Andy Fletcher Blog

This Conrail piggyback train heads west at Buffalo. Today's train heads for Chicago.
It is a cold fall evening, and after the train passes, we stop and get a cup of coffee. In the distance, we hear the train making its way west.
See my Conrail artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/a-conrail-piggyback-train-at-buffalo.html

This Great Northern train heads west to Seattle. Today's train carries carloads from the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy interchanged at the Twin Cities.
See my Great Northern artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/a-great-northern-train-heads-west-to.html

Atlantic Coast Line GP30 #905 was the first Atlantic Coast Line locomotive I drew. At the time, it was almost like I was peeling layers back further and further into railroad history, starting with the then current railroads in 1992. Granted, there were still quite a few now historical railroads on the scene at the time including Santa Fe, Burlington Northern, Grand Trunk Western, Illinois Central to name a few.
As I went to train shows, enthusiasts would ask for the fallen flags, and I would start by drawing railroads such as Penn Central and Seaboard Coast Line. I quickly realized that that was not far enough into railroad history. From there, I drew the Pennsylvania Railroad, the New York Central, the Seaboard Air Line and the Atlantic Coast Line. As soon as I drew this Atlantic Coast Line GP30, I knew I was going to have to draw an Atlantic Coast Line Champion E-unit, as well.
See my Atlantic Coast Line artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/atlantic-coast-line-gp30-905-by-andy.html

Grand Trunk Western GP38-2 5722 was the first Grand Trunk Western locomotive I drew. I drew it among the many drawings I did upon returning from my first trip to Chicago. On that trip, I saw Chicago railroads such as Grand Trunk Western, Illinois Central and Wisconsin Central that I had, up until then, only seen in photos in the railroad magazines.
See my Grand Trunk Western artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/grand-trunk-western-gp38-2-5722-by-andy.html

Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range SD9 #149 was one of the first hundred locomotives I drew when I became a railroad artist. On the summer trip I took to Chicago in 1991 when I decided to become a railroad artist, I visited Duluth and saw both the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range and Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific.
For years I had seen pictures and read about the railroads east of the Rockies in railroad magazines. On my 1991 trip to Chicago. Seeing so many railroads in real life truly made me decide to become a railroad artist.
See my Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/duluth-missabe-and-iron-range-sd9-149.html

This Chesapeake and Ohio train heads west at Huntington. Today's train carries carloads of coal to Cincinnati. We give a wave as the train heads on its way.
See my Chesapeake and Ohio artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/a-chesapeake-and-ohio-train-heads-to.html

This Maine Central train carries carloads of furniture to Portland, Maine. Maine Central served the forest industries of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont and was known as the Pine Tree Route.
See my Maine Central artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/a-maine-central-train-heads-to-portland.html

This Gulf Mobile and Ohio train carries carloads to Mobile from St. Louis. Today's train carries carloads from New York Central and Chicago, Burlington and Quincy.
Gulf Mobile and Ohio and competitor Illinois Central joined in 1972 to form the Illinois Central Gulf.
See my Gulf, Mobile and Ohio artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/a-gulf-mobile-and-ohio-train-at-st-louis.html

A Nickel Plate Road train carries piggyback trailers from Chicago to Buffalo. Piggyback traffic was gaining traction on railroads across America as railroads competed against the Interstate Highways for long hauls. The Chicago Great Western trailer on this train tells the story of railroads such as the CGW, which tried in many ways to keep traffic moving on its railroad system across the Midwest.
See my Nickel Plate Road artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/a-nickel-plate-road-train-carries.html

This Atlantic Coast Line train carries carloads from Atlanta headed to Jacksonville. The Rock Island box car on today's train has made its way across the Louisville and Nashville from Memphis. The Pennsylvania Railroad box car came onto the Atlantic Coast Line via the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac at Richmond.
See my Atlantic Coast line artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/atlantic-coast-line-train-heads-from.html

These Chicago, Burlington and Quincy locomotives move trains at Denver.
The GP7 and GP9 move a manifest train at Cheyenne. The SD9 prepares to lead a train of empty hopper cars to Lincoln. Another train of corn heads into the yard at Denver headed for the stockyards.
See my CB&Q artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/chicago-burlington-and-quincy.html

This Chicago and North Western train heads to the steel mills in Chicago. The rear GP38-2 has a broom mounted to its nose to sweep snow from the switches on this snowy day as the local train does its chores.
This train is carrying scrap from local industries to the mill and returning empty coil steel cars to carry finished steel.
See my Chicago and North Western artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/chicago-and-north-western-train-heads.html

This Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range train carries iron ore at Proctor, Minnesota. The DM and IR played an important role as a US Steel railroad carrying iron ore from the mines to Lake Superior where iron ore was transloaded to ships to be hauled across the lakes.
See my Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/duluth-missabe-and-iron-range-iron-ore.html

Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Iron Ore Train at Proctor, Minnesota This Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range train carries iron ore at Proctor, Minnesota. The DM and IR played an important role as a US Steel rail...

Happy Birthday to my mom, Lynda Fletcher. My mom encouraged me to become a railroad artist many years ago and is my greatest mentor and supporter to this day. Thank you so much, mom.
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/happy-birthday-to-my-mom-lynda-fletcher.html

These New Haven locomotives move trains at Hartford. The RS11 leads a manifest train to Springfield and the GP9 heads to New Haven with a train of its own. At the yard office, coffee is percolating and a few donuts are left for the nightshift who are just coming on to move trains on this crisp evening.
See my New Haven artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/new-haven-locomotives-move-trains-at.html

This Bangor and Aroostook train carries carloads from of freight at Northern Maine Junction. Today's train has its usual loads of freight from the Maine Central and Boston and Maine headed to destinations throughout Northern Maine.

See my Bangor and Aroostook, Maine Central and Boston and Maine artwork at customtrains.org

https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/bangor-and-aroostook-train-at-northern.html

These Northern Pacific locomotives move trains at Spokane, Washington. The U33C and SD45 head east with a general merchandise train for the Twin Cities.
Northern Pacific was known as the Main Street of the Northwest. Today's train carries carloads of refrigerator cars of potatoes and apples from throughout Washington State.
See my Northern Pacific artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com

This Santa Fe piggyback train heads west at Chicago. Today’s train is headed for Kansas City.
At Fort Madison, Iowa, the train will cross the Mississippi River. If engineer Ricky Johnson is in the crew when the train reaches Fort Madison, he is often known to say, “Time for a crew change and for radio station call letters to change from W to K.”
See my Santa Fe artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/08/santa-fe-piggyback-train-heads-west-at.html

This Gulf Mobile & Ohio train carries carloads from the New York Central and Chicago, Burlington and Quincy at Chicago. Today's train heads to Mobile, Alabama. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy cars carry furniture that have come from Spokane on the Great Northern. The New York Central cars carry machinery from Buffalo.
See my Gulf, Mobile and Ohio artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com

Andy Fletcher - This Train's A Honey My "This Train's A Honey" video is a tribute to my good friends, Brian Gallagher and the late President and CEO of Amtrak Joseph Boardman.http://vevo.ly/4nU0El

This BC Rail train carries lumber to North Vancouver, British Columbia. Today's train has a Dash 8-40CM and B36-7 as power. Gone from the consists of today are the Big M630s that ruled the rails of yesterday.
See my BC Rail artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/bc-rail-dash-8-40cm-and-b36-7-pull.html

These Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific locomotives move trains at Duluth. At the yard office, you can feel the chill of a cold winter's evening along Lake Superior.
Meanwhile, a pair of RS11s departs to International Falls with transfer freight from Burlington Northern. See my DW&P artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/duluth-winnipeg-pacific-rs11s-move.html

I’ve started making some of my songs into videos. I done two videos so far. They just came out today. Here’s a link to the first one, “Amtrak A Magnificent Ride”: https://youtu.be/NqEWB85LT4Y
It’s on My YouTube Venmo. Thanks to Tom Jones for the wave! The footage in this video was taken on several of my Amtrak trips across America 🇺🇸. Some places seen are Davis, California

Andy Fletcher - Amtrak, A Magnificent Ride Amtrak, A Magnificent Ride is a song about taking Amtrak across America. See America aboard Amtrak in this music video.http://vevo.ly/JjIo8c

These Gulf, Mobile & Ohio locomotives move trains in St. Louis. The E7 departs St. Louis Union Station with the Ann Rutledge for Chicago. As it departs, the TRRA St Louis switchers build passenger trains for the various railroads that serve St Louis.
Meanwhile, in the freight yards, an RS2 and RS1 lead a manifest freight to Kansas City.
See my Gulf, Mobile & Ohio artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/gulf-mobile-ohio-locomotives-move.html

These Rio Grande locomotive move trains at Denver. The SD40T-2 and SD50 lead a general merchandise train to Salt Lake City.
Meanwhile, A GP40 and GP30 arrive with a fast freight. Their hotshot carries piggybacks that were handed over from the Western Pacific that have made their way east from Oakland.
See my Rio Grande artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/rio-grande-locomotives-move-trains-at.html

These Atlantic Coast Line locomotives move trains at Atlanta. The SD45 leads a general merchandise train to Spartanburg. At Spartanburg, that train will be handed off to the Clinchfield.

In the yard office, the crew of the switcher gets ready to build a trains bound for Richmond and Jacksonville.

See my Atlantic Coast Line artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/atlantic-coast-line-locomotives-move.html

These Illinois Central Gulf Locomotives prepare to move trains at Chicago. The pair of SD40-2s will be headed down to Memphis on a fast freight.
The GP10 prepares to head across the Iowa division, where the Paducah Geeps are frequently seen.
See my Illinois Central Gulf artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/illinois-central-gulf-locomotives-move.html

These Nickel Plate Road locomotives move trains at Buffalo. In the yard office, “Heartbreak Hotel” plays as the crews prepare for their assignments. Trainmaster John Thomas puts on some more coffee, as it is a cold winter’s night and you can feel the chill coming off of the lake.
See my Niickel Plate Road artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/nickel-plate-road-locomotives-move.html

This Santa Fe train heads through Galesburg Illinois. Today’s train carries general merchandise headed west for Kansas City.
At Fort Madison, Iowa, the train will cross the Mississippi River. The engineer remarks, "It’s going to be a great run today.”
See my Santa Fe artwork at customtrains.org
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/santa-fe-train-heads-through-galesburg.html

These Missouri-Kansas-Texas locomotives move trains at Kansas City. The SD40-2 leads a grain train to Houston.
It is a warm summer day here in KC. At the yard office, Rich Johnson, the trainmaster looks over the day's arrivals an departures here on the Katy.
https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/missouri-kanas-texas-locomotives.html

This Western Pacific train makes its way from Stockton towards the Feather River Canyon. It is a crisp fall morning. The San Joaquin Valley definitely has needed some of this season’s early rain after a dry summer.
The train passes a bounty of agricultural lands, including tomato and sugar beet crops. Up in Yolo County, rival Southern Pacific hauls sugar beets by train.
See my Western Pacific artwork at customtrains.org. https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/western-pacific-train-in-san-joaquin.html

These Bangor and Aroostook locomotives move trains at Bangor, Maine. The GP38 will be moving a train of empty pulpwood cars to Oakfield. See my Bangor and Aroostook artwork at customtrains.org https://andyfletcherblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/bangor-and-aroostook-locomotives-at.html

Drinking my morning cup of coffee ☕️and thinking of all the different places I traveled to on ⁦‪‬⁩ long distance routes🚄🗺⛰🏝🌆🎑🌉Where have you been or what’s on your bucket list? CustomTrains.org

This four page letter from the ex Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson to AAPRCO is another reason why I'm filling your pages with ! Clearly Anderson is doing everything in his power to make Amtrak hated by the American people by destroying its public image in the pretext that Congress has demanded he make these cuts in the budget. He has refused to listen to the American people and their representatives and is trying to make changes behind close doors. Anderson is taking away dining cars with hot meal choices people love, ticket/baggage agents who help you check your luggage & a multitude of other tasks, Veterans discounts and more.
Anderson et al has cut back so severely on excursion trains that they may be gone forever. AAPRCO trains are a way for travelers to experience railroad history by traveling in cars that help build America. These excursions help the travel industry and state economies. Even if you have never ridden in an AAPRCO passenger car, you may have stood trackside as they roll by and taken in a part of America's railroad history. Truly we need to join together and have an about the importance of an Amtrak National System that includes services that Americans want. is loved by people from coast to coat and we must save this National Treasure and keep passenger railroad history alive. Amtrak, America's Railroad needs to be run by someone who loves passenger trains not an airplane CEO!

files.constantcontact.com

Many thanks to the railroads who have painted locomotives for on this Memorial Day 🇺🇸️! These locomotives honor Veterans & those you gave their lives for our country! Here are some of my railroad locomotive drawings honoring those who have served America. My first Veterans engine to draw was the Burlington Northern 1991. Union Pacific Railroad Amtrak Norfolk Southern Corp

I stand with Joe for a better Amtrak for all. It is time to

Thank you Joseph Boardman for fighting for the great Amtrak service we all know and love.

Former Amtrak president questions motives of current management | Trains Magazine Trains magazine offers railroad news, railroad industry insight, commentary on today's freight railroads, passenger service (Amtrak), locomotive technology, railroad preservation and history, railfan opportunities (tourist railroads, fan trips), and great railroad photography.

Thank you, Joseph Boardman, for your leadership at Amtrak. You saw how important the people of Amtrak are in providing great customer service and in operating its trains safely and efficiently. Thank you, Joe, for choosing me to be the medium to voice your message about today’s Amtrak being about both long distance and regional trains working together.

Open Letter dated May 8, 2018 from Joseph H. Boardman past President & CEO of Amtrak 2008-2016

Based on the Communication I've seen being submitted to Hill Staff, I think that Amtrak has begun to do surgical communications in a way that does not provide a transparent discussion of what they are doing, instead the plan seems to be to keep the recommendations and briefings small and isolated from each other, just the opposite of transparent . I think the CEO and the Board have drawn a line in the sand at the foot of the Raton Pass, believing that they can convince western Pols that providing service on the SWC is ineffective and too costly. Making the Southwest Chief as their first major Target to cut.

I believe that after the Washington State and Train 91 accidents the CEO decided to make his safety mark by demanding PTC everywhere Amtrak operates by December 31 2018. However he will use the well respected SMS safety program from the FAA to access "risk" on each route (more than a dozen) where the FRA decided to exclude PTC requirements on segments as small as "feet" and as large as over "100 miles". In and of itself that's both good and responsible, but the threat to declare that there must be an end to service on the December 31 2018 timeline is not responsible or acceptable. Yes, additional mitigation for those risks which might be ATS (Automatic Train Stop) or perhaps "Solar powered Switch position indicators" could be suggested as a part of the "risk" process but it will take time and funding. It has not been made clear by Board Policy or CEO direction that service would be continued while those mitigation's are funded and completed. If it is not made clear within six months of the end of the year, then safety is being "Weaponized" as an attack on the National System and that's not okay. Let it be known that I am strongly in support of both Safety and of the PTC technology but like those at FRA that set up the exclusions, both common sense and the opportunity to mitigate safety improvements over time are critically important. PTC on the NEC started 20 years ago.

For me the SWC has really become the battleground for the National System. I might be wrong, but I don't think so. City pairs could be fine but a connected National System on the surface of the United States is and should continue to be our national policy. And if it is changed it should be informed by both hearings and explanations to Congress.

I am concerned that the Amtrak Board has begun to set their policy based on what we might call a "Hedge Hog" as opposed to a "Hedge Fund" approach. Meaning that the Board sees an opportunity to "Hog" all the Federal Assistance to complete the Gateway Plan; Procure New City Pair "Train Sets" operating off the NEC to the Southern big cities like Charlotte NC and Atlanta and others; And shortening more routes in order to transfer more cost to the States while abandoning the National purpose of Amtrak.

Worse yet its being done without a "Public Policy" process. Amtrak is not really a "private business", it is a "State Owned Enterprise" and it needs an open and transparent process that only Congress seems to be able to give State and National rail stakeholders under this new " Hedgehog" strategy.

For me its: The Raton Pass vs. The Gateway Tunnel you can't have one without the other.

Joe Boardman
Amtrak President and CEO 2008 - 2016

If you agree please sign & share this Change.org petition: https://www.change.org/p/congress-save-the-amtrak-long-distance-trains?recruiter=867926174&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page
I ride trains 🚄🇺🇸️ to share the importance of freight and passenger trains working together! This photo was taken at Denver's Train Days where I was extremely honored to meet Joseph Boardman, Amtrak President & CEO 2008-2016 !