Elgin Joliet & Eastern 11"x17" signed poster by Andy Fletcher

Elgin Joliet & Eastern connected the railroads "Around-Not Thru Chicago."  EJ&E provided Chicago with an outer belt railroad, helping interchange traffic avoid delays as it was routed around the heart of the busiest freight railroad hub in America.  US Steel at Gary was also a significant source of traffic for the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern.

To see my Elgin, Joliet & Eastern 11"x17" signed poster, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store.

Thank You Galesburg for Expanding Your Amtrak Station

Many of us have visited Galesburg, Illinois, situated on the historic Santa Fe and Chicago Burlington and Quincy.  Through the years, we have attended Galesburg Railroad Days and watched the trains of Santa Fe, Burlington Northern, BNSF and Amtrak as they make their transcontinental trek.
Many of us, myself included, have boarded the Amtrak Southwest Chief and California Zephyr from Galesburg’s venerable depot.  At that, I would like to take a moment to say, “Thank you,” to the City of Galesburg for making a much needed expansion to their town’s Amtrak station.
We all enjoy riding Amtrak, and with much needed improvements to stations, cities such as Galesburg ensure that our Amtrak experience is truly second to none.  Thank you Galesburg.
Amtrak was designed to serve the communities of America.  Each community working together with Amtrak makes a teamwork of service to Amtrak’s riders.  With Galesburg’s improved station, that teamwork is truly winning.
Galesburg’s expanded station was financed in part by funds set aside for Amtrak in Illinois Jobs Now! and by funds for Rural Transportation Assistance in a Federal Transportation Administration 5311 Grant.  With projects such as the Galesburg Depot expansion, we truly can look forward to a greater Amtrak of today and tomorrow.

A Tribute to Great Railroaders 1-Conley Wright

Earlier this year, I decided to give away a number of my original drawings.  I feel that many of the best recipients of my drawings are the railroaders whom I respect.  One of the railroaders who I was lucky to meet is Conley Wright.  I gave Conley a Chicago, Burlington & Quincy SD9, as it is a railroad he fondly remembers.
It was truly an honor to meet Conley back in 2009 when I had just begun drawing trains after almost 10 years of not being able to draw. Bill Crisp and Conley both believed in me and loved my drawings. It definitely gave me the desire to do the 1,000s of hours of practice to get back my skills. I am often asked by many art critics where my work hangs, and I am always honored to tell them that my drawings hang in the offices and homes of railroaders and on some of the engines that pull their trains. Thank you Conley, for being there for me!!! You were the push that made me start drawing Norfolk Southern locomotives again and some of the first were a part of a dream I had that there be NS heritage engines. THANK YOU!!!!
The first time I met Conley was at a train show in Decatur, Illinois.  Conley mentioned to me that the railroaders of Norfolk Southern St. Louis Terminal were forming a Facebook page and that they all enjoyed my work.  He asked if I would join their Facebook group.  This gave me the confidence that there were fans who enjoyed my work.
The next thing I knew, I heard from people who had had my train magnets on their refrigerators for twenty years.  People had learned to read with my ABC’s of America’s railroads were now grown up and worked for the railroad.  It was truly exciting to become a railroad artist again.  I don’t think I would have discovered this without Conley Wright reminding me that there truly were so many people out there who knew and remembered my work.  Thank you so much, Conley.

Indiana Harbor Belt-Connects With All Chicago Railroads

For decades, Indiana Harbor Belt has connected the railroads serving Chicago.  Headquartered at Hammond, Indiana, the trains of Indiana Harbor Belt maintain a flow of freight as it moves across America's rail network.
Throughout its history, the Indiana Harbor Belt has been jointly owned by railroads connecting throughout Chicago.  This neutrality is important, as the Indiana Harbor Belt works as a bridge between all Chicago Railroads through America's busiest railroad hub.
In 1961, Indiana Harbor Belt was owned in part by Chicago and North Western, New York Central and Milwaukee Road.  After decades of mergers, at present day, Indiana Harbor Belt is owned 25.5% by Norfolk Southern, 25.5% by CSX and 49% by Canadian Pacific. source http://www.dhke.com/ihbarchive/ihbhst.html  
Indiana Harbor Belt also plays the important role delivering first and last mile traffic into our freight rail system.  A principal customer for Indiana Harbor Belt is the US Steel plant at Gary, Indiana.
Indiana Harbor Belt truly "Connects With All Chicago Railroads."  It is important that it maintains this role.

February 1st-Happy Birthday, Penn Central!

Penn Central was formed on February 1, 1968 when railroad giants Pennsylvania Railroad and New York Central merged.  Happy Birthday, Penn Central!

Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Electroliners at Illinois Railway Museum

A Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee Eletcroliner hurries towards Milwaukee.  It races onward, its sleek lines a flash of green and orange.
Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee innovated to compete against the Milwaukee Road and Chicago and Northwestern in the Chicago to Milwaukee passenger market.  Its dazzling Eletcroliners a symbol of modern ideal and design.
Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee Electroliners 801 and 802 are preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL. http://www.irm.org/
 

Chicago-America's Railroad Hub

Chicago is truly America's railroad hub.  Railroads from the Northeast, the Southeast and Gulf Coast and the Midwest and West join at Chicago.  Historically, Chicago's shortlines and belt railroads have served Chicago's industries and have linked the railroads that interchange in the Windy City.
Steel from the Steel mills of Chicago and Northern Indiana provided a key source of traffic to Chicago's railroads.  Steel from these mills helped build America.

Boarding The Amtrak Southwest Chief at Galesburg, Illinois

Here I am about ready to board the westbound Amtrak Southwest Chief in Galesburg, Illinois.  Every time I board Amtrak, I anticipate seeing the beauty of America.

The Southwest Chief crosses the Mississippi River and crosses Raton Pass  of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  The vast landscape along the Southwest Chief is breathtaking.

Illinois Central-The Mainline of Mid America

Illinois Central was known as the Mainline of Mid America.  Illinois Central served states along the Mississippi River, the Gulf Coast and the Upper Midwest.
Illinois Central was known for its City of New Orleans passenger train that operated between Chicago and New Orleans.  "The City of New Orleans" entered pop-culture with the well known Steve Goodman song. Amtrak's City of New Orleans train between Chicago and New Orleans takes its name from the famous Illinois Central passenger train.

A Semaphore at the Illinois Railway Museum

I enjoy visiting railroad museums across America. Their collections truly preserve our railroad history.

Here I stand next to a semaphore signal at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois. The Illinois Railway Museum's collection of historic locomotives, traction and rolling stock is truly worth a visit.

Metra-Chicago's Commuter Railroad

Part of the thrill of visiting Chicago is seeing the brightly painted Metra Trains. I always enjoy arriving at Union Station and seeing the Metra locomotives hard at work moving Chicago's commuters throughout Chicagoland.

Sketching the Amtrak Logo at Galesburg Amtrak Train Days

Here I am sketching the Pointless Arrow Amtrak logo at Amtrak Train Days in Galesburg.  Sketching these logos is a great conversation starter which allows me to discuss composition, detail, practice and many finer points of my artwork. I am always thankful if I inspire artists who want to draw trains.

Amtrak Train Days-The Experience of a Lifetime

I truly enjoy attending Amtrak Train Days.  Attending Amtrak Train Days in Galesburg, Illinois was a trip down memory lane.
The event centered around Galesburg Train Days, an event I had last attended twenty years ago.  I got to meet fans who worked for the railroad who were only kids so many years ago.  Collectors told stories of my magnets that had been on their refrigerators for years and how they were to glad to see me again.
I always love to draw new trains, and I am very grateful to take Amtrak to connect with fans both young and old, many whom have stories and memories to share.  America is a beautiful country, and seeing it by Amtrak is truly the experience of a lifetime.