The Center’s Zoom presentation “Dining in Motion” is a members-exclusive feast for the eyes! Staff members Adrienne Evans and Lisa Hardy, along with CRP&A board member Justin Franz, combine to celebrate the culinary side of American railroading, from luxury dining cars to the sometimes quick-and-dirty foodways of railroaders on the go. George M. Pullman built the first real dining car, The Delmonico, that included a full kitchen and elegant dining space for passengers. Railroad companies employed creative marketing campaigns to entice passengers to choose a railroad because of the food they served. These menus became highly competitive and specific to each railroad and the region they served.
Photographers began documenting not only the dining car, but also the railroad cafes and depots of railroaders. This presentation will showcase photography of the locations and cuisine that nourished both passengers and railroaders, with an extended look at Richard Steinheimer’s coverage of the Norden cookhouse on Donner Pass in California.
Join us if you are hungry for a mouthwatering journey where chefs worked their magic in rolling kitchens for passengers to dine in style while watching the passing scenery. And railroaders’ favorite stops brought warmth and a reprieve from their hard work. Attendees might want to bring their favorite snack to enjoy while engaging with this delicious presentation.
This program was recorded and is available to Center members by request; please send an email to info@ailphoto-art.org to receive the link.
It was originally aired on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 7:00 pm U.S. Central Time (8pm Eastern, 6pm Mountain, and 5pm Pacific).
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The presenters
Adrienne Evans, director of archives and collections, has been with the Center since November 2017. With a solid background in photographic archives, Adrienne served as the 20th Century Colorado Photography Collections Project Archivist for History Colorado and also worked for the Wisconsin Historical Society and Montana State historical Records Advisory Board. Adrienne holds a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in photography from the University of South Dakota and a Master’s degree in Library Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin- Madison.
Justin Franz is a writer, photographer, and magazine editor. Originally from Maine, he graduated from the University of Montana’s School of Journalism in 2011, and spent nine years as a newspaper reporter. Today, he is the associate editor of Railfan & Railroad and Railroad Model Craftsman magazines. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including the Washington Post, New York Times, Seattle Times, Atlas Obscura, Trains, Railroad Heritage, Railway Age, and the Montana Free Press. He is also the co-host and co-producer of Project 7, a true-crime podcast about the life and disappearance of Montana militia leader David Burgert. A lifelong railroad fan, he lives in Columbia Falls, Montana, with his wife Ashley and son Franklin.
A native of Flagstaff, Arizona, Lisa Hardy served as the Center’s program administrator from spring 2024 through early 2026, and considers Wisconsin her forever home. She holds an associate’s degree in performing arts from Eastern Arizona College, a bachelor’s degree in theatre education with a minor in studio art from Northern Arizona University, and master of fine arts in arts administration from Southern Utah University. While Lisa’s academic pursuits predominantly centered around the arts, her professional journey spans many years working in diverse administrative roles in both the public and private sectors. Lisa, her partner Craig, and their loyal dog, Maggie, enjoy hiking, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, camping, and sitting around a crackling fire laughing and telling stories with friends.
