The Northern Pacific North Coast Limited at Livingston, Montana

The Northern Pacific North Coast Limited makes its station stop at Livingston, Montana.  Northern Pacific was known as the "Main Street on the Northwest" and was key in the development of Yellowstone National Park.  Northern Pacific is part of today's +BNSF Railway.  ASLRRA member railroad Montana Rail Link provides first mile/last mile freight service to Montana, Idaho and Washington via the former Northern Pacific.

To see my Northern Pacific 11"x17" poster, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

Thank You to Our Railroads for Promoting Operation Lifesaver

Thank you +Norfolk Southern Corp , Metra, and many ASLRRA member railroads for painting locomotives to promote Operation Lifesaver.  Operation Lifesaver reminds us all to cross tracks safely at designated crossings and not to trespass on railroad property.  #SeeTracksThinkTrain

A Montana Rail Link Train Heads To Missoula, Montana

This Montana Rail Link train heads to Missoula with grain and general merchandise from Southern Montana.  MRL celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2017.  In 2013, MRL was named +BNSF Railway  Short Line of the Year and Railway Age Regional Railroad of the Year.  MRL is a member of ASLRRA.

To see my 11"x17" Montana Rail Link poster, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

A Northern Pacific Freight Heads West at Livingston, Montana

This Northern Pacific freight heads west at Livingston, Montana.  Northern Pacific was known as the "Main Street of the Northwest."  Livingston has always been a key railroad city, home to Northern Pacific's locomotive shops, which are still used today by ASLRRA member regional railroad Montana Rail Link.

To see my Northern Pacific 11"x17" signed poster, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

Wisconsin Central-One of My First Drawings as a Railroad Artist

On my first big railfan trip to Chicago, I was lucky enough to see a Wisconsin Central train pulled by Wisconsin Central SD45s 6534 and 6510.  That was one of the most exciting trains I had seen up to that date.  As soon as I got home, I drew SD45 6534.

Wisconsin Central was one of the first regional railroads that I drew.  I loved Wisconsin Central's striking paint scheme and "Can Do" spirit as a railroad.

Drawing Wisconsin Central and Montana Rail Link started me on drawing many of the shortlines and regional railroads of the day.  In turn, that was a big start on my becoming a railroad artist.

Montana Rail Link-The Railroad That Inspired Me To Dream Big

As a teenager, I loved Burlington Northern and taking trips to Essex, Montana in the late 1980s. At this time, Montana Rail Link was becoming a strong upstart on Burlington Northern's former Northern Pacific trackage across Southern Montana.

I was inspired that entrepreneur Dennis Washinton had leased this section of track from Burlington Northern and was starting his own railroad.  At sixteen, I was ready to start my own railroad.

The success of Montana Rail Link drove me to dream. It made me know that I could accomplish things bigger than myself. 

My mom suggested that I send my artwork to railroad presidents.  The many warm-hearted responses I received led me to becoming a railroad artist.  Montana Rail Link President Bill Brodsky, in seeing my ambition, kindly quoted Robert Browning, "Reach beyond your grasp or what's a heaven for?"  I have taken those words to heart ever since.