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)

REGISTER HERE

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.

Zoom program: The Creation of Railfan Atlas

Join us Tuesday evening, January 14, for an engaging webinar with Nick Benson, railroad photographer, web developer, and aircraft enthusiast, who delves into the history and development of Railfan Atlas — the popular website that has become a resource for all railroad fans. Learn about the inspiration behind its creation and its evolution over time.

Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 7:00 pm Central Time (8 pm Eastern, 6 pm Mountain, and 5 pm Pacific)

Thanks to the huge crowd who attended! This program is available to view at our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/vK3YcfXK8a4

Nick first attended a CRP&A conference in 2010 and made connections with people and concepts that have shaped his photography ever since. His work has been published in many railroad magazines and promotional materials. With a background in web development, he has now become a self-proclaimed aviation geek and his JetTip service helps enthusiasts to see unusual aircraft.

Photos by Nick Benson

Winter 2025: Western Maryland, Chicago’s Field Museum, John Signor, and more

The Winter 2025 issue of Railroad Heritage, our quarterly magazine, is filled with plenty of gifts just in time for the holidays. Inside you’ll find inspiring photography, art, and stories:

A stunning photo essay by Roger Cook and Karl Zimmermann about their 1970s Western Maryland experiences in Williamsport, Maryland;
The surprising connections between railroads and Chicago’s Field Museum, examined by Fred Ash, illustrated by historic photography and beautiful color Illinois Central posters;
Archivist Heather Sonntag interviews John Signor, artist, railroader, and author of western railroading books such as Tehachapi, Donner Pass, and more, and we include eight of his great oil paintings;
The winning images of the 2024 John E. Gruber Creative Photography Awards;
Learn about requesting images from the Center in the “Out of the Archives” column by director of archives & collections Adrienne Evans and reference & processing archivist Gil Taylor;
The 60th anniversary of Japan’s bullet trains, with photos by Victor Hand;
News of exhibitions and events – we’ve already planned several Zoom topics for 2025!

Member-exclusive program: CRP&A Collections Update

Join us Tuesday, December 17, for this members-only presentation! Executive director Scott Lothes will provide an update on the changes we’re making to the Center’s photography collections policy, which will shape future accessions. He’ll share results and takeaways from the recent members survey about our collections work, as well as next steps for 2025.

And of course, we’ll illustrate the program with favorite images from several collections, as well as a few newly processed images.

Registration is CLOSED. If you’re a Center member, email info(a)railphoto-art.org to receive a recorded copy of the presentation later this month.

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

7:00 PM (U.S. Central Time), on Zoom; 5 pm PT / 6 pm MT / 8 pm ET

If you’re not a member, please join today to support our preservation work and receive our quarterly magazine Railroad Heritage, plus access to our members-only Zoom programs.

Western Maryland F7 64 leads an eastbound at Helmstetter’s Curve in Cumberland, Md., on March 23, 1975. Photo by John F. Bjorklund, Bjorklund-92-07-04.

Pennsylvania Railroad 4-6-2 5497 leads an eastbound out of Chicago at 21st Street Tower in October 1950. Photograph by Wallace W. Abbey, Abbey-01-130-05.