Emery Trust awards $500,000 to 29 railway preservation projects NEWSWIRE

CHICAGO — The John Emery Rail Heritage Trust has announced its 2019 grants. John Emery was a long-time Chicago resident who was an avid rail enthusiast who loved to ride trains around the world, and wanted to help preserve rail equipment and infrastructure that will allow future generations to share his experiences during what he considered the “Golden Age” of railway travel, from 1920 to 1960.

Thirty-seven applications were received requesting in excess of $800,000. After much careful research and consideration by the trust, 29 grants were awarded totaling $500,000. This amount doubles the amount that was given last year. The John Emery Rail Heritage Trust is the largest trust in the U.S. that makes 100 percent of its awards solely for railroad restoration purposes. The recipients follow:

• Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society: $1,000 for work on Clinchfield Railroad office car No. 100.
• Bluegrass Railroad Museum, Inc: $8,000 for restoration on C&NW coach No. 3478.
• Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway Museum: $8,000 for track work.
• Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum, Inc.: $9,000 for work on RDC car, ex-NH No. 42.
• Cincinnati Scenic Railway: $9,000 for electrical upgrades to car No. 104.
• Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust: $10,000 for coach work.
• Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad: $10,000 for NYS&W RDC M-3.
• Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society: $10,000 for D&H coach No. 233.
• National Railroad Museum: $10,000 for power car NADX 50143.
• Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Inc.: $10,000 for station canopy.
• Railroaders Memorial Museum: $10,000 for PRR K4 No. 1361 tender project.
• Railways to Yesterday, Inc.: $10,000 for CA&E car No. 315.
• Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum: $10,000 for NYC RPO car.
• Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, Inc.: $13,000 for SP GP9.
• Iowa Railroad Historical Society: $14,000 for track work.
• Colorado Railroad Heritage Foundation: $14,000 for RGS No. 20
• Black River Railroad Historical Trust: $15,000 for SW9 No. 438.
• Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Inc.: $15,000 for generator for the Alabama Club.
• Midwest Railway Preservation Society: $18,000 for passenger car restoration.
• Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation: $20,000 for turntable installation.
• Engine No. 557 Restoration Company: $21,000 for continued work on Alaska Railroad 2-8-0.
• Roanoke Chapter, NRHS: $24,250 for coach No. 512.
• New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society: $25,000 for PTC for AT&SF 4-8-4 No. 2926.
• Nevada Northern Railway Foundation: $29,750 for locomotive No. 81.
• Railroading Heritage of Midwest American: $30,000 for PTC for locomotive No. 261.
• Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Inc.: $30,000 for PTC for locomotive No. 765.
• Illinois Railway Museum: $30,000 for DC Line Stabilization.
• Western Maryland Scenic Railroad: $40,000 for continued work on C&O 2-6-6-2 No. 1309.
• Kentucky Railway Museum: $46,000 for new boiler tubes for C&O No. 2716.

Applications for the next round of grants will be due not later than Feb. 1, 2020. Check for details at http://emeryrailheritagetrust.org/WP/.