He then attended California State University, Chico, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Visual Communication (photography, graphic design, and printing technology).
During his college years Dale took over the editorship of a small newsletter about railroading in the western United States.
During his tenure, CTC Board became a magazine with worldwide circulation.
In 1995 the magazine was sold to Hundman Publishing of Edmonds, Washington.
Sanders extensively photographed the Western Pacific Railroad in California's Feather River Canyon, the Denver & Rio Grande Western throughout Colorado and Utah, U.S. Steel's Atlantic City Mine Railroad and most recently BC Rail in western Canada.