As lifelong railfans, we love looking through train photos. New or old—it doesn’t matter. There’s something so perfect when the rigid track lines up with the gentle blue sky and an engineering marvel roars through the foreground. 

The best train photos can happen anywhere. We’ve seen some of the best train photography in places like the historic Horseshoe Curve, the Cassandra Railroad Overlook, or even our fan-favorite front porch. 

While we realize there are countless terrific train photos out there, we’re going to take a stab at compiling some of the very best (especially since we’ve acquired so many through our Artist-in-Residence program). 

The Best Train Photos

We’ll start this list off with some of our very favorite photos that have been taken or curated by some of our very favorite people: 

1. Rockville Bridge – Michael Froio

Many of us are drawn to trains for their intensity. Classic trains transform hunks of steel and coal into massive lines of cars that rip through the mountains and plains at a deafening rattle. Whether you identify as a traditional railfan or a “rivet counter,” there’s a little something for everyone who loves focusing on the finer details. 

Occasionally, though, you find harmony between the natural environment and the elegant blend of architecture and engineering—and that’s exactly what Michael Froio did here in Marysville, Pennsylvania. 

In this photo, the train and railroad complement the beauty of central PA’s rolling hills and the historic Susquehanna River. 

If you like Michael Froio’s photography, be sure to visit his portfolio. 

2. Michigan CSX – Craig Hensley

Our friend Craig Hensley is a talented railroad photographer with a huge portfolio, with many of his photos capturing massive trains against vibrant fall foliage or pristine winter snows. 

But one of our favorites is a subtle one—one that tells a quiet story of perseverance. 

Here, Craig Hensley has captured a CSX train as it exits a lush Michigan forest to cut through a quaint town. Craig has caught the engine crossing another set of tracks, and there’s a hint of mystery here: How many train cars follow behind? 

There’s no telling for sure, but the second engine suggests there’s a long line of cars currently rolling through the forest, ready to cut through the sleepy town. 

3. The Station Inn – Craig Hensley

Craig visited us in late 2024, and he captured some awesome shots. While we’re obviously biased, this one quickly became a favorite: 

Sure, it’s a perfectly fine drone shot, but look right behind the engine: There’s our Station Inn! 

Craig shared this and some others and a Facebook post he created after his trip. Check them out here:

4. Deep Cut Looking West – Michael Froio, 2023

In her Landscape And Longing article, our 2025 artist-in-residence (and incredible polymath) Julie Fether Rockwell details the beauty of Michael Froio’s photography. Interestingly, one of her favorite shots isn’t even of a train—it’s of the railroad spanning in front of the Cassandra overlook. 

There’s simply something marvelous about the composition here that’s complemented by the crisp, black-and-white still. The arrow-straight tracks, the towering fences, and the barren trees atop the hillsides all carry our eye to a far-off white light nestled below the horizon. 

It’s a stunning photo of the deepest cut on the main line, and it’s one we’ve caught ourselves staring at, getting lost in the scene. 

Top Shots From RailPictures.Net

If you’ve never been to RailPictures.net, you’re missing out on some wonderful photos from terrific photographers and railfans. 

Below, we’ve compiled some of the highest-rated photos ever posted to the website. 

Note: We do not claim ownership of any photos originally found on RailPictures.net. 

5. UP 1995 – Robert Jordan

Source: RailPictures.net

Talk about a great photo! Here, photographer Robert Jordan caught a Union Pacific cutting through downtown Belvidere, Illinois, as it makes its way to West Chicago in 2024. 

There’s plenty to love from a compositional standpoint, but perhaps the most noteworthy detail is the photo’s encapsulation of multiple points of American history and ingenuity: the new cars on the left, the train engine in the middle, and the old, restored brick buildings on the right.

6. Heber Valley – Michael F. Allen

Source: RailPictures.net

This photo was snapped in February of 2007, but that Steam 2-8-0 and the meticulously maintained 1953 Buick make this photo feel like a time capsule plucked out of Heber City, UT. There’s plenty to love here, but our favorite detail is how the steam fades into the snow-capped mountains in the background. 

7. CSXT 128 – Bob Smith

Source: RailPictures.net

It’s not every day you witness a bridge collapse, but Bob Smith was nearby to capture this photo in Urbana, Texas, back in February of 2004. Look closely, and you’ll spot two workers talking alongside the locomotive, presumably discussing the best way to resolve the situation. 

8. 5111 – Ian Green

Source: RailPictures.net

There’s some wonderful irony in this snapshot taken in some floodwaters along Clarendon Street in Melbourne, Australia. “Get on board!” the car beckons, while the tram cuts through the standing water, pushing waves in every direction. There’s a bit of resilient humor everywhere in the composition, especially when you read the road signs. 

Capture (And Share) Your Own Great Train Photography

If you have a great train photo you’ve taken and would like to share, send it to us! Either contact us or send it to us on Facebook or Instagram. 

And if you want a truly perfect spot to capture train photos, stay with us in Cresson, PA. Our front porch overlooks three Norfolk Southern lines, and we regularly have 50 trains that pass every single day!