Buy Chasing Steam in Mexico

The Story:

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 saw things he hadn’t noticed before: women wearing rebozos with children on their backs; a campesino with his burro alongside the tracks; a little boy riding an engine being turned by hand like a merry-go-round.

He realized that something had happened while his photos 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. 

Each of the first 11 chapters of "Chasing Steam" consists of a collection of stories that took 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 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 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 is the kind of book that will captivate any true railfan—and might even convert the nonbeliever.

The book is $89.25 including shipping and handling in the US.

We also have a pay-what-you-can option where you can pay anything from $50 to $80.

We know the world is a wild place right now and money is tight for lots of folks and we want to make the book as affordable as we can. Please don't hesitate to hit the pay-what-you-can if it makes things easier for you!

If you'd like to have it shipped internationally, the price goes up significantly depending on where it is going. You can contact Rebecca directly at rebecca@rebeccabarry.net for a quote. (Please add the shipping cost to your pay-what-you-can option.) If you'd prefer to send a check, you can write to the same email for details.

Thank you so much for your interest in Frank’s work. This book has been a meaningful project for our family, and we are so excited to share it with you.

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FRANK BARRY PHOTOGRAPHY

From the time he was 7 years old, Frank Barry has been chasing and photographing trains. His work has appeared in over 90 publications, including Trains, Classic Trains, The Washington Post Magazine, and 100 Greatest Rail Photos. Chasing Steam in Mexico is his second book. For information on his first book, The Last Winter, see below.

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THE LAST WINTER

This striking collection of photos by rail photographer Frank Barry features pictures taken in Chama, New Mexico, in the winter of 1963-64. It was the last time that steam engines hauled cargo long distance year-round in the U.S.

The book includes stories by the photographer about where and how each picture was taken. It was edited, designed and produced by Frank’s daughter Rebecca and his son-in-law Tommy, with a forward written by his wife Barbara.

Read a full review of the book in Classic Trains here.

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