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Traffic in and out of our rail yard at work is finally slowing down as we approach our year-end shutdown. I figured our decreasing shipments would lead to a dormant month of railcar spotting, but December has proven to be the most colorful on record. I’m glad it was enough to supply the last monthly edition of railcar spotting for 2023! 

If you’re new here, let me explain this monthly series. I work at a factory that makes plastic pellets that get melted into car parts and home appliances. We get a lot of our raw materials from rail, and I take photos of the best graffiti I see as I walk back to my office. Nearly all of the cars are tagged, but most look like the simple scrawls I’ve pictured above.

Every now and then, we receive a car with graffiti that some reprobate put a bit of thought into. Counting today’s, I’ve featured thirty-nine out of sixty cars I’ve taken photos of! That’s a fraction of what my plant receives, but it’s enough to make this a recurring feature.

My blogging friend Jim Grey publishes a monthly series where he documents old cars found parked. I’ve always liked automobiles and I grew up in that great era of kitschy retro throwbacks like the New Beetle. I don’t know why I’ve never really felt compelled to write about them, but finding graffiti on the railcars parked at our yard isn’t much different than finding old cars parked in, say, Bean Blossom. Thanks for the inspiration, Jim!

I fancy myself a bit of an artist, but I’ve never added to the collection of art myself. I’ve stood in admiration of those who have for months, but I only got the idea to take photos of the most impressive cars in May. I wish I could provide some commentary on the merits of each piece, but I don’t know anything about graffiti or the artists who paint it.

When it comes to the cars I see, just call me Potter Stewart. I don’t have any credibility when it comes to critiquing graffiti, but I know the good stuff when I see it. As always, it’s an honest mistake I’ve inadvertently shared something offensive.

I started this blog to focus on local history and other interests, but it’s been a lot of fun to compare and contrast each piece as they’ve arrived. I’ll revisit my favorites from 2023 sometime after Christmas! I expect a ton of new cars in January, when Railcar Spotting will start anew.