N E W S R E L E A S E

From the John Emery Rail Heritage Trust

March 18, 2022

The JOHN EMERY RAIL HERITAGE TRUST is pleased to announce the following grants for this year. 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-four (34) applications were received requesting in excess of $ 1,000,000.00. After extensive research and serious consideration by advisors of the Trust, twenty-two (22) grants were awarded grants totaling $350,000. The John Emery Rail Heritage Trust is the largest trust in the US that makes 100% of its awards solely for railroad restoration purposes.

For 2022, grants were approved for the following organizations/projects:

1. Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Association: $ 20,000.00 for track repair to facilitate running of their ATSF locomotive #3415.
2. Black River Railroad Historical Trust: $ 12,000.00 for CNJ Coach #1009 wheel and spring replacement.
3. Cuyahoga Valley Preservation and Scenic Railway Association: $ 15,000.00 for interior renovation of the baggage-coach Silver Salon for ADA accessibility.
4. Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust, Inc: $ 9,000.00 for painting and refinishing the exterior of their diesel engine #54.
5. East Broad Top Foundation, Inc.: $ 15,500.00 for their doodlebug M-1 for truck and traction motor maintenance.
6. Engine 557 Restoration Company: $ 36,000.00 for installing flues and tubes on their Alaska Railroad steam locomotive #557.
7. Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Inc.: $ 10,000.00 for continued work on their baggage car #3671.
8. Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites, Inc.: $ 15,500.00 for repairs and renovations for their lounge and power cars.
9. Illinois Railway Museum: $ 1,000.00 for general repairs.
10. Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad: $ 12,000.00 to repair locomotive #46 wheel sets and side-rod assemblies.
11. Lake Superior Railroad Museum: $ 15,000.00 to reupholster seats in their two GN coaches.
12. Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society, Inc.: $ 15,000.00 for continued restoration of their DSS&A sleeping car Duluth.
13. Midwest Railway Preservation Society: $ 10,000.00 for further work on their Pullman Mt. Baxter.
14. Nashville Steam Preservation Society: $ 29,000.00 for running gear work on the NC&StL steam locomotive #576.
15. New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society: $ 10,000.00 for track work to upgrade siding to be able to connect their shop facilities with active trackage.
16. Pacific Railroad Preservation Association, Inc.: $ 29,000.00 for jacketing and lagging and steam chest repair for the SP&S 700.
17. Pacific Railroad Society, Inc.: $ 15,000.00 for upgrades to the UP Pullman National Forum.
18. Railroad Museum of New England, Inc.: $ 15,000.00 for work on their New Haven RS3 #529.
19. Railroading Heritage of Midwest America: $ 31,000.00 for their newly acquired sleeper/lounge car Caritas.
20. Roanoke Chapter, NRHS: $ 15,000.00 for their N&W Coach #512.
21. Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society and Museum: $ 10,000.00 for their coach #539.
22. West Chester Railroad Heritage Association: $ 10,000.00 for continued renovations on their Reading Blueliner coaches.

Congratulations to all the groups who received a grant and the best of luck as they continue to preserve our railroad heritage!

First Option Bank, Trustee of the Emery Rail Heritage Trust, continues to provide ongoing support during the application/selection process and due to their investment management the Advisory Committee is able to continually increase the effect this Trust has on the preservation of rail passenger travel. If you would like more information about how to set up a Foundation or are interested in donating to the Emery Rail Heritage Trust, please contact them directly at 913-294-9222.
Applications for the next round of grants will be due not later than February 1, 2023.

Check for details at http://emeryrailheritagetrust.org/WP/.

©2022 All Rights Reserved Emery Rail Heritage Trust

So happy the John Emery grants are resuming. I remember reading last year that they were considering ending some of the grants including those to the rail community. Great news indeed!

Not sure what you are thinking about, but we at the Emery Trust have been awarding grants every Spring for quite some time and there was never talk of ending any part of our program. Perhaps you are thinking of something else.

Tom,

You may be thinking of the 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation or the Tom Dailey Foundation. I think the 20th Century group is closed, and Tom Dailey has been reorganized.

Wesley

A big thank you to the Trust for the award of this grant and for their previous support to return Alaska Railroad #557 to operation. We are currently coordinating with the contractor to schedule the installation of the tubes and flues.

20th Century Electric Railway Foundation has been dissolved.

The Mid-Continent Railway Museum is pleased and honored to be a recipient of a $15,000 grant from the John Emery Rail Heritage Trust. The grant allows Mid-Continent to continue with the restoration of the country's oldest and most complete standard gauge sleeping car --- the Duluth South Shore & Atlantic "DULUTH".

Following is a link to the 2021 Progress Report for the DULUTH Project.

https://www.midcontinent.org/category/car-shop/dssa-duluth/

Thanks again John Emery Rail Heritage Trust !!!

Bill Buhrmaster
MCRM

I saw a few questions about the stability of the John Emery Rail Heritage Trust.

I knew John Emery a number of years ago and he used to ride a number of charter trains that I operated. John was a very successful person who really knew how to dot the Is and cross the Ts. Look at the money that the Trust is handing out, it isn't small change. I am very sure that the Trust will be here helping the industry for many years based upon the board put together, the funding available, and John's desire and attention to detail.

More professionally organized trusts like this would certainly be welcomed.