On Dec. 5, 2025, a steam locomotive eased out of Hollidaysburg, Pa., as more than 160 passengers settled into observation, club and bar cars for a three-hour journey. The excursion was more than a nostalgic ride through western Pennsylvania — it was a celebration 35 years in the making.

The event marked the 35th anniversary of Hunyady Auction Company, led by president Mike Hunyady and headquartered in Hatfield, Pa. For Hunyady, the choice of venue and theme was personal.

"We wanted to do something a little more special," he said. "We've hosted golf outings and cocktail parties through the years, but this felt right — especially during the holiday season."

Returning to his hometown of Hollidaysburg, near Altoona, one of the nation's historic railroad capitals, felt like coming full circle. The idea grew from a fascination with the renewed national interest in rehabilitated steam engines and short-line rail excursions. The result was a moving tribute, literally.

Despite falling snow and a full passenger load that required a pusher diesel to assist the steam Engine #11, the ride unfolded smoothly, carrying guests through valleys and mountains of Blair County.

Attendees traveled from across the country — Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maine, Wyoming, Connecticut, North Carolina, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, New York and Florida — a geographic spread that reflected the company's reach.

Over the years, Hunyady Auction Company has worked in all 50 states, nearly every Canadian province, and on six continents. From Alaska's North Slope inside the Arctic Circle to the jungles of Nigeria, and from the Caribbean to Australia, the firm's footprint has become truly global.

The invitation list for the anniversary mirrored that diversity. Sellers, buyers, appraisal clients, colleagues, friends and family all came together — a cross-section of relationships built over decades.

"Without the support of friends and family, we would have never made it to this milestone," said Hunyady.

Hunyady's path into the auction industry began long before the company bore his name. In 1979, he started full-time as a laborer and operator for Walter Vilsmeier of Vilsmeier Auction Company, one of the firms Hunyady later acquired. Over time, he worked his way up through the industry, gaining perspective from every level.

When he launched Hunyady Auction Company 35 years ago, the business looked very different. There were no cell phones, no Internet and not even fax machines in most offices. Auctions were conducted face-to-face, often outdoors, regardless of weather, with bidders standing eye-to-eye with the auctioneer.

Through every change, one principle has remained constant: the absolute auction.

"We've prided ourselves on the purest form of auction," Hunyady said. "Goods sold to the highest bidder regardless of price — no minimums, no reserves, no buybacks, no bid-ins. That's the purest economy there is."

That commitment was tested — and ultimately reinforced — during the COVID-19 pandemic, when public gatherings shut down and traditional auctions became impossible. With significant business already scheduled, Hunyady Auction Company pivoted quickly, embracing virtual auctions with live online bidding.

While the lack of in-person interaction was a loss, the shift proved both effective and efficient. The company adapted its personal approach to a digital environment, maintaining service and trust while expanding reach.

Another constant throughout Hunyady's career has been his relationship with Construction Equipment Guide, he said. From his early days at Vilsmeier Auction Company through 35 years at Hunyady Auction Company, the publication has been a steady presence.

"There haven't been many editions of the Guide we haven't been part of as advertisers," he said.

What began as a client-vendor relationship evolved into something deeper — a shared philosophy about business, communication and trust. Hunyady credits the McKeon family and the publication's staff with contributing meaningfully to his company's success.

Like Hunyady Auction Company, Construction Equipment Guide has resisted abandoning print entirely in favor of digital-only strategies. While embracing modern marketing tools, both organizations continue to value the tangible presence of printed material — "something that can be picked up, set on a desk or read in a pickup truck," Hunyady said.

"That commitment to the printed word, complemented by digital marketing, still matters," Hunyady added. "It matters to human beings."

As for the event, when the train returned with its passengers to the station, it stood as a fitting symbol of a company built on relationships, trust and tradition, yet unafraid to evolve.

After 35 years, Hunyady Auction Company continues to move forward like a train, grounded in history, powered by experience and always pressing ahead. CEG