Rail fans, history buffs, and all those interested in the future of passenger train service in the U.S. are invited to attend a multimedia presentation at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center on Thursday, September 9. Carl Fowler and Christopher Parker of Windham County, Vermont, are teaming up to present “The Demise and Return of Passenger Train Service in America” in connection with BMAC’s exhibit of historical train photos by O. Winston Link. The presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open an hour earlier for anyone wishing to view the museum’s exhibits beforehand. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students, free for BMAC members and children under 6.

Carl Fowler is vice president and general manager of Rail Travel Center and a member of the Vermont Rail Council. He has worked full-time promoting travel on Amtrak and other railways since 1982. Fowler served for over a decade on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Railroad Passengers and was a member of Amtrak’s Travel Agency Computer Advisory Committee. He has addressed the National Press Club on train travel and has ridden over 350,000 miles by train.

Christopher Parker is executive director of the Vermont Rail Action Network. He has worked as a Trainman for the Cape Cod & Hyannis Railroad and as conductor and marketing manager for the Cape Cod Central Railroad. Parker has written about rail travel for several publications, including Trains Magazine and Atlantic Northeast Rail & Ports.

According to BMAC director Danny Lichtenfeld, the September 9 presentation fits a particular mold for the museum. “We love to use our exhibits—in this case, O. Winston Link: Steam & Steel—as launching points for inquiries into the world around us. Carl and Chris won’t be discussing art, per se, They’ll be talking about the past and future of train travel—and doing so in Brattleboro’s historic train station, surrounded by incredible train photographs. We think it’s a great fit.”

Major support for the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center’s 2010-2011 season is provided by BMAC members and Entergy Vermont Yankee, Foard Panel, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, and Chittenden Bank. The Museum’s exhibits and gift shop are open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Tuesday and Wednesday. Regular admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for students. Members and children under 6 are admitted free of charge.

Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents art and ideas in ways that inspire, educate, and engage people of all ages. Each season features compelling new exhibits of contemporary artwork by regional and internationally acclaimed artists, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street (Route 5) and Routes 119 and 142, the Museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information call 802-257-0124 or visit www.brattleboromuseum.org.