Join Norman Carlson, railroad historian and CRP&A board member, and Scott Lothes, CRP&A executive director, for a look at the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy’s mid-century steam excursions and the Center’s upcoming book, Burlington’s Spectacular Steam Program, featuring the photography of John Gruber. The softcover book, released in November of 2024, is authored by Carlson and Justin Franz, rail journalist and CRP&A board member, with design and editing by Lothes.
For steam programs in the 1950s and 1960s, no railroad could compare to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. Lovingly known as the “Q,” the road operated an incredible number of steam-powered fan trips after the rise of diesel locomotives. From July 3, 1955, to July 17, 1966, the Q ran more than 260 steam-powered excursion trains! Heavyweight coaches, stainless steel Vista Dome cars from the California Zephyr pool, suburban bi-level cars, open gondolas, and more could be found on the wildly popular trains. Among the numerous steam locomotives called upon to power the excursions, CB&Q’s Northern 4-8-4 5632 and Mikado 2-8-2 4960 became beloved celebrities.
John Gruber, the Center’s principal founder and one of railroading’s great journalists, was there to capture the story on film. Where most fans focused on images that recreated classic steam scenes, Gruber photographed the steam runs as modern cultural events, making the people as much the story as the trains. Join us for a night of spectacular railroad photography and a trip back in time!
This program originally aired on Monday, October 7, 2024, at 7:00 pm Central Time (8 pm Eastern, 6 pm Mountain, and 5 pm Pacific).
