The Industrial Archives & Library in Bethlehem is the recipient of a donation of the photographic and film work of the late Michael A. Eagleson, a world-renowned railroad photographer and author.

Eagleson’s unique collection spans more than 60 years and is noteworthy in that it helps document the fading of the steam locomotive from the American railroad scene, and eventually that same gradual surrender to more modern locomotive technologies around the world.

Born in 1943, Eagleson took his first railroad photo, at age 11, of a New Haven electric locomotive. By the age of 15, he had been firmly bitten by the steam bug, having witnessed its waning days on the mainline in his childhood home in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.

From then until the end of his life in 2022, Eagleson made it his mission to photograph as many steam locomotives as possible, venturing to over 77 countries, often employing a rig that allowed him to shoot color slides, large format negatives and movies, all at the same time.

It should come as no surprise that he would own his own steam locomotive, with several partners, restoring it in Northampton.

Trained in graphic design at New York’s Parsons School of Design, Eagleson established his own graphics firm, The Corporate Image, which did major work for many of New Jersey’s premier pharmaceutical companies.

In addition to Eagleson’s professional career, he wrote a column for Railroad Magazine entitled “In Search of Steam,” which told readers worldwide about the history of steam locomotives. During college, he worked as an agent for the Erie Lackawanna, and later as a fireman on the Central Railroad of New Jersey. His interest in trains was even extended to briefly working for Lionel Corporation.

Eagleson is survived by his wife, Florence, and his daughter, Catherine.

“It is through their generosity and desire to share his works with researchers and historians that this one-of-a-kind collection now has a permanent home here in Bethlehem, Pa.,” said Stephen G. Donches, president and CEO of the Industrial Archives & Library. “We are very honored to care for this incredible collection and to be able to preserve the amazing visual legacy of Mike Eagleson for future generations.”

Nick Zmijewski, archivist at IAL, noted the high quality of Eagleson’s work.

“When I initially heard that Mike’s collection needed a temporary home after his passing while the family decided its future, we volunteered to store it at IAL as the significance and quality of his work is widely known in the railroad enthusiast community. Having now gone through a small fraction of the collection as a pilot project, the quality of Eagleson’s work is incredibly high and we look forward to making the material accessible to the wider public.

“While Eagleson was primarily known for his steam work, there are also numerous examples of quality photographs in the collection that were taken during his time working for the Erie Lackawanna and the Jersey Central that show operations during those times as well. We also already have had several requests for Mike’s work from authors that knew him over the years and for materials that dovetail with our other collections, such as his photos taken of Blue Coal’s operations at Wanamie, Pa.”

For more information the Industrial Archives & Library, visit https://industrialarchives.org/.