This program was recorded and will be made available to CRP&A members. Please email info(a)railphoto-art.org.

Not a Center member, or haven’t yet renewed? Visit our website at this link. Your support makes our work possible!

Group portrait featuring a horse-drawn sleigh loaded with several men standing on the platform, bundled in winter coats and hats, in front of a railway car marked “J. A. Ennors [Palace Car]” and advertising “Photos and Views” on its side. From the John Gruber Collection, Gruber-SC-02-42-01.

A portrait of three young children standing against a plain backdrop on a patterned carpet. Mount text transcription: “Hutchins, Railroad Photo. Car.” From the John Gruber Collection, Gruber-SC-02-36-02.

Zoom program: Chip and Leslie Savoye’s 50-year love for trains

Join the Center on Tuesday, February 25, for “I Love Trains: Our Journey Over 50 Years,” an evening webinar with Chip and Leslie Savoye, accomplished railroaders and photographers, as they share their lifelong love of trains and their wonderful photography.

Leslie holds groundbreaking achievements in the railroad industry: she was the first female locomotive engineer for the Chicago and North Western (C&NW) and later became the first female road foreman for Amtrak. Over her distinguished career, Leslie worked for nine different railroads. Chip began as a locomotive engineer for Penn Central and Conrail, and advanced through various leadership roles including road foreman, trainmaster, superintendent, director, and vice president of operations. Today they are principles at Iron Horse Consulting, LLC, where they provide professional transportation services to the railroad industry.

View the program at our YouTube page (@railphotoart): https://youtu.be/AYhrNTS1mm4

Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 7:00 pm Central Time (8 pm Eastern, 6 pm Mountain, and 5 pm Pacific)

Chip and Leslie are also breeders of dual champion wirehair Dachshunds (both in the field and ring). They love travel, sports, tennis, biking, and of course railroad photography. Viewers will be given a front row seat to Chip & Leslie’s favorite images from their adventures together. You don’t want to miss this presentation!

This free program will be recorded and posted on the Center’s YouTube page at @railphotoart

Pictured: Images by Chip and Leslie Savoye from their presentation.