The Railroad Photography of Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg

"Railroad photography as we know it today could not have developed and thrived were it not for Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg. . . Tony Reevy turns the camera around to bring the two men behind the camera into a sharper focus in this long overdue book." - Jim Wrinn, editor of Trains Magazine"—Trains

"In The Railroad Photography of Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg, Tony Reevy gives us a deeper glimpse into the histories of these two fascinating and colorful pioneering giants of rail enthusiast photography and publishing. Unlike previous books, Reevy also discusses, and sets the context for, Beebe and Clegg's long-term romantic relationship amidst New York City's rarefied Cafe Society. Playing a vital role within the nascent gay community during the 1930s and 40s, and protected by their wealth, these two gentlemen were "out" before it was safe or fashionable to be so. Additional information about their cohorts, like Jerome Zerbe and Ivan Dmitri, enlivens the text and makes for interesting speculative turns about artistic influences and matrices; how did Beebe and Clegg forged their styles, individually and collectively? On the pictorial front this book is also a marvel. Printed in lush duotone and arranged in imaginative chapter groupings, the broad array of photographs displayed within (many previously unpublished) will give aficionados of railroad photography renewed appreciation for the Modernist aesthetics and graphic strategies Beebe and Clegg employed when making their images. Reevy also analyzes their work through a broader societal lens then previously attempted by historians of railroad photography. This book is long overdue. I highly recommend it."—Jeff Brouws, coauthor of, Railroad Vision: Steam Era Images from the Trains Magazine Archives

"Railroad photography as we know it today could not have developed and thrived were it not for Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg. The two are household names for anyone interested in railroads, from the most obscure and destitute short line to the most luxurious and ornate private passenger car. Tony Reevy turns the camera around to bring the two men behind the camera into a sharper focus in this long overdue book."—Jim Wrinn, editor of, Trains Magazine

"Beebe and Clegg were both pioneers in the world of artistic rail enthusiast photography and Tony Reevy is to be commended for telling their unique story so well."—Michigan Railfan

"The book is predominately a photo book which is appropriate since it memorializes Beebe's and Clegg's contribution to the world of railroad photography. Their work has enhanced railfan's enjoyment of the railroad photo book genre immensely.The work of Beebe and Clegg has become legendary and deserves the attention of any serious railfan."—Barry W. Smith, NRHS Bulletin