Amherst Railway Society
News

Amherst Railway Society Passes Quarter Million Mark With Latest Grants

Since 1991 the Amherst Railway Society of Massachusetts has been making grants to non-profit groups and organizations dedicated to preserving railroad history and restoring railroad equipment and structures. Society members voted at the May 2003 meeting to award grants totaling over $32,000. These newest grants bring the total granted since 1991 to $267,026.

Building construction/restoration grants were awarded to the Baltimore & Ohio Roundhouse Restoration Fund, the Albion (ME) Historical Society, the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad, the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association and the Connecticut Eastern Chapter NRHS. Funds for repairs to locomotives and rolling stock were granted to Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Chapter NRHS, Danbury Railway Museum, Railroad Museum of New England, MRG/Down East Rail, Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR, Central NY Chapter NRHS, The 470 Railroad Club, the Flying Yankee Restoration Group and the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum.

Assistance in moving donated equipment to museum sites was provided to the National Railroad Foundation and Museum (RI) and the Old Colony and Fall River RR Museum. The Connecticut Electric Railway Association, the Seashore Trolley Museum, the Shoreline Trolley Museum and the Boston Street Railway Association were all given grants to continue restoration of trolley and traction equipment. Funding was also awarded to Friends of the Keystone Arches, Friends of Bedford Depot Park, the New England Transportation Inst. & Museum and the New York Central System Historical Society.

The Amherst Railway Society is incorporated as a non-profit educational corporation. Membership is open to anyone interested in any form of railroading. Monthly meetings feature programs on the contemporary railroad industry as well as rail travel and railroad history.

The Society sponsors its Annual Big Railroad Hobby Show in late January/early February. The proceeds from this show are used to fund the annual round of grants. Further information on the Amherst Railway Society can be found at: www.AmherstRail.org.

For further information on the grant program contact Doug Moore, President, Amherst Railway Society at: DJMoore@samnet.net or call (413)-436-7071.