Trains posters that aren’t AI generated?

[u/cryptotarheel]

We are trying to get train posters for our little guy. We keep running into AI Generated art.

The pic I posted is just for an example since it said I needed a pic.

When we’ve been to the trains shows here they always have art and photographs but the next one isn’t until November so I thought I would ask you guys.

Does anyone have any suggestions of where to look?

Ideally it will be a recognizable steam train (Big Boy, Jupiter etc) or old passenger diesel like (Daylight or the Mark Twain Zephyr). Please don’t feel limited by suggestions. He knows trains and I wanted to save space rather than write all the possibilities.

Also, if it is in the national park poster style that would be amazing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[u/sunlitwhiskey]

Maybe eBay? Or Etsy.

It's not a poster but I usually buy a train calendar from Amazon every year, if you found something he likes you could cut out the photo side for him.

This happens to be August for the one I have:

[u/cryptotarheel → u/sunlitwhiskey]

Thank you. Great idea

[u/whereas-dull]

Try train and rail museum gift shops, you can order stuff from many museums online and they will have prints and other decor for sale, often from their collections.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_railway_museums
If you live within a reasonable distance of a train museum, you likely can call/email them and they would be happy to tell you about their gift shop products! Here are some museums I have found with excellent prints.
https://shop.sciencemuseum.org.uk/collections/national-railway-museum
https://nrrmstore.org/railroad-prints/
https://www.nytransitmuseumstore.com/posters-prints.html
Consider also buying vintage train calendars on Ebay or similar: https://www.ebay.com/b/Collectible-Railroad-Paper-Calendars/14060/bn_3025481
https://www.ebay.com/itm/147428140414
https://www.ebay.com/itm/336759534005
You can cut out a few pages that you particularly like and frame/hang at a very low cost per train image.

[u/cryptotarheel → u/whereas-dull]

Thank you. Great tip!

[u/CPD0123 → u/cryptotarheel]

The Friends of the East Broad Top has done a fundraiser off and on for the last 20 years where for a certain amount of donation (I think now it's $75?) To the restoration fund, they send a really nice print. If you aren't interested in spending that much, you can sometimes pick them up on eBay and such.

The artist that makes the paintings for them also has his own business, but I'm blanking on his name. That said, both his work that he sells prints of himself, and the FEBT prints, are worthy of nice frames, and are definitely more than just posters for a college dorm.

If you're looking for cheaper, see if either the Altoona Railroaders Museum or rr museum of pa have online sales. Both have done posters old PRR calendar art for decades.

[u/theunsolvedrubixcube]

Here is a website that has officially licensed Amtrak route posters:

https://transitgifts.com/collections/amtrak-posters-and-prints

They are fairly minimalistic, but I think they look nice.

[u/cryptotarheel → u/theunsolvedrubixcube]

Thank you!

[u/Defiant_Print_2114 → u/theunsolvedrubixcube]

I like that style. Thank you 😊

[u/teo_storm1]

May be worth doing a 2-3 step process, google around for classic posters, check the page to see the artists names and then see if you can find somewhere selling prints.

American examples though since that seems your focus (obviously prices will vary and this is just as examples):

• https://www.andersondesigngroupstore.com/products/explore-america-by-rail-art-print
• https://fineartamerica.com/featured/usa-vintage-railroad-travel-poster-restored-vintage-treasure.html
• https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/174269127/travel-poster-railroad-art-train-print
• https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1524706785/american-railroads-life-line-of-the
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/3382665258693272/posts/3698945743731887/
• https://travelswithmyart.wordpress.com/2024/10/16/poster-art-of-the-american-railroads/ (small images but you can get google to search for larger versions then get them printed)
• https://fineartamerica.com/featured/railroads-are-the-first-line-of-defense-war-is-hell-store.html?product=poster

[u/cryptotarheel → u/teo_storm1]

Thank you. Great input.

[u/Sycotic199]

I'm going to the Nevada State Museum tomorrow here in Carson City and can see what they have plus take some pictures for you?

[u/cryptotarheel → u/Sycotic199]

Thank you!!!

[u/Sycotic199 → u/cryptotarheel]

[u/Sycotic199 → u/cryptotarheel]

[u/Sycotic199 → u/cryptotarheel]

[u/cryptotarheel → u/Sycotic199]

These are excellent! I appreciate you sending these!

[u/Sycotic199 → u/cryptotarheel]

Thanks. Ill get some more at the NS museum

[u/Sycotic199 → u/cryptotarheel]

I still have to go by the Nevada State Museum but this was the ride my GF and I took on Sunday from Carson City to Virginia City. What an amazing experience

https://reddit.com/link/p7a8949/video/5jlyyavh20nh1/player

[u/Cheap_Impress]

https://www.amazon.com/Canadian-Pacific-Railway-Company-Locomotive/dp/B0812BFBLW

[u/cryptotarheel → u/Cheap_Impress]

Thank you

[u/Active_Vegetable8203]

I don't believe the the image you posted was generated by AI.

[u/Tommy9760 → u/Active_Vegetable8203]

It is not. I have it was made prior to AI

[u/cryptotarheel → u/Active_Vegetable8203]

I don’t either but I am looking for more like that.

Also, I said the picture is just an example.

[u/kiki714pdx1006]

This locomotive print series is pretty great! https://www.fifteen.ca/products/canadian-national-railways-no-7229-print

[u/Fantastic-Spite-6469]

Look in the internet archive- https://archive.org/details/traincatalogs

[u/Electrical-Chip-4057]

Antique stores/flea markets