If you live anywhere in America near a railroad, you have seen it. Railroad Boxcar Graffiti. Sitting at a 
railroad crossing, as you are thinking about how late you are going to be for your next appointment, as the train rumbles by, on and on displaying a kaleidoscope of intricate graffiti. 
It is so common place; you may not even notice it. Railroad Boxcar Graffiti, whether you call it art or vandalism, is as common a sight today on almost any passing train as boxcars themselves. I have long been fascinated with railroad graffiti.
Up until recently I have not really had the right camera to capture images to write about, usually due to not having a fast enough camera and zoom. It is not easy to photograph railroad graffiti, as the trains are moving, there is traffic and objects that get in your way, and there are restrictions on how close you can get to a railroad. Ths shots I take are usually from my car while waiting at a crossing.
The origins of railroad boxcar graffiti apparently started with the railroad workers themselves, sending messages back and forth on the trains. Usually the messages were markings or notations about what freight was packed in what cars, where it was positioned, etc. Sometimes it also marked location of loading.
As time went on, hobos, who traveled the trains would leave marks for other hobos, and send messages back and forth. Sometimes this was a language all in itself. Hobos 
frequented regions of a country, usually following the various harvests, and passed their information back and forth on the trains.
In modern day, Railroad Boxcar Graffiti has evolved into more of a modern art form, varying from simple line drawings to intricate signature masterpieces. Sometimes forming words, and other times just detailed symbols and letters.
Each ‘graffitist' appears to want to create their own style, and selects a new location apart
from another graffitist. I have also noticed that for the most part, each graffitist seems to respect the work of others, and does not defile or blemish the others with their new creation in most cases.
I have also noticed that they seldom, if at all, seem to use profanity. At least I have not photographed any in my area, which is Battle Creek, Michigan which receives trains from Chicago and Detroit. I am a local Realtor in the area, and frequently am on the road, where I occasionally find myself waiting for a train, which anyone is bound to do living in Battle Creek.
The railroad companies for the most part regard graffiti as vandalism, but each has different ways of addressing it. Sometimes they paint over the entire car when it is not in 
service, other times they paint over portions. It seems many have a company policy of at least painting back on the federally required reporting marks that trains are required to have.
Those that paint these detailed graffiti works often do so in the dark of a railway yard in some distant city, utilizing the boxcar as their ultimate canvas. If you thin
k about it, graffiti on a wall is seen by only those that pass by in that location, but graffiti on a train is seen by millions all over the country.
The railroads have become a form of modern art, or ‘moving exhibition' as unusual as it is. Sprung out of the imagination of some clandestine artist with a paint brush, air brush or spray can and stencil, these often multicolored depictions cut a swatch through every community in America.
Of course there is always the great debate as to whether you see this as art, or vandalism. One could easily wage a sound argument on each side. I am not sure I want to debate it, much less be in a position to moderate a debate on it. Take some time to study these pictures, and tell me want you think...
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