Through March 2013. San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park. Opening reception on March 23, 2012, from 6:00-9:30 p.m. Featuring Richard Steinheimer’s photographs of the San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railroad. The exhibit is compiled and curated by Shirley Burman Steinheimer and honors the museum’s John Rotsart, a long-time supporter of the Steinheimers. Along with the exhibit, the reissue of Impossible Railroad to DVD will go on sale. In this updated version, there will be a new segment featuring Steinheimer’s images and interviews with Ted Benson and Shirley. Steinheimer passed away on May 4 of this year. A legend among railroad photographers, he leaves a tremendous legacy. The quality and quantity of his work were immense, befitting his towering height—6 feet 6 inches. You can see a small selection of his work on railroadheritage.org
Author Archives: Center
Railroad Heritage No. 27, Frank Lloyd Wright, Awards, Delano
In-depth look at renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s railroad stations, including photos and drawings. Winners of 2011 photography awards program. Obituaries of noted railroad photographers and collectors Arthur D. Dubin, William Kratville, William D. Middleton, Ryan Schoenfeldt and Richard Steinheimer. Jack Delano photograph of Santa Fe crew.
$7.95, 24 pages, color and b/w.
Railroad Heritage No. 26, Railroad Preservation in a Nutshell
Quick-and-easy illustrated guide to the history of railroad preservation in North America. Entries summarize the movement from 1828 to 2011, with examples ranging from the obvious to myriad intangibles. Also includes a gallery of young railroad photographers with an eye to preservation topics.
$19.95, 48 pages, color and b/w
Requiem for Steam: The Railroad Photographs of David Plowden
Photo copyright David Plowden.September 23 through December 11. Grohmann Museum at Milwaukee School of Engineering, 1025 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The exhibition features 30 photographs from Plowden’s new book, Requiem for Steam, all made by the photographer in his digital darkroom and rivaling his gelatin silver prints for visual impact. Railroads, and particularly steam locomotives, were among Plowden’s first subjects, and many of the photographs feature American and Canadian steam operations from 1954 through 1960. Plowden has continued to document the railroad landscape, and the latest photograph is from 2004, although the photographer is quick to note, “There’s nary a diesel in sight!” Plowden will give a presentation and book signing on Friday, October 21. The exhibition is sponsored by the Center and will be ready to travel in 2012. Contact Scott Lothes (scott [at] railphoto-art.org) for more information about booking the show for your museum or gallery.
Rail Travel Writing and Photography Workshop
October 16-21, 2011, Depot Inn & Suites, La Plata, Missouri (on the route of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief). A Rail Travel Writing and Photography Workshop for railfans, journalists, writers, bloggers and camera fans of all skill levels. The workshop is sponsored by the American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation Silver Rails Gallery and will be taught by two noted TrainWeb field reporters—Carl Morrison, a widely published professional photographer, and Henry Kisor, author of Zephyr: Tracking a Dream Across America. Participants will learn skills in photographing and writing about train travel, including on-board and trackside shooting, gathering information and interviewing crew and passengers, tailoring stories to specific audiences and publications. A welcome reception is on Sunday evening, October 16, and classes will be held Monday through Thursday mornings, giving plenty of time to write and go out into the field with camera and notebook in the afternoons. There will be a wrapup party Thursday evening, October 20. Tuition is $125 for all five days; special hote and rental car rates are available.