The John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust awarded nearly $250,000 in grants to 18 projects across the country this week, the trust announced.
Emery was a Chicago-native and lifelong railroad enthusiast who created the trust to fund projects that preserve the “Golden Age” of passenger railroading, specifically the years between 1920 and 1960. The trust is particularly interested in projects that allow the public to ride historically significant pieces of equipment. Groups are able to submit grant proposals up until Feb. 1 each year, and then a three-person committee reviews the proposals.
Organizations that were awarded funds included:
Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society: $13,100 to continue refurbishment work on their two RDCs.
Black River Railroad Historical Trust: $11,000 for their Lackawanna coach 605 for wheel, truck and brake work.
Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust: $15,000 for HVAC for their heavyweight Pullman car “Beaver.”
Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Inc: $15,000 for interior updates, upgrades and modifications to their Pullman car Kitchi Gammi Club.
Fox River Trolley Association, Inc: $10,000 to rebuild seats on their CA&E interurban car 316.
Iron Horse Society at Steamtown, Inc: $15,000 towards the restoration of their ex-DL&W coach 335.
Iron Mountain Railway: $2,600 for replacement windows for their ex-NYC coach 3135.
Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad, Inc: $15,000 for reupholstery work for their ex-Santa Fe El Capitan Hi-Level coach.
Northwest Railway Museum: $7,500 for upgrades to their Pullman parlor car 1049.
Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation: $27,000 for restoration of four of the six-driver boxes for their OR&N steam locomotive 197.
Railroading Heritage of Midwest America: $10,000 for new windows for their coaches Wenonah and Nokomas.
Railway Restoration Project 113: $25,000 to help with new tubes and flues for the CNJ 0-6-0 113.
San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society: $10,000 for work on their ex-Santa Fe Pine series sleeper/dormitory car 2506.
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: $20,000 for restoration work on their Pullman heavyweight sleeper Maitland.
Tri-State Railway Historical Society, Inc: $15,000 for mechanical work on their ex-DL&W F3a 663.
United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey: $15,000 for operational restoration of NYC tavern lounge car 37.
National Railway Historical Society, Washington, DC Chapter, Inc: $8,800 for rebuilding and reupholstering the cushioned seats of the banquette tables in their Pullman heavyweight Dover Harbor.
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Development Corporation: $15,000 for restoration work on their ex-NYC grill diner 456.
