Corrender Taylor Collection

In 2013 Corrender Taylor began his handiwork at railroad photography while attending high school in Abilene, Texas. That hobby ultimately lead him to appreciate the historical value of railroads. During his attendance at Hardin-Simmons University in 2017, it became noticeable that the city of Abilene and its surrounding communities had a significant lack of railroad resources, preventing any in depth research. Before long his goal and pursuit of the title for railroad historian of Taylor County began. In 2022 Corrender was invited to join the Taylor County Historical Commission as the railroad historian and the Abilene Preservation League Board of Trustees. Today he continues to serve both organizations.

Since then he has guest curated "Full Steam Ahead: The Texas & Pacific Railway" Exhibit located at The Grace Museum in Abilene, Texas and the railroad installment of "The 5 stages of Settlement On the West Texas Frontier!" Exhibit at the Museum of the West Texas Frontier in Stamford, Texas. He currently serves as the director of the revitalized Abilene Railroad Festival. Other contributions include prior employment at the Martin and Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum in Brownwood, Texas and providing historical data for both the Missouri Pacific Historical Society and the MoPac Coach 6184 project in Merkel, Texas. Various forms of volunteer work has been fulfilled at the Baird T&P Depot Museum, Railway Museum of San Angelo, Buffalo Gap Historic Village and The Wichita Falls Railroad Museum.

Corrender began collecting railroad memorabilia, ephemera, photos, items and more in 2020. His collection has a primary focus on railroads from within the 19 county area known as 'The Big Country'. His collection contains over 1000+ negatives, photos, and slides, the complete collection of the Electric Railroad Association's Texas Division Short Circuit Bulletins and Annals (1960-89), 100+ Timetables, blueprints, 100+ advertisements, 500+ Train Orders, 1000's of other documents and items, and an ever growing list of local railroad employees.