My New Book- "The ABC's of America's Short Line and Regional Railroads"

Today I read aloud from my new book, "The ABC's of America's Short Line and Regional Railroads."  It discusses how America's short line and regional railroads provide first mile/last mile service to deliver the freight we need everyday.  It also discusses how Class 1 railroads work together with short line and regional railroads in our railroad system.

Drawing of the Day-March 1st 2016 Quebec North Shore and Labrador SD70ACe #519

I just drew Quebec North Shore and Labrador SD70ACe. Quebec North Shore and Labrador hauls iron ore from Quebec and Labrador to St. Lawrence River

Trains of the Midwest

The Midwest has a rich history of railroads that connected its people, places, agriculture and industry.  Historically, many of the Midwest's railroads connected the Midwest with the Gulf Coast, the Northeast, and the West.

Many of the Midwest's railroads have become part of today's Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, CSX, Canadian Pacific or Canadian National.  Quite a few of the Midwest's shortlines and regional railroads remain.  Shortlines and regionals perform much of the key first mile/last mile service in unison with today's Class 1 railroads.

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.

Seeing My First Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Train at Rapid City, South Dakota

It was exciting for me to see a pair of Iowa, Chicago and Eastern SD40-2 locomotives on the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern in Rapid City, South Dakota in 2010.  I had first drawn Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern in 1992 and had yet to see a locomotive from this family of railroads that I liked so much.

I had just spent the morning at the Alliance, Nebraska BNSF yard.  Under a beautiful blue South Dakota sky, I saw my first Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern train nearly twenty years after drawing my first DM and E locomotive.  What an exciting day.

Bessemer and Lake Erie Ore Train at Conneaut, Ohio

A Bessemer and Lake Erie train heads south from the ore docks at Conneaut, Ohio.  Its cargo heads to North Bessemer Yard and a connection with the Union Railroad.
Bessemer and Lake Erie and Union Railroad and sister Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range were all part of the US Steel Family of railroads.  These railroads worked together to haul iron ore from the Iron Range of Minnesota to the steel mills of Pittsburgh.

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.