By Railfan & Railroad Staff
The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society has hired Kelly Lynch as its executive director, the first time in the non-profit’s 52-year history that it has had a paid employee.
Lynch has been a board member of the group for more than 20 years and is a rail consultant for FMW Solutions. He’s also spearheaded some of FWRHS’ biggest endevors in recent years, including the creation of the first steam-powered passenger excursions in downtown Chicago in over 45 years; a collaboration with Progress Rail to restore a historic diesel locomotive; negotiated the acquisition of a number of passenger cars for the organization’s fleet of historic rolling stock; and led the purchase of the Pleasant Lake, Ind., depot. The latter is now homebase for FWRHS’ wildly successful excursion operation, the Indiana Rail Experience, on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad Company.
As executive director, Lynch will lead the excursion program and future restorations.
“After 52 years as an all-volunteer organization, we have come a long way from restoring and operating a historic steam locomotive that was once displayed in Lawton Park,” said Wayne York, founding member of the Fort Wayne Railroad, in a press release. “With our growing tourist railroad operation and the restoration of the Pleasant Lake depot and several vintage passenger cars, we also have a few projects and surprises in the works to keep preserving and making railroad history in our region. Kelly is a second-generation volunteer and his special combination of skills and expertise make him a natural choice to shepherd these efforts.”
“It is one of the greatest joys of my life to serve the organization that has shaped so much of it,” Lynch said. “I want to thank the extraordinary community behind the Fort Wayne Railroad for their support as we work to celebrate and save our rich railroad history and we work to provide outstanding experiences while we do it. I want to especially thank the board of directors and the Indiana Northeastern Railroad Company for their trust in this great new adventure.”
The FWRHS was founded in 1972 to restore and operate Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 765. Today, it was one of the main attractions on the Indiana Rail Experience.