Tag Archives: burlington route

Burlington’s Spectacular Steam Program

Now shipping!

In the 1950s and 1960s, no railroad could top the steam program of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. The “Q”—as its many admirers affectionately knew it—operated more than 260 steam trips that carried more than 100,000 riders and left impressions on countless more trackside admirers. With well-honed photojournalistic sensibilities, John E. Gruber covered at least twenty-seven of these trips, portraying them as the events they were while capturing the power of their locomotives, the pride of their railroaders, and the wonder they inspired.

This softcover book presents nearly 100 of Gruber’s best black-and-white Burlington steam photographs, drawing from the 3,000 negatives he exposed while riding and chasing them. The lead essay by Norm Carlson draws on his first-hand experience with Burlington steam trips and his wide network of fellow enthusiasts who shared their memories. Additional text by Justin Franz provides background about the two principal locomotives, 4960 and 5632, and the poignant last run from Chicago to Denrock, Illinois, on July 17, 1966. Scott Lothes served as editor, selecting the photographs and writing captions.

  • $30 plus $5 for domestic shipping
  • Softcover, 8.5×11 inches, 80 pages, 98 photographs and two essays
  • International shipping is available; please inquire by email at info [at] railphoto-art.org

See a YouTube preview of the book with Scott Lothes and Norm Carlson.

Cover photo: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy locomotive 5632 draws a crowd of admirers in West Burlington, Iowa, during a trip sponsored by the Illini Railroad Club on September 29, 1963. Photograph by John E. Gruber

Classic Trains in the Land of Lincoln: Dick Neumiller’s Central Illinois Photography

Join us Tuesday, April 16, for an online program featuring the color photography of Dick Neumiller in central Illinois! Bon French, chairman of the Center’s board of directors, will present some of the finest railroad images from Neumiller’s collection—beginning with Peoria railroading during the 1950s and 1960s, followed by Chicago, Burlington & Quincy trains during the same era. You’ll also thrill to terrific CB&Q images along the Mississippi River and several in St. Louis and Denver. Bon and Dick were longtime friends and traveling partners, and you’ll enjoy crisp images that have never been published, and rarely seen until recent years.

Click here to view this program at our YouTube page.

Born in Peoria, Illinois in 1931, C. Richard (“Dick”) Neumiller was a lifelong resident until his passing in 2015 at age 83. Dick loved color photography and began shooting Kodachrome slides in 1950. He had excellent equipment including Leicas and other fine cameras and lenses. He belonged to the Peoria Camera Club and often won awards for his work, which included many subjects beyond trains. Unlike some fans, his excitement for rail photography increased as the steam engine faded, since diesel locomotives and post-WWII streamliners wore brilliant new color schemes. He attempted to photograph every streamlined train in America, from lesser-known railroads to the “big names.” Bon is the keeper of Dick’s rail slide collection which contains 82,400 Kodachrome images covering 800 railroads, mainly in the US and Canada – all meticulously labeled and organized.

We’re excited to share an evening of amazing midcentury rail photography!