Behind The Scenes Trains LIVE Trains LIVE — Along the rails with JDI

Trains LIVE — Along the rails with JDI

By Bob Lettenberger | April 19, 2024

A conversation about J. David Ingles, 'Trains' editor and railroad photographer

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Trains LIVE — Along the rails with JDI — 4-18-2024 — J. David Ingles — “Diesel Dave” — is among eight people to serve as editor of Trains. He was a member of the Kalmbach staff for 47 years, 1971 to 2018, when he transitioned to working as a contributing editor. Ingles was a prolific railroad photographer, shooting both 35mm color slides along with 8mm and 16mm video. In his career he shot thousands of images all across the United States, capturing railroading from all angles. This imagery, combined with his in-depth, descriptive writing, took readers inside railroad as steam locomotives gasped their last and diesel power took hold for good.

35mm slide of J. David Ingles. Trains LIVE — Along the rails with JDI
J. David Ingles doing what he liked best — exploring railroads.

Today we chat with Brian Schmidt, editor of Classic Trains, about JDI and his work as it appears in a new book — Along the Rails with JDI. Schmidt worked with Ingles for many years on the staff of Trains. Our discussion ranges from Ingles infectious passion for trains to his talents as a journalist and how he shared both with anyone willing to listen and learn.

Watch some of JDI’s 8mm railroad films on Trains.com:

Order your copy of Along the Rails with J. David Ingles here.

Come along as Trains LIVE goes along the rails with JDI.


Trains LIVE is a regular video program, recorded live and unscripted from Kalmbach Media. The series began in July 2022.

Trains LIVE features Bob Lettenberger, Trains associate editor, Kalmbach Media staff, and guests talking about railroads and trains in a casual, behind-the-scenes format. On Trains LIVE we will ask the questions you would like to ask and take you into places normally not open to the public. Trains LIVE also takes you on the road to museums, trackside locations and other railroad-related venues.

You can watch and listen to new episodes every other Friday at 2 p.m. Central time. Trains LIVE is now available as a podcast and in full video versions. The podcast can be found on RSS.com, Apple Podcasts, and Listen Notes. The full video version is a membership benefit for Trains.com Unlimited members.

If you have questions or comments, please log-in and leave a comment in the area at the bottom of the page. We will attempt to answer questions during future episodes.

All aboard! It’s time for Trains LIVE!

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