Henry E. Bender Jr.
Henry Bender’s interest in railroads began when his Chicagoland neighbor gave him a copy of Trains Magazine each month. He soon began photographing steam locomotives and collecting negatives, color slides and books. Sixty-five years later, he still reads Trains.
With a Purdue Engineering Sciences BS, six years engineering work for ACF Industries in Albuquerque, and a University of Denver MA in Librarianship, he moved to San Jose, California and a quarter century with IBM, first as a librarian and then a technical writer. Then for eleven years he documented medical information systems software for an IBM business partner.
His publications include Uintah Railway; The Gilsonite Route (1970) and articles and photos in SP Trainline, New Mexico Railroader, The Ferroequinologist, Railfan & Railroad, Locomotive & Railway Preservation, and Railroad History. He is a member and has been an officer of railway historical groups, including the Central Coast Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. His new book for Signature Press is Southern Pacific Lines Standard-Design Depots.
He and his wife Barbara enjoy hiking, swimming, skiing and riding trains. Their son Phil is an attorney specializing in environmental law.