The John Emery Rail Heritage Trust has selected 18 projects for its annual rail preservation grants, awards totaling $250,000.
The Trust is the largest in the U.S. that makes 100% of its awards solely for rail restoration purposes It was established by John Emery, a long-time Chicago resident and rail enthusiast who wanted to help preserve equipment and infrastructure would share in what he experienced during what Emery considered to be the Golden Age of rail travel, 1920 to 1960. In its 10 years of operations, the Trust has awarded grants totaling $2,807,310.
The grants were selected from 39 applications seeking a total of $942,005, following extensive research and serious consideration by advisors of the Trust.
Receiving grants are:
— Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society: $13,100 to continue refurbishment work on its two Budd RDCs, No. 9153 and No. 9167.
— Black River Railroad Historical Trust: $11,000 for wheel, truck, and brake work for 1914 Lackawanna Pullman coach No. 605.
— Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust: $15,000 for HVAC work on its heavyweight Pullman car Beaver.
— Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society: $15,000 for interior updates, upgrades, and modifications to Pullman car Kitchi Gammi Club.
— Fox River Trolley Association: $10,000 to rebuild seats on 1913 Chicago, Aurora & Elgin interurban car No. 316.
— Iron Horse Society at Steamtown: $15,000 towards restoration of ex-Delaware, Lackawanna & Western coach No. 335.
— St. Louis Iron Mountain Railway: $2,600 for replacement windows for ex-New York Central coach No. 3
— Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad: $15,000 for reupholstery work for its ex-Santa Fe El Capitan Hi-Level coaches.
— Northwest Railway Museum: $7,500 for upgrades to Northern Pacific Railway Pullman parlor car No. 1049.
— Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation: $27,000 for restoration of four of the six driver boxes for Oregon Railway & Navigation steam locomotive No. 197.
— Railroading Heritage of Midwest America: $10,000 for new windows for coaches Wenonah and Nokomas.
— Railway Restoration Project 113: $25,000 to help with new tubes and flues for Central Railroad of New Jersey 0-6-0 No. 113.
— San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society: $10,000 for work on ex-Santa Fe sleep Pine Lodge, now sleeper/dormitory car No. 2506.
— Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: $20,000 for restoration work on Pullman heavyweight sleeper Maitland.
— Tri-State Railway Historical Society: $15,000 for mechanical work on Delaware, Lackawanna & Western F3A No. 663.
— United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey: $15,000 for operational restoration of NYC tavern-lounge car No. 37.
— National Railway Historical Society, Washington, D.C., Chapter: $8,800 for rebuilding and reupholstering the cushioned seats of the banquette tables in Pullman heavyweight Dover Harbor.
— Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Development Corp.: $15,000.00 for restoration work on ex-NYC grill-diner No. 456.
First Option Bank, Trustee of the Emery Rail Heritage Trust, continues to provide support during the application/selection process. Because of its investment management, the Advisory Committee is able to continually increase the effect the Trust has on the preservation of rail passenger travel. For information on setting up a foundation or to donate to the Emery Rail Heritage Turst, contact the bank at 913-294-9222.
Applications for the next round of grants are due by Feb. 1, 2026. Visit the Emery Rail Heritage Trust website for more information.
That’s good news spend it well preservation groups.