I am a railroad artist, designer and writer. I am also an advocate for freight & passenger railroads and use my drawings and writing to share the message of “why we need trains” in books & booklets for the public. I share my message when I travel on Amtrak, visit railroad events and on my social media sites. On my social media sites: Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook you can find my railroad posts with the hashtag #WhyWeNeedTrains
As a artist and designer I have worked with Class 1 and short line & regional railroads for over 25 years. My designs and drawings inspired the Burlington Northern SD70 ExecutiveMAC green & cream paint scheme and the Norfolk Southern Heritage engines. I recently did the drawings for the GATX 2018 Holiday Card and the artwork of Mexico’s railroads for posters for AMF’s annual conventions in 2017 and 2018 (La Asociación Mexicana de Ferrocarriles). My drawings of historic passenger trains that served the St. Louis Union Station hang in the guest rooms & suites of the St. Louis Union Station Hotel.
My railroad drawings are available in posters, matted prints, magnets, books & booklets. They make great gifts for visiting dignitaries, railroad special events and safety awards. I have been drawing trains by hand for over 30 years and the collection includes steam, electric, diesel, traction & rolling stock. Magnets made from my drawings are enjoyed by railfans of all ages and many have built their favorite trains on their refrigerators and file cabinets keeping the railroad’s image as part of their daily vision. You can visit my website CustomTrains.org and email me questions about drawing your equipment.
In the Fall of 2012, I visited with Mr. Klinger, my junior high art teacher, to thank him for encouraging me to draw trains. I gave him a copy of "Trains Magazine" with the story of how my train drawings were the inspiration for the Norfolk Southern's 30th Anniversary 20 heritage engines. Their paint schemes reflect 20 railroads that merged to form today's Norfolk Southern. These engines have traveled through many states including California on Union Pacific & BNSF trains.
Andy attended Railroad Day on the Hill, May 8, 2019 to share his book, "The ABC's of America's Short Line & Regional Railroads" and his booklet "Why We Need Trains with members of Congress and fellow railroad attendees. #WhyWeNeedTrains
My early years.
Andy Fletcher and fellow railroad attendees in Senator Hoeven, North Dakota office for a meeting, Washington D.C. May 8, 2019.
Andy Fletcher is a railroad artist and designer and has hand drawn 4,000 + railroad trains including locomotives, rolling stock, cabooses. Find your favorite railroads & railroad museums in posters, matted prints, magnets, books, booklets & more on his website https://www.customtrains.org . Andy has drawn trains for over 30 years. #AndyFletcherTrains #WhyWeNeedTrains
Age 3 painting at Davis Parent Nursery School
Andy Fletcher, Washington D.C. May 8, 2019
The Norfolk Southern Heritage Project
Meet Andy Fletcher, Railroad Artist
Age 17, with some of my first locomotive drawings that became part of my first book, "The ABC's of America's Railroads".
Andy often travels on Amtrak sharing his drawings with crew and passengers. Shown here is an original drawing of an Amtrak P42DC engine he gave to the conductor on a trip on the California Zephyr. He also gives out postcards, stickers, books & booklets to fellow passengers. Click on the photo above to view more of Andy's Amtrak drawings.
Andy Fletcher, Rayburn House of Representatives break room, Washington D.C. May 8, 2019
Traveling on Amtrak's Coast Starlight he stopped in Eugene, OR to meet friends and share "The ABC's of America's Railroads"
Andy Fletcher is the designer of the Norfolk Southern Heritage engines. Click on the photo above of Andy speaking at the 2012 Norfolk Southern Heritage event in Spencer, NC or on the 11"x17" poster of the 20 Norfolk Southern Heritage engines to see more of his drawings of the heritage engines and the historic railroad locomotives that inspired him to draw the engines. Andy is writing a booklet about these drawings and it will be available in late 2019. Did you attend the event in Spencer or have you railfanned the engines or do you model them?
Traveling across America to railroad events and sharing my train drawings
My hometown is Davis, CA. I attended Davis Parent Nursery School where I loved spending time at the easels painting.
At Holmes Junior High School I was lucky to have Mr. Alan Klinger for Art. He encouraged me to draw the trains I loved photographing. These early drawings lead me to a life of drawing trains for freight railroads, Amtrak, regional railroads and railroad museum equipment. At 17 my mom encouraged me to write and illustrate my first book with 60 of my early drawings.
I am so very grateful to have traveled to all 50 states, and through my drawings I have been very fortunate to meet railroad Presidents & CEOs and railroaders.
Photo by Jerry Jordak