I was not at all excited to go back to work after eleven days off over the holidays. Aside from getting my blog caught up through the end of the month, it felt like I didn’t get anything accomplished! Still, with temperatures expected to plummet, the first thing I did once back in the office was throw my coat back on and head out to the rail yard to explore. Welcome to another edition of railcar spotting!
I feel like I repeat myself when railcar spotting rolls around. Nevertheless, here’s the scoop: I work at a plastics factory where most of our materials arrive by rail. Every month, I explore the yard to find the most interesting graffiti and share my top picks. With three spurs connecting to the old Big Four Michigan Line, our yard can hold up to 60 cars at once. If everything’s running on schedule, we get fresh arrivals twice a week. KESO! was the first of a slate of very colorful cars I found.
I can’t tell what this aging tag purports to say. It might be something horribly offensive! I’m sure cars like that have slipped through the cracks in my monthly chronicles. If they have, it’s been an honest mistake. I try to focus on the artistry, not any insults. That said, graffiti on railcars is an unpredictable mix of creativity and chaos. What fascinates me most is how some pieces endure through time. Layers of paint, rust, and dirt combine to create an accidental tapestry.
Next up was SALE, a tag that immediately caught my eye. Its vibrant blues and stark whites created a striking contrast that made it pop out from the dull surface of the railcar. The execution was crisp, with clean lines and sharp edges that suggested the work of a practiced hand or a particularly-effective stencil. I love stumbled across such clean, precise pieces!
There’s a place for the dirty ones, too, though. Just like the second tag I shared, this MARG SWEATY piece has been afflicted by some patina and wear. Even when messages are unclear -or better left unread- some still hold a strange kind of history. As someone who documents these pieces recreationally, I’ve come to accept that every car tells its own story. Sometimes, they’re a messy, layered reflection of countless hands, talents, and intentions over who knows how many years.
I stood and pondered the translation of this bright piece with an eighties-style gradient out in the cold. After a cigarette, all I could confidently make out were the last two letters: Z and E. The rest was a blur of possibilities. Was there a K tucked in the middle? Maybe a capital I lurking somewhere in between? I have no idea. Nevertheless, I loved the angular letters and blended colors. They reminded me of the ASIA logo!
The PaBLO car was the last one I found worth a picture. Purple’s my favorite color, and I was instantly drawn to the piece, along with its vibrant mix of red, blue, and turquoise.Last-minute finds like PaBLO are exactly why I venture into the rail yard every month. There’s something thrilling about stumbling across a standout piece just when you think the hunt is over! It’s a reminder that even in the most mundane corners, creativity can surprise you. So far, I’ve shared 132 tags. Together, they form a vivid, ever-changing gallery on wheels.
