In May 2024, Dak Dillon Photography hosted a steam photo charter at the Colorado Railroad Museum, offering photographers an opportunity to capture parts of the museum’s unique collection, including Rio Grande Southern 20 and Rio Grande 491.
The charter highlighted the locomotives’ history and operation on the Rio Grande and made use of the museum’s Golden, Colorado campus.
Event Highlights
- The day included a series of photo runbys led by RGS 20, Rio Grande 491, and even a few Galloping Geese, set against the backdrop of the museum’s historic buildings – such as the No Agua Tank and roundhouse.
- With the museum’s loop track, photographers were treated to multiple runbys, allowing them to experiment with different angles and compositions.
- Portrait opportunities were staged midday around the roundhouse with the historic equipment and crew.
- In the afternoon, meet shots were staged with a freight train and passenger train taking turns around the loop track. This allowed for various shots, showcasing the steam engines from different perspectives.
- The event closed with a night photo session at the No Agua Tank and roundhouse, with scenes that featured a dramatic interplay of light and shadow.
A special thank you to the museum staff and volunteers who made this event possible, including Charlie, Paul, Jeff, Dusty, Bryan, Mark and the many volunteers who posed for photos and videos throughout the day.
The Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden is a non-profit preserving Colorado’s railroad history. Established in 1959, it features over 100 locomotives and cars, a working roundhouse, model railroads, and Saturday train rides on 15 scenic acres. It’s a top Denver attraction offering interactive and educational family fun.
The event was part of Steam Charters by Dak Dillon Photography, which aims to showcase the essence of each host railroad and its unique landscape, equipment, and people.
