One of my very best friends who, while not a train head, has been really enjoying the progress on my layout, sent us a Chirstmas Card this year with this painting on the cover.
He told me he found it in a box of cards his wife had on hand. Wish I could find a source for these.
What a nice card! Thanks for sharing it with us, Frank!
Kinda tough to read the signature on the card, but it definitely looks like Angela Trotta Thomas’ artwork. If that’s the case, you can see some more of them here. Don’t see that particular card there, though.
Regards,
Clint
How did I know Clnt would show up in this thread? You are correct regarding the artist. On the back it states Lionel is a registered trademark of Lionel Trains (which tells me this is an old card) and is used with permission.
It is a Angel Trotta Thomas and it is a great painting. Most of her paintings have people in the scene. This is one of the few that does not, just the train. The title of the painting is Sentimental Journey. I don’t know how old it is, but she is still selling prints of it on her web site. http://www.angelatrottathomas.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?
There are some neat old car painting, too.
Found this on her website - nice: 
I’ve given thought to finding a way to make some money (to buy more trains) in this hobby. One idea would be to do paintings along the lines of A. T. Thomas, but in my own style. Every time I see one of her paintings, I ask myself why I’m not doing it. Another is to paint backgrounds for layouts. I could combine 2 of my favorite hobbies, trains and painting, and maybe make a little butter and egg money on the side.
Jim
Angela has been a (probably the) most prolific toy train artist for some years now. She has done commissioned work for Neil Young, Dick Kughn, and a number of other prominent figures in the hobby and beyond, and has provided covers for CTT, as well. I believe I even used one of her drawings with the column I used to write for the former “Vintage Rails” magazine.
I have several of her prints, and personally tend to prefer the ones that do not include people because they rekindle memories of my early years with Lionel trains, or reinforce the dreams and fantasies harbored in my current involvement.
She’s a great lady, and along with her hubby can be met and easily chatted with at every York meet. If you haven’t yet taken the time to introduce yourself to her at York, be sure to do so in the spring.
She will also do personalized commissioned work for any train nut who has a photograph–or just a memory–they would like to re-create as artwork.
I think I might make tracks up north then next year.
That is a really nice picture.
I got one from some nut in Florida whose name I will not mention. [;)] Thanks