A number of years ago, I was led to believe the late Sam Freeman of Black River and Western RR fame established a little-known foundation to support steam locomotive restorations. Does this foundation still exist? If so, has it made grants to any restoration projects in recent years?

Frederick G. Bailey

Sam did set up a foundation, I recall seeing an Internet report that it had put up $25 million one year for medical research. In 1976, on the strength of a phone call, he invested $25,000 in Michigan Northern Railway and became its sole preferred shareholder. He was just plain folks when he came to board meetings, albeit via a chartered small plane from New Jersey. Among other things, he owned ex-FEC 148, the 4-6-2 now located in Colorado. He served in WWII as an artillery spotter, flying a Piper Cub. Prior to the war, he and some fellow graduates from Stamford decided to take the European tour. On their way through Washington, DC, they stopped in to see the Secretary of State for a letter of introduction. That should have been a clue to me that he did have connections. He had some fine stories about his experiences, nice guy.

According to Guidestar, there is a Sam Freeman Foundation. It has about $100,000 in total assets. None of its giving was to railroad preservation (or any preservation at all) - the few thousand given went to religious organizations.

In 1984, the Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust donated 148 to Connecticut Valley Railroad Museum (the original name of what is now Railroad Museum of New England). The locomotive had been moved from New Jersey to Massachusetts for contract boiler work around the time Sam died in 1981. I think the plan was to have 148 go to the "old" Adirondack Railroad after restoration (Sam was an investor in that road as well). 148 was moved to Essex, CT on the Valley Railroad around the time of the donation, and a $50,000 contribution was made by the Trust towards work on 148. It was stipulated that there would be no additional funds forthcoming from the Trust.

However, a combination of a much more detailed survey of 148, along with a change in VRR mechanical department management, resulted in the suspension of work on 148 in 1986. The funds had been expended over the previous two years (primarily on outside contract labor and inside VRR labor costs), and it was determined that far more was needed to properly restore 148. VRR indicated it had no further interest in 148.

A number of outside, unsolicited offers were made in 1987-88 to RMNE, and ultimately, one was accepted. 148 then passed to a new owner, who offered the engine for sale for a number of years.

One interesting offer was to have 148 return to Florida, cosmetically-restored to the level and quality of Southern Rwy. 1401, and placed inside a lobby atrium of a large office complex being built in FEC territory. I think that may have been the best fate for the old gal.

But I will always remember the fast cab rides on the CNJ and LV excursions in the fall and winter of 1975-- 148's last hurrah.

Howard P.

About 5 -6 years ago when I was at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis I became aware of the foundation and called and spoke with someone there. I remembered Sam Freeman from the time I lived in the DC area and rode some of the trips with his engine. In any case they told me that the emphasis of the foundation was now only on medical research. Once the founder was gone it isn't surprising that the focus would change to reflect other interests.

Ron Goldfeder