Railroad Photo Charters

All Aboard for Photography Adventures

Join Lerro Photography for one of our upcoming historic railroad photo shoots, a unique opportunity to experience and capture the excitement of steam railroading. Immerse yourself in a trackside journey to years past as we recreate entire scenes featuring not only vintage locomotives, but also period buildings, antique automobiles, and costumed reenactors. Relive the golden age of railroading through your lens and create timeless images that tell the story of America’s rail heritage.

What Happens on a Railroad Photo Charter

During our railroad photo workshops, participants will ride aboard the train to a series of carefully scouted photo locations. At each stop, an organized photo line is set up in a predetermined area that allows the photographers to each get the perfect shot. The train will then back up and perform multiple runbys, recreating authentic railroad operations from the golden age of steam. Performing multiple runbys allows everyone the chance to capture the prime spot on the photo line, as well as provides opportunities to record the train from different perspectives, from standard wide-angle shots to creative angles that offer a dramatic perspective.

Our photo locations are handpicked for ideal lighting and composition, selected to make it possible to capture sunrises, sunsets, silhouettes, backlit scenes, and even atmospheric weather shots. Whether it’s the golden glow of dusk, the drama of a night shoot, or the quiet beauty of snow and rain, every condition adds a different element to your images.

Much like a Hollywood production, our team meticulously stages historically accurate scenes complete with period actors, vintage automobiles, antique props, and restored buildings. Every setting transports you to another era, allowing your camera to capture living history in motion.

Who Participates

Depending on the charter, a photo line can include anywhere from 20 to 50 participants. Between runbys, you will have the chance to chat with fellow photographers and videographers, and make new friends who share your passion. Our guests come from all over the world, some traveling from as far away as South America, Europe, and Japan, to take part in these truly unique, one-of-a-kind adventures.

Railroad Night Photo Sessions

Experience the magic of Lerro Photography night sessions, a signature part of our railroad photo charters. These sessions, using professional LED lighting and techniques inspired by the great railroad night photographers of the 1940s and 50s, transform historic trains and vintage scenes into classic works of art.

Our lighting setups are powerful enough to illuminate full-scale night runbys, creating dramatic compositions and cinematic moments inspired by the film noir era of the 1940s. Each session features actors, period costumes, and realistic props to bring the golden age of railroading to life.

In addition to staged lighting scenes, we also craft naturally lit compositions illuminated by the moon and stars, offering long-exposure opportunities to create a breathtaking contrast between the vast night sky and the railroad that never sleeps. From still life and portrait photography to sweeping railroad landscapes, our night sessions provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to capture the timeless beauty and human spirit of railroading after dark.

Join us for an unforgettable railroad night photography experience where history, artistry, and light come together to create images that truly shine.

Museum Sessions

One of Lerro Photography’s specialties is creating dramatic and lifelike photo sessions at railroad museums. By combining skilled reenactors, authentic props, professional lighting, and atmospheric fog effects, we bring static, inoperable locomotives back to life. The results are so realistic that many viewers believe the trains are once again under steam.

Whether you are a railroad museum, heritage center, or train enthusiast, our museum photo shoots offer a unique way to record and showcase railroad history through visually stunning, cinematic imagery.

Who We’ve Done Railroad Photo Shoots With

With over 20 years of experience in railroad photography, Lerro Photography has organized and assisted with nearly 100 railroad photo shoot events, totaling over 170 days of unforgettable rail photography.

Our team has partnered with a wide range of tourist railroads, mainline railroads, and railroad museums from coast to coast. Each event is carefully coordinated with our hosts and authentically staged to recreate historic scenes and highlight unique equipment for photographers, enthusiasts, and history lovers alike.

Some of our most notable photo charters and partnerships include:

• White Pass & Yukon Route

• Grand Canyon Railway

• East Broad Top Railroad

• Milwaukee Road 261 on the Twin Cities & Western

• Pere Marquette 1225 and Nickel Plate Road 765 on the Great Lakes Central

• Santa Fe 2926 on the New Mexico Rail Runner Express

• SP&S 700 and SP 4449 on the Oregon Pacific Railroad

• Norfolk & Western 611 at the Strasburg Rail Road

• …and many more, spanning every corner of the United States.