July Zoom program: Stories of the Kalmbach Art Collection

For over 90 years, Kalmbach Publishing Co.—and its successor Kalmbach Media—presided over a remarkable collection of original railroad art, featuring some of the most famous artists in the field, such as Gil Reid, Ted Rose, and Howard Fogg. Now this priceless collection has found its permanent home with the Center for Railroad Photography & Art. Join former Trains editor Kevin P. Keefe on Tuesday, July 22, for a program that showcases a selection of these works, sharing their fascinating backstories. It’s an expanded version of his May 16 gallery talk, presented during the opening reception of the Center’s current exhibition at the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Grohmann Museum, which continues through August 18. Don’t miss an evening of celebrating railroad art at its finest!

Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 7:00 pm Central Time (8pm Eastern, 6pm Mountain, and 5pm Pacific)

Register here for the free program

Pictured:
Kevin Keefe, former Trains magazine editor and vice president-editorial for Kalmbach, speaks at the May 16 reception for “The Kalmbach Art Collection: Pairing Words and Imagery.” The image beside him is Only Yesterday by Ted Rose, picturing a young Trains editor David P. Morgan.

The Mohawk that Refused to Abdicate, by Larry Luser, Ink on paper, c. 1975, published on cover of book, The Mohawk that Refused to Abdicate and Other Tales, 1975. While railroad book covers of the time typically used color paintings, Luser felt that only a monochromatic cover would do for a work featuring so much outstanding black-and-white photography. He based his pen-and-ink drawing on a Phil Hastings photograph from the titular tale: New York Central 4-8-2 No. 3005 bearing down on Shelby, Ohio, “with all the implications of destiny of the Book of Revelations.”

Integral Train, by John Swatsley, Acrylic on board, c. 1965, published on the cover of Trains, March 1965. The bold notion of the “integral train”—as proposed by John Kneiling, an engineer with the Theodore J. Kauffeld consulting firm—needed an equally bold cover for the March 1965 Trains. Kalmbach artist John Swatsley rendered a futuristic and moody impression with deep blues, purples, and reds. Those colors were lost in the era’s standard cover treatment; this issue appeared near the middle of a nine-year span when the Trains budget could afford only black-and-white imagery with a red accent on its covers.

Summer 2025: Canadian streamliners, Chicago Union Station at 100, and more

Canadian streamliners, Chicago Union Station’s 100th anniversary, and Amtrak trains skirting Long Island Sound headline the latest issue of Railroad Heritage, the Center’s quarterly member magazine. Inside you’ll find:

Trans-Canadian Classics: Seventy years after their debut, Justin Franz spotlights two of North America’s most famous passenger trains, Canadian Pacific’s Canadian and Canadian National’s Super Continental, accompanied by spectacular photographs from the Center’s archive—including gems by Ronald C. Hill, Victor Hand, Jim Shaughnessy, J. Parker Lamb, Henry Posner III, and John Bjorklund.
A City of a Station: A striking black-and-white photographic essay celebrating Chicago Union Station’s centennial year featuring images from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Thrill to classic scenes in and around the station, with trains from the Pennsylvania Railroad, Burlington, Milwaukee Road, Amtrak, and more. It’s headlined by in-depth portrayals by John Gruber and Wallace Abbey, with additional images by Jim Shaughnessy and Victor Hand, plus an essay by Scott Lothes.
Railroads and the Art of Place: Al Crossley takes us to southeastern Connecticut’s Rocky Neck State Park along Long Island Sound, where the trains of Amtrak and Connecticut DOT pass through a beautiful, tranquil shoreline beloved by beachgoers, joggers, wildlife—and railfans.
In her “Out of the Archives” column, Adrienne Evans dives into the latest addition to the John Gruber Collection: 228 19th century photographs made by traveling railcar studios that brought photography to the masses along the nascent U.S. rail network between 1858 through 1920.
Conversations 2025: Coverage of this year’s annual conference and its amazing presentations, with plenty of photos from the May 16-18 weekend.
The Extra Ingredient—People: Inga Velten interviews rail preservationist, art collector, and Center supporter John Atherton.
The Kalmbach Art Collection exhibition in Milwaukee, a tribute to the late J. Parker Lamb, and new staff member Shelby Shull … plus more news.

Become a Center member today to get four issues a year!

Zoom program: Railroad promotional filmmaking with Nick Ozorak

Save the date to join us Tuesday, June 17, 2025, for Nick Ozorak’s presentation, “The Art of Railroad Promotional Filmmaking,” a free public Zoom program. NOTE: The program will soon be posted on the Center’s YouTube page.

As with other forms of railroad advertising media, filmmaking is its own art. Nick Ozorak has been creating videos for nearly 20 years. His projects include creating the relaunch trailer for the East Broad Top Railroad in Pennsylvania, developing a business showcase for the Iowa Interstate Railroad, and promoting various track rehabilitation programs. He has documented parts of railroading that often go overlooked, such as maintenance of way crews and machinery, and obscure short lines in remote locations. Nick will share samples of his work and discuss his approach to visual storytelling as a means of helping railroads establish their narrative and accomplish their goals.

Tuesday, June 17, at 7:00 P.M. (U.S. Central Time); 8 pm Eastern / 6 pm Mountain / 5 pm Pacific

This program has already taken place.

Pictured (from top):

Two eastbound Iowa Interstate trains await their turn on the main line at South Amana, IA on September 10, 2021. The railroad constructed a yard and locomotive facility at this location for servicing its fleet of GEVO locomotives. Note the Rock Island heritage unit on the left train.

A conductor walks to line the switches for a Panhandle Northern Railway freight train at Panhandle, TX on October 13, 2021. The PNR hauls commodities for gasoline, fertilizer, and carbon industries in Borger, Texas, and interchanges with BNSF in Panhandle.

A scene from the video “trailer” announcing the East Broad Top’s Foundation launch and the rebirth of the historic steam railroad. See the video here.

Zoom program: Tracking the Long Island Rail Road with Joe Stroppel

Long Island photographer Joe Stroppel will share spectacular scenes from his adventures growing up along the tracks of the Long Island Rail Road, the busiest commuter railroad in North America.

Joe’s photography will include captures of a variety of equipment — from fast, new M7 & M9 electric trains to 1970s-delivered MP15AC-hauled work trains plodding along the rails. You’ll also enjoy dramatic weather conditions, historic LIRR landmarks, and some of the most beautiful scenery the Island has to offer. Branch lines prominently featured will be the Main Line, Oyster Bay Branch (where Joe grew up), and the Montauk Branch, though there will be various other selections of interesting LIRR locations taken from Joe’s portfolio.

“The Route of the Dashing Commuter” is a fascinating operation in a hard-to-access location for many railroad photographers … the traffic over NYC’s bridges is absolutely devastating at rush hour, which is unfortunately when the LIRR puts on its most exciting show! Joe hopes to share some of the railroad’s most interesting characteristics for those who haven’t yet experienced it.

Tuesday, April 8, at 7:00 P.M. (U.S. Central Time); 5 pm PT / 6 pm MT / 8 pm ET

This program was recorded and will be posted soon on our YouTube page at @railphotoart

Pictured:

“Colorful Wilds”: During peak leaf peeping season on Long Island’s East End, a train bracketed by EMD DM30ACs rockets through the gorgeous Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge in Shirley, NY. The two dual mode engines are flying eastward with 8710, an express service to Montauk.

“Twilight at Jay”: Fresh snow has just fallen on the morning of January 7, 2022. During the evening rush hour, in gorgeous twilight, a train of Bombardier M7s snakes past JAY tower and over the flyover in Jamaica, Queens. The flaming switch heaters below the train and the mountain-like purple clouds above greatly enhance the beauty of the scene.

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!