The awards included the following:
Chicago & North Western Historical Society, North Riverside, Ill.: $1,500
The C&WHS collection includes some 700 glass negative images from the C. G. Stecher and the Alan MacMillian collections which they wish to digitize to allow the images to be made available to the general public as well as historical researchers. With funding from this grant, they hope to complete the project by year-end.
Chinese Historical Society of America Museum, San Francisco: $3,000
This 52-year-old group requested funding to develop “Voices from the Railroad,” an oral history from descendants of Chinese workers who built the first transcontinental railroad. The CHSAM is the oldest organization in the country dedicated to the interpretation, promotion, and preservation of the social, cultural, and political history of the Chinese in America. The “Voices from the Railroad” project will gather and post on their website oral histories of eight descendants of Chinese workers who worked on the first transcontinental railroad. These oral histories will complement the Society’s existing “Work of Giants” exhibit telling the story of the completion of the railroad.
Engine 557 Restoration Co., Wasilla, Alaska: $2,000
This organization is funding and manage the $1.2 million project to restore Alaska Railroad 2-8-0 No. 557 – the Alaska Railroad’s last steam locomotive. It was built during WWII for the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. To date, they have raised $705,000 in part through a $350,000 matching grant from the Rasmuson Foundation. They estimate they have contributed an additional $500,000 through over 15,000 volunteer hours to-date. The grant will assist with firebox replacement and boiler repairs.
Alexander Chapter, NRHS, Hickory, N.C.: $4,000
Funding will be used to move three dilapidated cars from Colorado to North Carolina where they can be used for parts in restoration efforts with other equipment. The chapter’s program specifically focuses on narrow gauge cars, and the parts from these skeleton cars can be used to finish work on three of the most historic narrow cars in their collection: East Tennessee & Western North Carolina boxcar No. 434, West Virginia Midland Baggage Car No. 1, and a Westside Lumber log car. The full project cost is $14,000. They have raised $10,000 to date.
Caledonia Historical Society Inc., Caledonia, Wis.: $3,000
The group operates the Linwood Park Heritage Village in southeastern Wisconsin. It consists of the 1887 town hall, a 1902 Milwaukee Road depot, a 1927 caboose, an 1840 log cabin, and the museum. Earlier the group did extensive renovation on the depot. Before the work is final, one final section needs to be scraped, primed and painted in the original yellow. Also, the paint on their 1927 caboose, which was restored and repainted in 2011, has since faded, and the caboose needs to be primed and repainted. With all available volunteers currently tasked on restoring the rail shed/barn recently moved to Linwood Park, the group asked for funding for professional painters to complete the painting work.
Lake Shore Railway Historical Society, Inc., North East, Pa.: $3,000
The society’s current project is to acquire, move, and restore 1944 General Electric 80-ton center cab locomotive No. 20, Genesee & Wyoming Railroad first diesel. The budget for the total restoration project is $37,000. This grant award was previously reported on Trains News Wire.
Brooks Preservation Society, Brooks, Maine: $2,500
Brooks Preservation Society operates the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad. The society is working on the restoration/rehabilitation of the historic Brooks Station built in 1892. Following extensive roof, foundation, and exterior repairs, they are now turning to the interior – specifically the agent’s office. The money will be used to refinish the birch hardwood floors, rebuild the cabinetry as it was and provide a professional cleaning of the interior (the original wainscoting and trim) and walls without disturbing historically significant “wear” such as signatures and dates of some early agents. Their long-range plan is to return passenger excursion service to Brooks Station. The depot is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bradford Railroad Museum, Bradford, Ohio: $2,000
This three-time grant recipient is developing interpretative exhibits for the main level of the museum including the Abraham Lincoln Funeral Train and an Interactive CPU for railroad education. The exhibits will preserve the museum’s collection in interactive and educational exhibit environments and will cover 130 years of railroad history. This 12-year-old group is an affiliate of NRHS.
Roanoke Chapter, NRHS, Roanoke, Va.: $2,000
Among several pieces of passenger equipment owned by this 47-year-old group is ex- Great Northern lunch counter/crew dormitory car No. 1148, built in 1949 by Pullman-Standard. The chapter purchased the car in 1972 and used it for many years in excursion operations. For the past 15 years, the car has been stored out of service and has suffered damage due to failing window gaskets. Three years ago the decision was made to restore the car in support of upcoming steam excursion operations planned by the Virginia Museum of Transportation. Upon examination, it was determined that repairs to the side sills and crash posts of the car are necessary for safe main line operation. The repairs will consist of replacing the existing side sills and repairing the damaged areas of the crash posts. In addition, new sheet metal will be installed at the lower edge along both sides of the car and around the crash posts once the structural repairs are complete. Quotes for this “Phase-1” work vary from $20,000 to $30,000. Total project costs are estimated at $60,000 to $70,000.
Charity Search Engines as a new source of funding.