Rail & Road Auctions is honored to have been chosen to present The Wimmer Collection — a lifetime collection assembled by a well-respected and accomplished railroad professional.
Bill Wimmer devoted his career to the railroad industry, beginning with the Chicago & North Western Railway in 1957 before joining the Union Pacific Railroad in 1974. Over the decades, he rose through the ranks to become one of the industry’s most recognized leaders, serving as Vice President–Engineering and later Vice President–Operations at Union Pacific. In 2007, he was named Railroader of the Year, a rare distinction for a chief engineer and a reflection of the tremendous respect he earned throughout the field.
In retirement, Bill and Judy continued their commitment to railroad preservation by operating a museum south of Omaha, Nebraska, where their passion for railroad history and material culture continued to live on.
Beginning with our April/May 2026 auction, Rail & Road will start offering material from the museum, beginning with large signals, onsite hardware, and other substantial railroad pieces. These initial offerings will mark the start of a series of auctions throughout 2026 featuring items from Bill and Judy’s extraordinary collection.
For collectors, historians, and railroad enthusiasts, this represents a rare opportunity to acquire pieces from a collection formed over a lifetime by a true railroad professional — a man who not only preserved history, but helped shape it.
Rail & Road Auctions is proud to present this important collection and looks forward to bringing The Wimmer Collection to auction in the months ahead.
