The Rail and Road spring auction, scheduled for April 18th, 2020, will feature some of Angela Trotta Thomas’s most famous works presented to Rail & Road Auctions by the estate of Richard Kughn the former owner of Lionel Trains Inc. from his personal collection. Some are limited edition and even serial #1. Kughn’s collection will be split; the first portion being featured at the spring auction and the second half being available later at the fall 2020 event.

“We are honored to have been selected to bring this once in a lifetime collection of art to market,” commented Derek Thomas, President of Rail & Road. “Richard Kughn is a legend in the hobby of model railroading and his leadership guided Lionel Trains Inc. into the modern era of collecting with a true vision for what model railroading could be. His collection of original art from Angela Trotta Thomas includes many of her most iconic works which truly capture the spirit of Lionel Trains.”

Angela has been a realist painter since receiving a Master’s degree in Art from Marywood University, Scranton PA. She was enrolled in their famed “Get Your Master’s with the Masters” program.

Only artist ever licensed by Lionel Trains LLC.

She has been painting Lionel trains for almost 30 years. Her main focus in her paintings has been about traditions being passed down for many generations to come. Angela’s paintings have always revolved around the child’s part in these traditions. Lionel trains are truly a part of the American fabric, and she is captivated by these cherished toys and the traditions they have inspired in generations of children.

“ I am most interested in the emotional attachment that the child has for their treasures and the traditions that they have forged. I strive to capture a dreamlike state with my paint application so viewing the paintings can take the viewer to another time and place.”

Many of these paintings are featured in a coffee table book released in 2015 entitled:

“Painting an American Icon, The Lionel Train Art of Angela Trotta Thomas.

Robert L Hunt is a professional oil painter who uses a master’s touch with light and an eloquent and rich portrayal of subjects to bring historical subjects of yesteryear to life in a very authentic way. He encompasses a range of subjects including the Woodland Indians of Colonial America, the American Civil War, and early American explorers and woodsmen. Some of this work hangs in the White House and other National Park Service displays.

The Congressional passenger train running between New York and Washington on the Northeast Corridor is pulled for the last time by a Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 electric in silver paint, and passes up a freight drag headed by a more modern E44 locomotive. – Robert L. Hunt “Last Run in Silver Paint” 17″ x 40″

However, Hunt is one of the foremost railroad artists in the United States today and his work hangs in many private collections across the country. His railroad and street car oil paintings focus mainly on the history of American railroading with a clear sense of time and place, be it a New England landscape setting, Appalachian Mountain steam railroading from the 1950’s in coal country, or Santa Fe passenger diesels in the southwestern desert.

As a realist oil painter, close attention to detail is always present in the art. Moving creatively beyond just the technical and mechanical accuracy in his railroading subjects, Hunt consistently renders artwork showing the romance and interweaving of railroading though the American culture and history.

Life in America would not be the same without its railroads, which has been emphasized for Hunt by living most of his life in one of the East’s largest railroad towns, Altoona, Pennsylvania. The city was the mechanical heart of the Pennsylvania Railroad for more than a century and today continues as a large locomotive manufacturing and maintenance shop. It is that ongoing history that runs through Hunt’s art work.

Andy Dierks, January 2013

Eric Smith is a Southern California native and career railroader. His passion for railroading has spilled over into his art. Eric has no formal training but honed his skills on theatre sets and model railroad backdrops before moving to acrylic paintings. His appreciation for the golden era of Southern California railroading inspires him to recreate the era that he missed. Eric strives to share the lore and romance of the Southern California railroads of that time, drawing from the stories of his co workers that lived it first hand, to the well documented history available thanks to the railfans of that era.

Born in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles, California, Keith Batcheller grew up admiring the images of the Southwest, the Old West and the native peoples of America. His early Is of art led him to study at the prestigious Art Center College of Design where he earned a B.F.A. with honors. Later selected by the Art Center to attend post graduate courses in Connecticut, Keith studied with some of the country’s most acclaimed artists including Bob Peak, Mark English, Bernie Fuchs and Bob Heindel.
Keith began his professional career in New York City as an illustrator, and for the following thirty years he worked for major clients in New York, Chicago and the West Coast creating paintings used in the fields of advertising, publishing and the movie industry. He has done a significant amount of very recognizable work for Walt Disney Productions including movie posters for Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast, and Lilo and Stitch, just to mention a few.
He now devotes time and energy to his true passion: painting western scenes and the variety of people who lived in bygone eras, as well as those who live in the contemporary west. Keith enjoys working mostly in oils on canvas using a style known as “Painterly Realism.” Telling a story and conveying a sense of emotion through each painting is Keith’s goal-one which provides enduring enjoyment for all who see his work. Keith has been honored with many accolades and awards in his career including the “Gold Medal” for Be. Oil Painting at the 37th Annual San Dirnas Festival of Art and last year he won the Peoples Choice Award at the 28th Annual Cattlemens Western Art show in Paso Robles CA.

David Snyder started drawing cars, airplanes and trains at the age of six. His passion for transportation history continues today.

David graduated from Central Academy of Commercial Art in Cincinnati, Ohio. A successful career in advertising as a designer, art director and illustrator left him yearning to paint the transportation history he remembered from his youth. The artistry of the automobile never escaped his attention.

David’s art portrays memories of growing up with cars from the ’50’s through the American Muscle era. He takes you down memory lane inviting you to “step right in” to his paintings and visit the past. The period architecture, signage, oil cans in the garage bay – no detail is too small-are all a part of his passion. Known for fidelity of detail he spends countless hours on research before beginning a painting.

He has self-published over 100 limited edition prints; 50 of which are sold out. Snyder’s paintings and prints are collected worldwide and has received numerous awards.

David was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He lives in Milford, Ohio with his wife and business partner Marion. They have two daughters and two grandsons who are budding “car guys.”

From The Society of American Railway Artists;
“C.L. Smith was raised in a railway family with close ties to coal and iron mining. As a result, he is familiar with mainline steam and first generation diesels. He witnessed first-hand America’s heavy industries at work. His style of painting incorporates the great industrial illustrators Walter Greene and William H. Foster, and the subtlety of Terence Cuneo. Limited commissions are accepted.”

Mr. Smith can be reached via email at CLStransart@aol.com

Florida native Carel Luis has had a love for trains since he the moment he spoke his first words. In fact, his first word was train.
By school age, He learned that he had a love for art, and it wasn’t long before instead of doing schoolwork he was honing his skills to the displeasure of his teachers. At the age of 9 his mom encouraged his budding talent by getting him lessons with a local Florida artist. Carel quickly discovered the world of oil painting and by High School transitioned to Acrylics.
Carel, over time has mastered his own style of what he calls, “Bold realism”. This style employs realism within your face colors, almost expressing childlike crayon inspired works of his youth. He does do more than railroad art, touching on subjects ranging from human portraits, birds and cartoon stylings.
You can reach the artist at cjwilli78@yahoo.com