Amherst Railway Society Awards Grants to Preserve Rail History

(SOURCE: official release)

Amherst, Mass. - The Amherst Railway Society has awarded more than

$40,000 in grants to 19 charitable organizations that work to preserve rail heritage. The

awards were made at the society's annual Railroad Hobby Show Jan. 25, 2014 at the

Eastern State's Exposition in West Springfield, Mass.

The two-day show, one of the largest in the nation, attracts about

25,000 railroad enthusiasts each year. It is also the society's primary fundraising

endeavor and generates the money the society then distributes to rail-related museums,

historical societies and restoration groups.

Since 1991, the non-profit Amherst Railway Society has given away about $750,000 in

grants.

"We're delighted to be able to share the proceeds of our annual train show with these

terrific organizations that work so hard to preserve rail history," said John Sacerdote, the

Show Director.

"Preservation of important rail sites and equipment is extremely difficult, even before

one considers all the fundraising these groups do," added Amherst Railway Society

President Sudro Brown. "We're glad to be able to lend a hand to so many organizations

doing such worthwhile work. We plan to keep doing it in the coming years."

The Amherst Railway Society's $10,000 Founders' Award went to the Shelburne Falls

Trolley Museum in Shelburne Falls, Mass. The museum is raising money to build a fireresistant metal two-car car barn to house part of its collection.

The Robert A. Buck Award, totaling $2,000 and named in honor of the long-time director

of the Railroad Hobby Show, went to the Chester Foundation in Chester, Mass. for

restoration of a 1919 wooden caboose displayed at the Chester Depot.

The President's Award, totaling $3,125, went to Branford Electric Railway

Association/Shoreline Trolley Museum in East Haven, Conn. for restoration of

Connecticut Company Car No. 865.

The other grant recipients are:

The ALCO Historical & Technical Society of Schenectady, N.Y., $1,000 to help cover

the cost of moving Adirondack RSC2 No. 25 to a new location for eventual display.

Bartlett Roundhouse Preservation Club of Bartlett, N.H., $1,000 for continuing

restoration of the Conway Scenic Railroad's 1923 Russell snow plow.

Central Vermont Railway Historical Society of Randolph Center, Vt.,

$2,500 to aid in archiving CV historical information.

Conrail Historical Society of Marysville, Pa., $1,500 for the purchase of a portable

generator for outdoor restoration work.

Friends of the Keystone Arches, Inc., of Huntington, Mass., $1,500 to lift stones from

the Westfield River to restore one of the Keystone Arches in Chester, Mass.

Hopewell Depot Restoration Corp. of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., $1,500 for construction

of a replica of the 1892 control tower.

New England Electric Railway Historical Society/Seashore Trolley Museum of

Kennebunkport, Maine, $3,000 toward restoration of Bay State Railway car No. 4175.

National Railway Historical Society - Cape Cod Chapter, $1,500 toward interior

restoration work at the West Barnstable, Mass. train station.

National Railway Historical Society - Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Chapter of

Scranton, Pa., $3,200 toward continuing restoration of Boston & Maine steam

locomotive No. 3713.

National Railway Historical Society - Western Connecticut Chapter of South Norwalk,

Conn., $1,500 for exterior restoration work to SoNo Tower.

Old Colony & Newport Railway/The National Railroad Foundation and Museum of

Newport, R.I., $1,450 toward window replacement on the railway's 1884 office car No.

74.

Rowe Historical Society of Rowe, Mass., $1,232 for the purchase of a display case.

Rutland Railroad Museum of Rutland, Vt., $2,000 to upgrade interior lighting.

Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Valley Railway Museum of Alna, Maine, $2,600

for interior enhancements to the Percival house.