Cincinnati Railroad Club

Trains at Night: A Program with Photographer William Gill 🚂🌙 | May 2026
2026-05-07 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45203, United States
Trains at Night: A Program with Photographer William Gill 🚂🌙
About the Program
William Gill will discuss how researching and building scale models for the RPI Model Railroad Club informed his unique process of creating and illuminating full-scale sets within the railroad environment.
About the Artist
William Gill composes hauntingly beautiful scenes by selectively lighting elements where the railroad industry carves through the American landscape. His process is one of patience, often involving hours spent on-site waiting for the perfect train to pass. Gill’s images record the profound impact of transportation on both natural and built environments, challenging and shifting how we perceive these industrial spaces.
A resident of Troy, New York, Gill lives just blocks away from a bustling train yard on the Hudson River, which serves as a constant source of inspiration for his work.
About the meetings
All Cincinnati Railroad Club meetings are held in the Newsreel Theater at Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center and are open to the public at no charge. We’ll begin the evening at 7:30 pm with brief club updates & announcements, followed by our featured program presentation at 8:00 pm. Parking will be validated for attendees parking in the Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center parking lots.
Directions to Newsreel Theater at Union Terminal:
Enter through Union Terminal’s main entrance into the rotunda, turn left toward the Cincinnati History Museum, and the Newsreel Theater doors will be on your left between the escalator and the History Museum. Just look for our club banner outside the door. Again, the meeting begins at 7:30 pm with our featured program starting at 8:00 pm.

June Program: Philip Lind | Mass Transit in Cincinnati, 1859 to 1973
2026-06-04 19:30 - 21:00
About Philip Lind and his program:
Having served 33 years as a Division Director for Cincinnati Metro, this retired transit professional represents a bridge between the city’s operational history and its historical preservation. Their expertise is rooted in 48 years of dedicated research into local mass transportation, a passion that began in the late 1970s and continues to this day.
Since 1978, they have meticulously curated a private archive of photographs and original documents, transforming decades of data into engaging slide programs for the public. Their work provides a comprehensive look at the technological shifts that defined the Queen City, including:
The Early Era: The reliance on horse-drawn streetcars and the engineering marvels of Cincinnati’s famed inclines.
The Age of Rail: The development of cable car systems and the eventual city-wide expansion of the electric streetcar.
The Modern Shift: The transition into the “rubber-tire” era, featuring the unique period of trolley buses and the evolution of the modern motor bus.
Through decades of service and nearly half a century of archival work, they have preserved the visual and operational history of how Cincinnatians have moved through their city.
About the meetings
All Cincinnati Railroad Club meetings are held in the Newsreel Theater at Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center and are open to the public at no charge. We’ll begin the evening at 7:30 pm with brief club updates & announcements, followed by our featured program presentation at 8:00 pm. Parking will be validated for attendees parking in the Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center parking lots.
Directions to Newsreel Theater at Union Terminal:
Enter through Union Terminal’s main entrance into the rotunda, turn left toward the Cincinnati History Museum, and the Newsreel Theater doors will be on your left between the escalator and the History Museum. Just look for our club banner outside the door. Again, the meeting begins at 7:30 pm with our featured program starting at 8:00 pm.

July Program: Steel Rails & Sand Dunes: Railfanning the Indiana Shoreline
2026-07-09 19:30 - 21:00
Prepare for a breathtaking journey through the heart of the Midwest with Steel Rails & Sand Dunes. This Ultra 4K cinematic documentary chronicles Jonathan’s very first railfanning adventure along Indiana’s rugged and scenic shoreline. Accompanied by his father, Kenneth Higgins, Jonathan captures the thunderous power of Norfolk Southern, CSX, Amtrak, and the South Shore Line as they navigate the region’s most iconic locations. From the bustling corridors of Chesterton, Porter, and Willow Creek to the intense action in Griffith, this presentation offers an immersive look at the locomotives and landscapes that define Indiana’s rich rail history. Join this father-son team for an unforgettable exploration of the tracks, signals, and high-stakes atmosphere that make these locations a railfanner’s paradise.
About Jonathan Higgins
With over three decades of hands-on experience in railfanning, radio scanning technology, and digital media, Jonathan Higgins has become a go-to voice for the railfan and scanner communities. As the founder of Train Aficionado and The Scanner Guys, he’s dedicated to producing top-tier educational content and breaking down complex technical gear for fellow hobbyists. Currently serving as President of the Cincinnati Railroad Club, Jonathan leverages his background in broadcasting, digital strategy, and project management to help drive the club’s mission, preserve our rail history, and promote its future.
About the meetings
All Cincinnati Railroad Club meetings are held in the Newsreel Theater at Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center and are open to the public at no charge. We’ll begin the evening at 7:30 pm with brief club updates & announcements, followed by our featured program presentation at 8:00 pm. Parking will be validated for attendees parking in the Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center parking lots.
Directions to Newsreel Theater at Union Terminal:
Enter through Union Terminal’s main entrance into the rotunda, turn left toward the Cincinnati History Museum, and the Newsreel Theater doors will be on your left between the escalator and the History Museum. Just look for our club banner outside the door. Again, the meeting begins at 7:30 pm with our featured program starting at 8:00 pm.

August Program: Danny Harmon - From TV News Producer to Railroad Video Maker
2026-08-06 19:30 - 21:00
Join us for a special evening with Danny Harmon, creator and host of the hit railfan YouTube channel Distant Signal, as he presents his featured program, Danny Harmon – From TV News Producer to Railroad Video Maker. Taking place on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 7:30 PM, this event will be held in person inside the historic Newsreel Theater at the Cincinnati Museum Center. In his presentation, Danny will share how four decades of professional television production experience shaped his cinematic, story-driven approach to tracking operations, signal technology, and railroad history. Please note that this is an in-person exclusive event and will not be available to view on YouTube until later in the year, so be sure to join us live! The program is free and open to the public—bring a friend and enjoy an engaging night of trackside storytelling.
About Danny Harmon & Distant Signal
The Speaker
Born and raised in Florida, Danny Harmon spent 40 years as a professional broadcast voiceover artist and station announcer, most notably for FOX 13 (WTVT) in Tampa Bay. Over four decades behind the microphone and in production suites, he honed a polished, easygoing narration style and a deep understanding of visual storytelling. A lifelong railfan, Danny turned his passion for trains and his professional media background into a second career as one of the railfan community’s most respected digital content creators.
The YouTube Channel
Launched in 2006, Distant Signal has grown into a premier railfanning channel with over 168,000 subscribers. The channel focuses on freight and passenger railroad operations, historical line profiles, and signal technology across Florida and the eastern United States. Recognized for high-definition field footage, smooth drone perspectives, and informative historical context, Distant Signal brings trackside railroading to life with the production quality of a network broadcast.
About the meetings
All Cincinnati Railroad Club meetings are held in the Newsreel Theater at Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center and are open to the public at no charge. We’ll begin the evening at 7:30 pm with brief club updates & announcements, followed by our featured program presentation at 8:00 pm. Parking will be validated for attendees parking in the Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center parking lots.
Directions to Newsreel Theater at Union Terminal:
Enter through Union Terminal’s main entrance into the rotunda, turn left toward the Cincinnati History Museum, and the Newsreel Theater doors will be on your left between the escalator and the History Museum. Just look for our club banner outside the door. Again, the meeting begins at 7:30 pm with our featured program starting at 8:00 pm.

September Program: Train Aficionado Presents: Pardon Me, Boys: From Chattanooga Rails to the National Train Show
2026-09-03 19:30 - 21:00
Join us for our upcoming September member meeting as Cincinnati Railroad Club President Jonathan Higgins takes the stage to share highlights from his August railfanning trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee, along with footage from the 2026 NMRA National Train Show.
Presented in crisp 4K resolution, this exclusive video showcase brings the sights and sounds of regional railroading to the big screen inside the historic Newsreel Theater at Cincinnati Union Terminal. Attendees will get an immersive look at active rail lines, local yards, and key moments from one of the year’s premier model railroad conventions.
About the Presenter: Jonathan Higgins is a lifelong railfan, photographer, videographer, and the creator behind Train Aficionado—a platform dedicated to documenting active rail lines, historic architecture, and the rich history of American railroading.
About the meetings
All Cincinnati Railroad Club meetings are held in the Newsreel Theater at Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center and are open to the public at no charge. We’ll begin the evening at 7:30 pm with brief club updates & announcements, followed by our featured program presentation at 8:00 pm. Parking will be validated for attendees parking in the Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center parking lots.
Directions to Newsreel Theater at Union Terminal:
Enter through Union Terminal’s main entrance into the rotunda, turn left toward the Cincinnati History Museum, and the Newsreel Theater doors will be on your left between the escalator and the History Museum. Just look for our club banner outside the door. Again, the meeting begins at 7:30 pm with our featured program starting at 8:00 pm.
