Joe  G. Collias worked in the traffic department of the Missouri Pacific Railroad and a short time later he went to work at Bemis Bag where he utilized his engineering degree to design printing presses and paper mill machinery. When Bemis Bag moved its operations to Minneapolis, MN in 1961, Joe decided to remain in St. Louis and sought other employment that also resulted in a career change in his becoming the Art Director of a family-owned business known as RC Can. This company was purchased by Boise Cascade and later by Sonoco where Joe remained until his retirement. Joe's avocation included photographing a much-loved subject, that of steam locomotives, which he did in earnest, driving hundreds of thousands of miles to capture his subject. Later he authored seven hard-bound books, namely: The Last of Steam; The Search for Steam; MOPAC Power; Frisco Power; The Missouri Pacific Lines in Color; The Texas and Pacific; and Katy Power which was co-authored, that displayed many of his photographs. Joe has also held memberships in the following railroad historical and technical societies: Burlington; Chicago and Northwestern; Gulf, Mobile and Ohio; Illinois Central; Pennsylvania Railroad; Rock Island; Terminal Railroad; Wabash and the Missouri Pacific in which he was bestowed life membership having written many articles and supplying photographs from his vast collection.