Chasing Steam in Mexico
How a young American railfan captured the end of steam locomotion in Mexico in the 1950s and ‘60s — and how the country and its people captured his heart.
Stories and Photographs by Frank Barry
In 1959 Frank Barry moved to Mexico to work for the American Friends Service Committee. Fresh out of college, he arrived with a rucksack, a Rolleicord camera, a tripod, and a quest: to visit and photograph every line of the National Railways of Mexico (NdeM) that still ran steam. He spent every weekend and vacation traveling mostly on foot, climbing trees and cliffs to get the right shot, sometimes riding on top of boxcars, or in the engine cab—taking photos and collecting stories. By the end of two years, he had traveled in 26 of Mexico’s 31 states and territories to cover nearly every steam-operated route on the NdeM.
Years later, revisiting his photos for an exhibit at the Johnson Museum of Art, he realized that something had happened while they were sitting quietly in their boxes: They had become historic.
Besides photographing the machines he loved, he had unknowingly captured a way of life that has perhaps otherwise been forgotten.
Two decades after that, in his mid-80s, he and his daughter sat down to curate the photos and stories he collected during that era and put them into a book. Chasing Steam in Mexico, a limited-edition, archival quality hardcover is the result of this effort. The first 11 chapters take place on a division or subdivision of the NdeM; chapter 12 does the same for the United Railways of Yucatan; and chapter 13 covers the small railroads: short lines and industrials. Each chapter begins with a historical map, so the reader can follow along with the author on each of his rides.
Equally as compelling as the 326 photographs in this 368-page heirloom coffee-table book are the tales that go along with them. By turns suspenseful, funny, distressing, informative, remarkable, and heartwarming, his stories chronicle a time when the railroads were a central part of daily life for many people. Included at the end of most chapters are historical notes and a gallery of exceptional images that weren't part of Frank's storytelling.
A story of adventure travel long before it became a trend, this tribute to a lost era will captivate any railfan—and might even convert the nonbeliever.
This book was edited, designed, and produced by Frank’s daughter Rebecca and his son-in-law Tommy Dunne. We are so grateful to have been able to create it together. It is a delight to be able to share it with you.