Not all shipments were cattle on the narrow gauge railroad and this painting conveys the shipping of canned goods that were becoming a way of life in earlier times. No longer was it necessary to use the old convenience.... What will they think of next.

The foreman is overseeing the off-loading of the box car on the ranch wagon... a lot different than loading cattle for the market. Railroads really simplified the ranchers work in raising cattle. No longer was it months in the saddle and mile upon endless mile of dusty trails that seemed never to end. Instead of trailing cattle to a major stockyard, the cattle were driven to a local rail head, loaded on stock cars and shipped to a processing center. This painting shows one of the other aspects that this conveyance was used for and still is today.

"Riding the rails" is an experience that one must try even in this day of jets and fast cars. The therapeutic narrow gauge will take you back in time when things were not as complicated and all of the plastic and asphalt can be forgotten and you can get a whiff of good pollution... cinders and smoke.

"Airtights and Arbuckles Coffee" is number 10 in the Narrow Gauge Series and was reproduced from an original oil (24"x48") and is limited to 850 signed by the artist and numbered lithographs with 85 publishers proofs. It is printed on top quality 100% certified archival (300 years) pH neutral number 1 grade paper with an image size of 16"x32" and a 2" trim. It has been personally inspected and signed by the artist in pencil. The plates have been destroyed after publication and no further issues will be reproduced.

Gary Carter
West Yellowstone, Montana
October 1995