Richard Steinheimer

Renowned American railroad photographer Richard Steinheimer documented steam and diesel trains, conveying his lifelong admiration for their power and beauty. So committed was Steinheimer to his work that he sometimes rode atop speeding trains to try to capture the essence of their motion on film. He was a precursor to the seminal railroad photography of O. Winston Link, making pioneering use of elaborate lighting equipment so he could photograph his subject at night. Passionate and celebratory, Steinheimer’s pictures highlight the interconnectedness of these trains and the American landscape.