Hear the Train Blow

Hear the Train Blow

John Coker loves to paint trains—their power and strength, whistles and rumbles. He places those trains in their natural environments, including the rail line it had traveled, and does extensive—and hands-on—research.

Before tackling a painting a year ago, he traveled to Colorado, where he took photographs of an empty field where no rails were visible but where he knew the Colorado Southern had once run. He also took photos of the position of the sun and shadows and made notes of the time of day, the way the wind was blowing, the height of the grasses, and the flowers that were blooming.

Coker has a deep affection for—and firsthand knowledge of—his subjects. In 1973, after completing two years of study at the University of Denver, he went to work for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad that runs from Antonito, Colorado, to Chama, New Mexico. For the next 27 years, he worked for that railroad and for the Durango & Silverton Railroads and eventually reached the rank of engineer.

Read the full article in the September/October 2024 issue.