Growing up in Venezuela and now based in Chicago, photographer Daniel Moreno has always had an interest in different city's transportation systems, specifically trains. Over the past few years, Daniel captured one of Chicago's most magical and festive traditions, the Chicago Transit Authority's Holiday Train. Chicago’s Holiday Train is a vibrant celebration of the festive spirit that lights up Chicago’s transit system each year. Featuring dynamic shots of the holiday train passing through the Loop’s elevated tracks, bustling stations, and Chicago’s snow-dusted neighborhoods, Chicago’s Holiday Train evokes a sense of joy and nostalgia.
Chicago's Holiday Train is now available. Read more about Daniel and his book below.
You mentioned you love trains, do you remember how this love came about?
I’m not sure exactly when it started, I just think trains are fascinating machines. They changed the world and still keep changing it. When I was a teenager spending summers in Caracas, Venezuela, I used the subway system every day. It became my first way to move around and explore a city on my own. Now, living in Chicago, trains have once again become part of my daily life and personal story. But every time I travel to a new city, I love moving around by train, taking photos of them, and just experiencing the ride.
What first drew you to the CTA Holiday Train as a photography subject?
Anything that brings color to Chicago’s winter immediately catches my attention. One of the most photographable parts of the city is its train system running above the streets. Regular trains are easy to find and shoot, but the Holiday Train is different, it only runs once a day, on certain lines, for a limited time. That makes it a challenge to plan and capture. After a while, photographing regular trains can feel repetitive, so the Holiday Train became a fun and rewarding creative goal.
Do you remember your first time seeing the Holiday Train in person? What was that experience like?
I think the first time I saw it, I actually tried to ride it instead of photographing it. I just wanted to experience it like everyone else, see the lights, the decorations, and the joy it brings to people. From there, I knew I had to start capturing it.
How did photographing the train differ from your usual work? Did you run into challenges?
Definitely. You have to plan where the train will be, what direction it’s going, and the exact time it’ll pass your spot. Sometimes you wait for hours in the cold, only for the timing to change. I had to plan where I was and how long it would take to reach another location if I wanted to catch it twice in one day, sometimes even three times depending on the line. Since I added a drone to my gear, there were moments where I was taking photos on the ground while flying it to capture aerial shots too.
Chicago winters always add an extra layer of challenge. During the pandemic year, the CTA didn’t publish exact times, only the lines, so I remember waiting for hours without knowing when it would pass, just me, the cold, and the camera. Many times, I thought about leaving but it was always so rewarding when the train finally appeared. That’s part of what makes it satisfying when you get the shot.
The Holiday Train is such a beloved tradition in Chicago. How do you balance capturing its festive spirit with documenting the details of the CTA itself?
It’s about finding the balance between both, showing the joy and magic of the season while keeping the train as the main character. The lights, the riders, and how it brings color to the night are what inspire me the most.
Chicago’s transit system has a strong identity of its own. How did you approach photographing it beyond just going to different train stations or tracks?
Chicago’s train system has so much personality. For me, it wasn’t just about photographing the train itself, but about showing how it transforms the city during Christmas. It becomes a scene you don’t see every day, the light, the atmosphere, even people’s moods change. It’s always a happy moment when the train arrives at a station; it comes with music and energy, and that joy is contagious. In a way, I’m taking in that same joy every day I photograph it. It feels like a daily celebration.
What camera did you mainly use when photographing the Holiday Train or bus?
This project took several years, so I used different cameras and drones. I tried to keep the editing consistent, so the focus stays on the images, not the gear. Mostly I used a Sony A7 IV and a DJI Mavic Air 2S drone.
Do you have a favorite image or spread in the book that, for you, captures the magic of the Holiday Train?
When I go through the book, I feel connected to every photo — each one reminds me of a moment and how it came to be. But if I had to choose one, it would be from the first year I started photographing the Holiday Train. I remember being struck by how well that shot turned out it made me want to plan more carefully and keep building on the project from there.
What do you hope readers (whether lifelong Chicagoans or visitors) take away from this book about the city and its traditions?
That Chicago is magical. Even in the coldest months, there’s warmth, community, and color everywhere if you know where to look. And that public transportation can be joyful one of the best ways to experience a city.
Order your copy of Chicago's Holiday Train here.