Today would have been the 95th birthday of the extraordinary Richard Steinheimer (August 23, 1929 – May 4, 2011).
Richard was an American railroad photographer who lived in Sacramento, California. His work has been published in Trains Magazine, Railfan, Locomotive and Railway Preservation, Vintage Rail, and over seventy books.
A pioneer in railroad photography, Steinheimer documented the railroads' transition from steam to diesel motive power. He is one of the few photographers who appreciated the aesthetics of all locomotives, from steam engines to the latest diesel-powered behemoths. His dedication to his craft was unparalleled. He often took pictures at night, in harsh weather, and from risky perches on top of moving trains.
Steinheimer had a particular fondness for the landscape of the American West, and many of his images captured trains in the broader geography and culture of the time.
I learned about Richard’s arresting work by exploring the beautiful collections at the Center for Railroad Photography & Art in Madison, Wisconsin.
When it was time to marry images with the “Wishing on a Train” music, I knew I would find these images at the center. Of the hundreds of photographs I’d combed through, it was this iconic photograph made by Mr. Steinheimer that instinctually, I knew had to represent the tangible and visceral of not only the songs on this record but also my very personal connections to the journey I went on to do this project.
Richard’s work is the perfect fit, and it is an absolute honor to have even the slightest connection to his legacy and the gifts he’s given to this world.
About the cover photograph:
One of Richard Steinheimer's most iconic images and a perfect display of his daredevil feats:
The photographer rode on the front gangway of a trailing SD40 to capture a moonlit portrait of Milwaukee Road electric locomotive no. E77 at speed as it led train #264 out of Avery, Idaho, in December 1973. Stein braved the cold and the elements to take prolonged exposures!