THE MASS BAY RRE RAILROAD PRESERVATION FUND

Mass Bay RRE established the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund in 2016 to support worthy projects to preserve historically significant railroad equipment, structures, information or artifacts in New England. One or more grants, generally not exceeding $5,000, will be awarded annually, funded by donations to the fund, income from the Fund's endowment and a grant from the Samuel L. Freeman Charitable Trust.

Each year, Mass Bay RRE designates its largest Preservation Fund grant or grants as “The Ralph S. Hawkins Memorial Railroad Preservation Grant” to preserve and honor the memory of our dear friend, Ralph Hawkins. Read our tribute to Ralph Hawkins.

In 2025, Mass Bay RRE has awarded $65,000 in grants to 19 organizations, thanks to the generosity of our members and friends,. This includes four $5,000 grants. Since its inception in 2016, the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund Grants has made grants totaling over $285,000 to help preserve New England railroad equipment, structures and artifacts.

The 2025 Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund grant recipients are:

The 2025 Ralph S. Hawkins Memorial Railroad Preservation Grants:

• The 470 Railroad Club of Portland, Maine, will use its $5,000 grant to replace the 12 and 14 gauge low-voltage wiring that is original to the 1949 manufacture date of the Boston and Maine F7A 4266. In addition to the wiring, associated materials such as conduit, junction boxes and breakers will be replaced as necessary. This will be phase #1 of their low-voltage wiring project; it is their intent to perform the same work on companion F7A 4268.
• The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum of Lenox, Mass., will receive a grant of $5,000 to complete the installation of new windows on B&M RDC 6126. While the car has been the backbone of BSRM's Hoosac Valley Train Ride, located in Adams, MA, it still wears its Cape Cod Railroad colors and is showing signs of years of deferred cosmetic maintenance. During the first half of 2025, BSRM has committed to completing an exterior restoration, including new windows (already acquired), removal of CCR paint, and a return to the full B&M McGinnis paint scheme.
  RIGHT: Then-new B&M RDC-1 6126 in June, 1957. (BSRM)
  
• The Danbury Railway Museum of Danbury, Conn., will use its $5,000 grant to replace batteries in their Alco RS-1 0673 locomotive. The 0673's current batteries are over 20 years old and have begun to fail, requiring their replacement to keep the locomotive operating. It is a great example of a first-generation diesel that historically operated in the Danbury area. It is painted and numbered in accordance with the appropriate New Haven Railroad scheme. The DRM purchased 0673 in operable
  condition in 1995, the first piece of rail equipment the museum ever owned. It was bought at the very beginning of the museum's existence to demonstrate the organization's dedication to showcase"living history" and not be limited to static displays.
• The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum of Alna, Maine, is receiving a $5,000 grant toward construction of a modern coal storage facility, away from the historic railyard, where coal can be unloaded and accessed easily and safely, and to construct a period-appropriate coaling dock along the service track behind the newly-completed Engine House. The project draws inspiration from the coaling facilities employed by the WW&F and Bridgton & Saco River during the common carrier era.

• The Andover Historical Society of Andover, NH will receive an additional $4,000 in support of their ongoing project to replace the deteriorating boarding platform at the former Boston & Maine station at "Potter Place."
• The Boston Street Railway Association of Boston, MA, $3,000 toward completion of car body and interior restoration work on Boston Elevated Railway Type 5 Streetcar 5706.
• The Branford Electric Railway Association, d/b/a Shore Line Trolley Museum, $2,500 toward the purchase of a MIG Welder and MIG wire for repair and restoration use. This will replace their existing welder that has reached the end of its service life and is no longer repairable. The welder has been invaluable for repairs to trucks, brake rigging, car structures, etc. for nearly every vehicle that has come through their shop.
• The Central Vermont Railway Historical Society of West Lebanon, NH, is receiving a $4,000 grant to employ an archivist and support a group of dedicated Society member volunteers to inventory and catalog their existing collection. The CVRHS Archives began with a donation by the Central Vermont Railway prior to its becoming the New England Central Railroad. The railroad wanted a home for the history of the railroad. The archives contains historical documents, plans, diagrams, maps, employee ledgers and timesheets, contracts from when the railroad bought property for its right-of-way and contracts between the railroad and abutting land owners and other artifacts of the Central Vermont Railway dating to the 19th Century. A direct benefit of this project will be a
  trove of new resources for the Society's quarterly magazine, The Ambassador, to draw from, along with drastically increased primary sources to help scholars, teachers, students, and the public connect with local history.
• The Connecticut Antique Machinery Association of New Milford, CT will receive $1,000 for the rehabilitation of a historic Denver & Rio Grande gondola car for conversion to passenger carrying service.
• The Connecticut Electric Railway Association of East Windsor, CT will use its $1,000 grant to return their 1949 Illinois Terminal PCC Car 451 to its original beauty. The car is on static display within their Visitors Center. Built in 1949, the car ran in Illinois for the Illinois Terminal Railway. When it was retired from service it was brought to the Connecticut Trolley Museum.
• The Contoocook Riverway Association of Contoocook, NH, $4,000 to construct an open-air canopy to protect their 1907 Boston & Maine coach.
• The Flying Yankee Association, based in Nashua, NH, will receive a $4,000 grant for the restoration of the traction motors on Boston $ Maine No. 6000, better known as The Flying Yankee. The 1935 train set was powered two GE 721-C-2 traction motors. These motors are unique in that they are smaller in size than most traction motors in order to fit into the front power truck of the Flying Yankee. Together with other rotating electrical equipment, these traction motors were partially rebuilt from 1998-2000 in anticipation of future use with this train. They have been stored since the year 2000.
• The Greenville Junction Depot Friends will receive $4,000 for the restoration of the men's waiting room in the historic 1889 Canadian Pacific depot, which has been transformed into a vibrant community meeting place.
• New England Steam Corporation of Winterport, Maine, will receive $4,000 toward rehabilitation of the trailing truck of Maine Central steam locomotive No. 470. Maine Central 470 is an icon of New England railroad history. Built by ALCO in 1924 and tasked with pulling the varnished name trains, the 470 wasn't just another locomotive; it was the pride of the fleet. No. 470 pulled the last steam passenger train on the railroad on June 13, 1954.
• The Raymond New Hampshire Historical Society of Raymond, NH will receive $4,000 to replace old heating system with an energy-efficient split system for heating & cooling that will better protect their paper archives, reduce operating costs and allow year-round inside use of the Depot.
• The Railroad Museum of New England of Thomaston, Conn., $4,000 for the restoration and repainting of 2 wood-sided Boston & Maine boxcars.
• The New Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad of Phillips, Maine, will receive $2,000 for the preservation of three historic Maine narrow gauge buildings on the railroad's grounds, beginning with the restoration of the Sandy River RR Maplewood flag stop, dating back to the 1880s.
• The New England Electric Railway Historical Society, d/b/a Seashore Trolley Museum of Kennebunkport, Maine, will receive $2,500 to complete the restoration of Manchester and Nashua Street Railway interurban No. 38.
• Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum of Shelburne Falls, MA, $3,000 to rebuild the diesel motor on its ballast tamper, which was donated to the Museum by CSX..
  

The application period for the 2026 Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Grants will open in September of 2025.
See the Preservation Page for details and application instructions.

Donations to the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund are welcomed! Your donation will help us fund additional worthy railroad preservation projects. Donors may choose to designate their gift to the Preservation Fund Endowment or to be used to fund grants directly. Endowment funds are invested to provide an annual income to be used for preservation grants. Investment income will be supplemented each year with donations to Mass Bay RRE, including all donations designated for direct grants. All donations to the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Donate to the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund.

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Page updated April 24, 2025