Rail Themed Photography Exhibit

Glencoe Mansion, Museum & Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of its new gallery exhibit “Mountain Rail Tails” featuring photography by Dale R. Carlson of Bluemoonistic Images. The exhibit will be on display from June 4 through August 29.

All across the Appalachian Mountains, culture has been influenced by railroads. These iron rails created new communities like Radford, allowed new industries to flourish, and provided convenient transportation for residents. When the railroads ceased all passenger service in this region in the 60s and 70s, many depots were abandoned and the rails were removed. Many of these localities then struggled to find a new identity.

Fast forward to today and many of those same communities have implemented creative ways to reutilize their railroad heritage to benefit their local economies. Former depots and train cars have been restored and reutilized. Old rail beds have been replaced with “rails to trails” permitting hiking and biking where it was not possible before. “Mountain Rail Tails” explores these revitalized aspects of our rail heritage through imagery, evoking its former and current power.

Photographer Dale R. Carlson grew up in the waning days of passenger rail service and retained a strong fondness for that mode of travel with its terminals, passenger cars and their rumble over the rails. Carlson, originally from the Midwest, has practiced his passion for photography for over 40 years in both his professional and artistic careers.

When Carlson and his wife Becky moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains, his photography shifted to focus on this region. His works have been featured in numerous publications, including Western North Carolina (WNC) and Blue Ridge Country magazines. Carlson and his wife Becky founded their photography business, Bluemoonistic Images in 2008 in order to offer his fine art photography on-line.

Everyone is welcome to visit the museum. There is no admission charge. “Mountain Rail Tails” will be on display through August 29.