Industrial Collection

original oil paintings by April Raber

	Night Shift 11" x 14"  Oil on board There are so many interesting scenes in the San Pedro - Long Beach harbor area at night.  This area never sleeps.   Night Shift depicts the well-lit Valero refinery.  Under one of the street laps there were two truckers playing chess waiting for their next load call.  (private collection)
	Monolith 14" x 14"  Oil on board This painting is of the harbor area of Long Beach.  It is of a materials yard near a railroad siding.  The mixture of coastal fog with a bit of industrial smog created an interesting atmosphere. (private collection)
	Red Gate 14" x 11"  Oil on board This painting was done at a building materials yard.  The materials are stored behind a high wall.  What caught my eye is that the stairway ascending the wall ends with a curious red gate, seemingly leading to an afternoon moon hanging in the winter sky. This painting was selected for exhibition at Oil Painters of America 18th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 1 - May 31, 2009 available
	East Ely Yard 14" x 11"  Oil on board Current view of Nevada Northern Railway's main yard at East Ely, Nevada.  Not much has changed in the past 80 years at the East Ely Yard.  It was painted in a single morning from the deck of the historic freight shed, which has a commanding view of the railway's main yard.  In the distance are the coaling and water towers that once served engines used in heavy ore traffic from one of the largest copper pits in the US. This painting was displayed in Oil Painters of America 14th Annual Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Chicago, Il May 2005. (private collection)
	Green! Through Devore 12" x 16"  Oil on board Santa Fe's 3751 steam engine leaning into the last curve descending Cajon Pass. Ahead, track signals are green for as far as the eye can see on Santa Fe's main line to San Bernardino. As evidenced by the quickly disappearing plume of smoke, the crew wastes no time reaching the speed limit through Devore. (private collection)
	Afternoon Dust Format:  14" x 11"  Oil on board Backside of the water tower and coal towers at the East Ely Yard of the Nevada Northern Railway.  The railway's main yard is just beyond the water tower.  These structures were built to service a roster of over 20 coal-fired steam engines serving central Nevada copper mines during the first half of the 20th century.  Several steam engines built new for this railroad 100 years ago have been preserved, and are still in operation today.  This property has been acclaimed as the "Best preserved standard-gauge short line in America" by the Smithsonian.  Just to the right of this scene, sheep are gently grazing in a wonderful spring-fed pasture. available
	East Ely Yard II Format:  14" x 11"  Oil on board An Autumn view of the Nevada Northern Railway's East Ely Yard from the shelter of the historic freight shed.  It has been a stormy day with more rain on the way.  At a mile high in elevation, it will not be very long before days like this produce a heavy layer of snow. available