By Railfan & Railroad Staff
The National Railway Historical Society recently announced the recipients of its 2024 Railway Heritage Preservation Grants. This year, 28 organizations received NRHS grants in support of the preservation of historical railroad-related artifacts and media.
The 2024 grants are awarded in memory of longtime NRHS member Carl S. Jensen, who died in March. His lengthy service with NRHS and experience in the railroad industry were invaluable in the administration of the grant program. NRHS is grateful for the knowledge, experience, and dedication that Carl brought to the Heritage Grants committee for decades.
“The mission of the NRHS is to help preserve railroad history in all its forms. The NRHS Heritage Grants program is a prolific and visible funder of restoration and preservation projects encompassing all aspects of railroading. Thanks again to the generosity of NRHS members and other donors, NRHS is distributing a total of $125,000 in 2024 Railroad Heritage Grants,” said NRHS President Tony White. “These grants will help enable 28 non-profit organizations to continue to preserve America’s rich railroad history.”
“The NRHS grant program supports preservation and restoration of historic railroad structures, locomotives, railcars, photos, and archival documents. The impact of the NRHS Heritage Grants program cannot be overstated: Since inception in 1991, NRHS has awarded 398 grants totaling $1,253,080,” said NRHS Heritage Grant Chairman Charles Webb.
2024 Railway Heritage Preservation Grants
Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society, Darlington WI: $5,000 to restore a 1937 Magor Car Corp. caboose, built as Missouri Pacific 11020, for exhibit at the former Milwaukee Road Darlington depot.
Iron Mountain Railway, Jackson MO: $4,500 to repaint two 1926 Pullman-built electrified multiple-unit trailer commuter coaches IC 1345 and 1365, to original Illinois Central colors.
Hinsdale County Historical Society, Lake City CO: $5,000 to restore floor of 1881 Jackson & Sharp 3-foot narrow-gauge wooden baggage-coach combination car D&RGW 211.
South Park Rail Society, Longmont CO: $4,500 for lighting and electrical system upgrade of stone roundhouse at Como, Colo., of 3-ft. gauge Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad.
Western Museum of Mining and Industry, Colorado Springs CO: $2,500 to restore two wooden D&RGW 3-foot narrow gauge freight cars – a gondola and a bottom dump car.
Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Chapter NRHS, Scranton, PA: $4,200 to upgrade exterior lighting on DL&W passenger station platform and freight station at Moscow PA
Tri-States Railway Preservation Society, Port Jervis NY: $1,500 to install HVAC system equipment in the “Big Red Boxcar,” a 1973 FGE 70-ft. insulated boxcar, SCL 499025, to protect archived railroad documents on exhibit near the former Erie Railroad Port Jervis turntable.
Western Railway Preservation Society, Portland OR: $2,000 to transport 1942 PC&F (Renton WA) WP&Y 664 narrow-gauge side dump car, from Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration, McEwen OR to Antique Powerland Museum Association, at Brooks OR, for restoration.
West Gadsden Historical Society, Greensboro FL: $5,000 to restore Clinchfield Railroad caboose CRR 1075 to Apalachicola Northern Railroad (AN) appearance for AN lineside exhibit.
Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, Tillamook OR: $5,000 for telegraph office restoration at replica Southern Pacific Garibaldi depot.
Southeastern Railway Museum, Duluth GA: $2,500 for cosmetic and mechanical restoration of US Army Transportation Corps locomotive crane C-271, American Hoist & Derrick 1953.
Waldwick Historical Society, Waldwick NJ: $4,550 for exterior spot repairs to 1890 Erie Railroad “WC” wooden Interlocking Tower.
Corry Rail and Industrial Legacy Society and Museum, Corry PA: $5,000 to improve shop building, housing reconstruction of 1903 narrow-gauge, wood-frame, T-boiler, box cab Climax geared locomotive, serial A-313, from Wild Goose gold mining Railroad, Nome, Alaska.
DuPont Historical Society, DuPont WA: $5,000 to restore a narrow-gauge boxcar from the “dynamite train,” a powder plant railroad down to a Puget Sound ocean wharf.
Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, Alna ME: $5,000 for materials to install Eames Automatic Continuous Vacuum Brake system on three 2-foot gauge cars, B&SR 34 flatcar (1881), WW&F 8 combine (1985), and WW&F 320 caboose (1901).
National Capital Trolley Museum, Colesville MD: $5,000 to restore trucks under original Capital Transit PCC Streetcar 1101 (Washington DC).
Baltimore Streetcar Museum, Baltimore: $3,750 to conduct feasibility study for long term lease of former Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad 1910 stone roundhouse in Baltimore.
Lake States Railway Historical Association, Baraboo WI: $5,000 to upgrade computer system to support C&NW, CB&Q, MILW and related railroad research.
Sacramento Valley Historical Railways, Woodland CA: $2,000 for exterior repairs and painting of Southern Pacific cupola caboose 1156 (Built SP Los Angeles 1942).
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum, Portland ME: $5,000 for structural lumber for operating restoration of 2-foot gauge Bridgton & Harrison coach “Mount Pleasant,” built 1882 by Laconia Car Co. in New Hampshire.
Western Forest Industries Museum, Elbe WA: $10,000 to complete running gear rebuild on 1924 Porter 2-8-2 steam locomotive MRSR No. 5 of Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad.
Danbury Railway Museum, Danbury CT: $5,000 for initial cosmetic preservation of two New York Central electric locomotives, 1904 Alco/GE model S-1, NYC 100; and 1926 Alco/GE model T-3a, NYC 278, both built for Harmon-Grand Central service.
United Railway Historical of New Jersey, Boonton NJ: $5,000 for contract labor to service and restart prime mover within 1971 GE model U34CH diesel locomotive Erie-Lackawanna 3372, for operational restoration. This locomotive model, in New Jersey commuter service, inaugurated the 480 Volt AC Head End Power concept, replacing steam heat and axle generators for passenger trains in the United States.
Rushford Area Historical Society, Rushford MN: $5,000 to refurbish visitors center and museum in former MILW/Southern Minnesota Railroad depot.
Central Vermont Railway Historical Society, St. Albans VT: $5,000 to prepare detailed professional inventory of over 300 linear feet of Society’s railroad archives plus several dozen file cabinets, including entire CV corporate, engineering, operations, and related railroad records dating from 1840s to 1990s.
National Museum of Transportation, St. Louis MO: $3,000 to cosmetically restore WAB 2847 cupola caboose, built 1952, Wabash Railroad company shops, Decatur IL.
Branford Electric Railway Association, East Haven CT: $5,000 to restore 10 rattan seats on Connecticut Co. streetcar 775 at Shore Line Trolley Museum.
Tri-State Chapter NRHS, Boonton NJ, $5,000: to purchase high speed scanner to initially digitize some 60,000 slides and photos from extensive collection of the late Mike Del Vecchio, covering DL&W, New Jersey commuter railroads and multiple freight car file photos.
