Considering he hails from Altoona, a town whose history (and high school mascot) is inextricably intertwined with the North American railway, it seems fitting that Travis Dewitz recently won the Fred A. and Jane R. Stindt Award from the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society for his collection of railroad photography. The Railroader and professional photographer has been obsessed with the locomotive industry since childhood. In 1993, when Dewitz was just 13 years old, he began photographing trains and railroads, starting a collection that would grow exponentially over the next two decades. In addition to locomotives, he captures iconic landmarks, towns built around train tracks, and the natural landscapes that surround many of the railways. He incorporates creativity and innovation into every image, playing with light and composition to give a fresh perspective on an industrial-age industry. Dewitz’s passion has paid off. His railroading photographs have been published in countless books and magazines and won awards across the country. The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society does not give this award lightly: In fact, they honor only one photographer each year, which means Dewitz has certainly earned his place among railroad industry greats.