Right now it seems Penn Station (NYC) is under never ending construction. Well, most of the city feels like that but with Penn Station being home to The Long Island Railroad, Amtrak, NYC Transit, and NJT it’s hard not find myself dodging leaking ceilings, cramped spaces, dust, detours, low ceilings and massive crowds of commuters who are just trying to make their train. Or figuring out where there train is.

Still, in the midst of all this chaos I have always find comfort in it. Call me crazy, or just a New Yorker, but it seems this is just the way of life in the city. Forever trying to improve, expand, and keep up with the times and growing needs of society. Heck, I won’t complain about the improvements to Penn Station, nor the massive East Side Access project that has been going on for decades and has been at a standstill due to funding. However, we are finally seeing it come to life. Yay to that especially for those of us that come into Penn but work on the east side. (Me!) I really have no issue getting on the 1 train and then taking the shuttle but it will be pretty neat to take a train from Jamaica to Grand Central. That project alone has been the topic of discussion in my family for months and weeks. Why? Well because I come from a railroad family and when you do it becomes the topic of your breakfast, lunch and dinner conversations and for it not to be seems foreign!

Being from a railroad family which includes my grandfather, father, uncle and husband almost makes you feel like you work for one as well. You get used to not seeing your father on weekends or holidays, you get use to your husband working nights and overtime shifts, and you get use to driving to all different train station at random hours and days. That’s the life of a railroad wife and daughter.

With that being said it would make sense why I started a very personal train project two years ago using photography and drawing. I found myself snapping photos of The Long Island Railroad, Amtrak, and the NYC Subway almost forgetting that it ran deep in my blood. I guess it’s easy to forget since I grew up with it and have been riding the train for as long as I can remember. It was something I thought everyone did!

Amtrak Acela pulling into Penn Station, NY

Now with two years worth of photos I am starting to put my thoughts together and add some more drawings as well. Last week on my way home from work I was able to get a few drawings and photographs in before catching my train which has been really fun! Sure, I’ve drawn commuters before and the trains but this project has really allowed me to look at it in a different way which is exciting!

Stay tuned for more next week!-Danielle

To see my railroad photography follow my Instagram page.