A self proclaimed train nut, I have been taking photos of trains and other railroad related subjects since elementary school. My first SLR was a used 35mm Exacta. It was a completely manual camera, but I learned the correlation between film speed, f stops, and shutter speeds. Kodachrome 64 became my favorite film in college for shooting action along with 3 quarter view "roster" shots of trains for HO modeling reference.

To me, photography is more about documenting history than art. When I compose and snap a picture, I am capturing the subject at a specific point in time. Trains are mobile, often moving around a region or even the entire country. So the odds of capturing the same train in the same condition at the same location is slim... unless it is a fixed subject like a station or other infrastructure. Even the infrastructure changes as railroads evolve and sadly pass into history, as does their equipment. I have learned to "shoot it now", because it may not be there the next time I return.

Whether you are a railfan or not, I hope you enjoy my "moments in time". They may not be the most technically precise or visually artistic, but they reflect history. Enjoy, and thank you.