08/07/2026
We at CRP&A are delighted to announce that Justin Franz will join our staff on October 1 in the new role of editorial associate, supporting our quarterly magazine Railroad Heritage, books, website, and additional publication projects.
Justin holds a degree in journalism from the University of Montana and brings more than a decade of professional journalism experience to the Center, most recently serving as associate editor of Railfan & Railroad and Railroad Model Craftsman magazines. Before that, he was a reporter at the Flathead Beacon in Kalispell, Montana, where he was also co-host and co-producer of the paper’s first-ever true-crime podcast, Project 7.
He’s been an active railroad photographer for more than 30 years, getting his start in the mid-1990s when his father, himself an accomplished railroad photographer, handed him a used Minolta X-370 and a roll of Kodachrome 64. His first published photo (a roster shot of a freshly-painted New Brunswick Southern GP9) appeared in Railpace Newsmagazine in 1995 at age seven.
Over the years, Justin has actively contributed to various railroad books and magazines, including Trains (where he was a correspondent for a number of years), Railway Age, NRHS Bulletin, CTC Board, Passenger Train Journal, and Railroad Explorer. His work has also appeared in the Washington Post, New York Times, Seattle Times, Atlas Obscura, and Montana Free Press. From 2021 until earlier this year, he served on the Center’s board of directors. Over the past decade, he has presented at several CRP&A conferences and contributed to many of our publications.
“I’m so excited to be joining the Center’s incredible team to help advance its ambitious publishing goals,” Justin said. “Railroad publications have been near and dear to me my entire life, and I grew up reading Railfan & Railroad, Trains, and many others. While the publishing landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, I know that the Center is in the best position possible to keep this tradition alive and thriving for decades to come with quality print products and innovative digital offerings."
“Justin brings us a remarkable mix of big-picture perspective from writing for the general public and a deep understanding of railroads and photography through his own lifelong interests,” added Scott Lothes, the Center’s president and executive director. "His experience as a writer, editor, and railroad photographer are an ideal combination for our work."
Justin will continue to live in Columbia Falls, Montana, with his wife Ashley, their two-year-old son Franklin, and their cat Louie.
