I attended my first Winterail in Stockton, Calif., this past Saturday, March 14. Winterail seems to be the rite-of-passage railfan event of the West, attracting about 550 people nationwide this year. In its 37th year, Winterail, a railroad photography and railroadiana show, celebrated its final year at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center. There was a bittersweet mixture of excitement, nostalgia, and melancholy as the attendees all knew that next year the event will be held in a new location. It was the end of an era for many who have made pilgrimages to Winterail for several years, stopping at numerous California hot spots to take train photos en route.
The show held several highlights for me. Best of all was meeting some characters I've only corresponded with by email or Facebook. It's funny how sometimes you have an idea of what someone sounds like in your head, and then you find out that you're completely wrong — not in a bad way, a delightful way. I thoroughly enjoyed conversations with longtime magazine contributors David Styffe, Blair Kooistra, Elrond Lawrence, Stan Kistler, and others, and I hope I made some new friends, too. Our concern in this hobby is that we're losing our appeal to a younger audience. I saw lots of promise at Winterail. One person asked, "How long have you worked for Trains?" "Nearly 14 years." Another younger person said, "Wow! That's longer than I've been taking photos!" I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry. I decided to look at that in a positive light, this hobby has a future.
Besides meeting some wonderful folks, I enjoyed the afternoon and evening digital slideshows. Jamie Schmid and Tim Zukas collaborated for a 1970s and '80s tour of Southern Pacific's Coast Division, from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. I was also in awe of a young photographer named Ryan Clark, who shared railroad photos of which he's only been taking for the past 2 years! He's quite talented. I'm curious to see where he goes next. If he's reading this, please send me your photos! And then there was Southern California's Golden Age of Kodachrome featuring photographers Tom Gildersleeve, Gordon Glattenberg, and Hank Mills. What talent these men had in the 1950s without ever getting the chance to check to see what they got on the back of their cameras or to manipulate their images in Photoshop.
What I love the most is that many of these photographic expositions were made among friends. These photographs are not just documenting history or a moment on the railroad. They're capturing how the photographer felt at the time he took the photo. Maybe he was alone. Maybe he was in a group. But there's always a story. What happened before the shot? What happened after? Did he get what he came for? Did he get something else that was even better? It's the story that makes the photos come to life. And leave it to Scott Lothes, Center for Railroad Photography & Art president and executive director, and the final presenter for the night. His images of Northwest railroading were so moving, as was his story to go with them. I think everyone in the audience felt as though they were standing right next to him, when he captured these damp, dark, quiet, fresh images of the BNSF and Union Pacific main lines in Portland, Columbia Gorge, and other spots, as well as regional railroads Portland & Western and Central Oregon & Pacific.
Winterail's new venue in Corvallis, Ore., next year will certainly breathe new life into the already successful show and attract a new crowd of railfans as well as its core audience.
Thanks to Vic and Annie Neves, Cheryl Meeker, and all of the "Roadies" staff for producing a wonderfully cool event, bringing together the railfan community to celebrate their photography and stories. It was my pleasure to be a part of it. Until next time, California. Stay warm.
P.S. Please pardon my photos I merely snapped with my phone at the event. It's intimidating when you're in a room full of 500-plus photographers! No need to try too hard.
Classic Trains Editor Rob McGonigal poses for a shot with our booth near the entryway. He and I were happy to outfit each attendee with a durable bag to stow all the goodies from the show.
Here's another view from the entryway. Elrond Lawrence is to the far left in the black hat. He is speaking with Blair Kooistra in the white ball cap.
One of the expo rooms bustles with conversations, laughing, stories, and the swapping of goods for cash.
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