Funded Projects

Liberty Historic Railway has been the primary funding organization behind several of New Jersey's most successful and noteworthy transportation preservation projects. This list of recent examples is a testament to LHRy's commitment to the longevity of New Jersey's transportation heritage.

Date: January 2024
Project: 1924 Yellow Coach
Organization: Liberty Historic Railway
Funding: This 1927 Yellow Coach, model X, 20 passenger bus was purchased from the Dr. Cox auction at Rio Grande, NJ a dozen years ago.  It has been restored mechanically and cosmetically as a very similar model X Public Service of NJ bus by Liberty Historic Railway.

Date: January 2024
Project: Central Railroad of New Jersey PU Tower Heating System
Organization: Phillipsburg Union - PU Tower
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway provided a grant to fund the installation of a heating system for the former Central Railroad of New Jersey, Phillipsburg Union Tower.

Date: November 2023
Project: Public Service Trolley No. 2651
Organization: North Jersey Electric Railway Historical Society
Funding: On November 30th Kinkisharyo hosted an unveiling ceremony for the restoration of No. 2651 at their facility in Piscataway for North Jersey Electric Railway Historical Society, Liberty Historic Railway and about 50 guests.

Car No. 2651 was built in 1917 at the Public Service Plank Road, Newark shops.  The car first served in Essex County and was retired and stored in 1940. In 1942 No. 2651 was returned to service to assist in shuttling hordes of workers to the Federal Shipyards and Western Electric in South Kearny.  After World War II, the car was retired and sold to a family in Long Valley who lived in it until they completed building their permanent home on the lot. In 1973 Tony Hall purchased the car and moved it to the property of the Black River and Western Railway at Ringoes for restoration. No. 2651 was moved from Ringoes to Phillipsburg on 2001, where restoration work was continued by volunteers. In 2018 No. 2651 was moved from Phillipsburg to Kinkisharyo in Piscataway for further restoration by volunteers and professional painting by Kinkisharyo, which was funded by Liberty Historic Railway.

Interestingly, KS Railroad operates on the track within their Piscataway facility and interchanges with Conrail. They own former NJ Transit GP40FH-2 locomotive No. 4139 and use it to move cars.

North Jersey Electric Railway Historical Society (NJERHS), an IRS-designated 501(C)(3) non-profit was founded in 1985 and owns eight historic New Jersey trolley cars, five of which are stored at Kinkisharyo, awaiting funding for restoration. Liberty Historic Railway (LHRy), also an IRS-designated 501(C)(3) non-profit, is a funding source for restoration established in 2012. LHRy is working with NJERHS to establish a display building and track for operation in Phillipsburg. Enthusiastic local leaders there are advancing plans to acquire properties and to operate trolley cars on a one-mile corridor between Phillipsburg Union Station & Tower and Walters Park. There is enough rail salvaged from the Rahway Valley Railroad in Phillipsburg to build this line. LHRy has an additional two trolley cars, plus a 1927 bus and a fire truck available for the Phillipsburg initiatives. So, we have more than enough trolley cars to be able to share some with another NJ location and we would be pleased to learn of their interest.

(Click on the images below for captions!)

Date: November 2023
Project: Brick Plaza
Organization: Shore Line Trolley Museum
Funding: Next time you visit the Shore Line Trolley Museum @ East Haven, CT to admire and ride NJ pedigree trolley cars, see how many of the NJ trolley company bricks you can find in their new Brick Plaza across the street from the Sprague building...

Date: September 2023
Project: Mahan Lake & Mack Pines Railway
Organization: The Mahan Collection Foundation, Inc.
Funding: The Mahan Lake & Mack Pines Railway opened on September 9, 2023. Learn more in this news article!

Date: July 2023
Project: NYS&WT&HS Port Delaware Shop & Yard Complex
Organization: New York, Susquehanna & Western Technical & Historical Society
Funding: The previously-installed Cass Street Diamond and Chicken House Switch at the NYS&WT&HS Port Delaware shop facility have now received signs explaining the history of these artifacts, courtesy LHRy.

Date: May 2023
Project: Seahorse
Organization: Sea Scouts of Carteret
Funding: LHRy provided funding for replacement auxiliary generators for NJ Sea Scout vessel SEAHORSE.

Date: May 2023
Project: Five Mile Beach Electric Railway open car No. 34
Organization: Shore Line Trolley Museum
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway has provided funding to repair traction motors on Five Mile Beach Electric Railway open car No. 34 at Shore Line Trolley Museum at East Haven, CT. You can't ride a Wildwood (or any trolley car) in NJ, but soon you will be able to do so in Connecticut.

Date: September 2022
Project: NYS&WT&HS Port Delaware Shop & Yard Complex
Organization: New York, Susquehanna & Western Technical & Historical Society
Funding: Decades ago, Bill McKelvey was instrumental in preserving two very historic trackage items from Trenton;  1. A double diamond, dual gauge, trolley / railroad crossing from Cass Street, Trenton which accommodated Public Service trolley cars from Newark (standard gauge) and Camden (wide gauge) and a PRR freight siding which was built along the towpath of the Delaware & Raritan Canal.  It was trucked to Phillipsburg by the late Bob Shandor.  2. (Sorry no photo available at this time)  A turnout just north of the BelDel Warren Street, Trenton station and the crossing of the Feeder Canal was called the Chicken House switch.  It was disassembled under the direction of Bill McKelvey and trucked to Phillipsburg by the NJ Water Supply Authority.  Both have been installed on the new Towpath Siding at the NYS&W T&HS Port Delaware shop and yard complex in Phillipsburg.  LHRy provided funding to get this project completed.  The photos, by Don Chaudruc, show the thermite welding connecting of the double diamond to the siding rail and the finished, tamped installation.

Date: September 2022
Project: Erie Caboose 04940
Organization: Mahwah Museum
Funding: The Mahwah Museum displays one of only two surviving, mostly wood, Erie RR cabooses, built by the Magor Car Co., at Clifton, NJ. Liberty Historic Railway has provided $20,000 funding toward a much-needed restoration of 1929-built, Northeast style, No. 04940. It is adjacent to the NJ Transit Mahwah train station and the original wood station which currently houses our NJ Trolley Era Exhibit. In this older photo, note the tree looming in the background above the caboose. That tree, which was dying, LHRy stipulated must be removed before we would issue the grant. The tree has been removed!

Date: September 2022
Project: Public Service of New Jersey Car No. 2431
Organization: Shore Line Trolley Museum
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway has provided funding to the Shore Line Trolley Museum a/k/a Branford Trolley Museum at East Haven, CT, to repair traction motors for Public Service of NJ car No. 2431. It is a single end car with deluxe seating which was built by the Cincinnati Car Co. in 1913 and was operated primarily on Hudson County lines in NJ. The late Ted Eichman was the major restoration contributor to this car.

Date: August 2022
Project: Liberty Ship Lifeboat
Organization: Sea Scouts of Carteret
Funding: This Lifeboat was given to Sea Scouts from Sea Dart II based on the Rahway River at Linden, NJ by the SS John W. Brown, which is a World War II era Liberty Ship that served as a Maritime High School in New York City for a number of years. It is now docked in Baltimore, MD. This boat was used as their #1 lifeboat for some time, but was replaced with another boat and stripped. The SS John Brown donated the boat to the Sea Dart II Sea Scouts in 2015 to restore and use for training. The boat was originally built by Marine Safety Equipment Co. in Freehold, NJ. The replacement / restoration of its diesel engine was funded by a grant from Liberty Historic Railway. The Sea Scouts in the photo are from Ship 228 which operate the 65’ vessel Sea Dart II, one of the largest Sea Scout vessels on the east coast, along with a fleet of smaller vessels (including sailboats) from their base located in Linden, NJ. Sea Scouting (Part of the Venturing Program of the BSA) offers young adults the opportunity to travel and learn skills that could be useful in future careers.

Date: August 2022
Project: Conncecticut Co. car No. 1160
Organization: Seashore Trolley Museum
Funding: LHRy has just provided a small grant to Seashore Trolley Museum @ Kennebunkport, ME to correct some controller / electrical problems with their Connecticut Co. car No. 1160. This car was built by Stephenson in Elizabeth, NJ in 1906 for Consolidated Railway (owned by the NY, New Haven & Hartford RR) shortly before that company was merged into the CT Co. - also owned by the NY, NH, & H RR. No. 1160 was acquired by Seashore in 1948 when CT Co. ended trolley operations. The car was extensively restored between 1988 and 2011 and has been the mainstay of the Seashore fleet, regularly running 1,000 miles or more per year, helping to carry Seashore's 30,000 passengers per year. No. 1160 is one of 11 surviving Stephenson cars in the US. In NJ we have former Lisbon car No. 346, and Seashore has a second car, Lexington & Boston No. 41 (for which we anticipate providing funding for its restoration to operation).

Date: April 2022
Project: Dining Car Equipment Move
Organization: Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway funded the move of eight Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society cars from Scranton, PA to Port Jervis, NY via Norfolk Southern and the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway. LHRy also funded some of the expenses to ready the cars for movement. The cars will become permanent exhibits at the new Port Jervis Transportation History Center and will play a major part in the Center’s grand opening on Memorial Day weekend.

Date: April 2022
Project: Public Service Coordinated Transport / Newark City Subway PCC Car No. 6
Organization: Rockhill Trolley Museum
Funding: LHRy has provided funding to the Rockhill Trolley Museum to repair roof leaks, associated damage, and deteriorated trolley pole base on PSCT / NJ Transit car No. 6. This car was the last official PCC car that operated on the Newark City Subway on August 24, 2001. While we can't ride on a vintage trolley car in NJ, when this work is completed we will be able to ride this historic car adjacent to the East Broad Top narrow gauge steam railroad in Orbisonia, Pennsylvania.

Date: April 2022
Project: Trenton & Mercer County Traction Company No. 288
Organization: Liberty Historic Railway
Funding: J.R. May delivered a presentation on April 19, 2022 discussing the progress on this project, which began in 2018 and is covered elsewhere below. Click the link below to view a PDF of his presentation.

Date: March 2022
Project: PRR N6b Cabin Car 492406
Organization: Liberty Historic Railway
Funding: Five years ago, armed with seed funding from LHRY for heavy timber acquisition, the rebuilding of PRR N6b, MoW number 492406 (originally 981775) commenced.  On Saturday, 26 March 2022, with the work about two-thirds complete, the 492406 was trucked from its work site in Columbus, NJ to the Allentown and Auburn Railroad in Topton, PA where its rebuilding will be completed.  Hauled from the unloading site in Kutztown to railroad's Topton shops by their 1937 EMC SW type locomotive, the 492406 polished the rails for the first time in over 50 years!  A very rewarding moment for the crew working on this project.  The new location will provide access to a full shop and resources to complete the project, ultimately allowing the car to be used on revenue tourist trains and photo freights when complete.

Huge thank yous to Dunne's Towing and the A&A RR for making this all come together.  Also, many thanks to Thomas Gabrysiak for his generosity and support of the project back in Columbus, NJ,  LHRy for the initial seed funding, and of course, Ed Rizzo, the ace wood worker behind it all, who passed away before he could see the fruits of his labor roll down the rails. 

Photos & text by JR May, LHRy Vice Chair.

Date: March 2022
Project: B.W. Sangor Company Plymouth Locomotive
Organization: Berkeley Township Historical Society
Funding: With the support of LHRy, a little Plymouth locomotive, whose career started out in New Jersey, returned to the place it first called home after a 90 year absence! Narrow gauge Plymouth c/n 2173 was generally known as a New York state brick works locomotive, spending it days working for Hutton Brick or Terry Brothers in the Kingston, NY region. Retired in the 1970s or so, it bounced around various owners, listed for sale on ebay and other sites as the years went by. By 2020, a developing winery in Columbus, NJ bought the little locomotive from McHugh Locomotive & Equipment for a planned railway supporting the winery, but plans changed and the locomotive was once again looking for a good home. It was when the Plymouth arrived at the winery that some deeper research found that it played a role in the development of a section of Berkeley Township, NJ known as "Pinewald, The City of the Future" where a seven-story hotel known as the Royal Pines Hotel, designed by world-renowned architect W. Oltar-Jevsky, rose up out of the Pine Barrens, its mirror image reflected in Crystal Lake. Crystal Lake is a man-made lake, that was dug out by the B.W. Sangor Company in the later 1920s using Plymouth #2173 and #2172. The great hotel still stands today, serving as a healthcare & rehabilitation center. With financial support of LHRy, the Berkeley Township Historical Society was able to purchase the locomotive and on 18 March 2022 the little Plymouth returned home after its long absence where it will be cosmetically restored and placed on display. The Berkeley Township Historical Society wishes to thank the LHRy organization for its support in making this possible.

The attached older photos show the Plymouth and the Ziegfeld Girls taken at Pinewald as part of a publicity shot. There are movies of this photo shoot in the Society archives. Crew photo taken the day of the move to Berkeley Township with LHRy Vice Chair, JR May in the Plymouth cab.

Date: January 2022
Project: Liberty Ship Lifeboat
Organization: Sea Scouts of Carteret
Funding: LHRy funded the restoration to operating condition of a very rare, original, historic, powered, Liberty Ship lifeboat, which was built in NJ. Photo by Capt. Jimmy Zatwarnicki, Sea Scouts of Carteret.

Date: January 2022
Project: Reproduction Old Company’s Lehigh Sign
Organization: National Museum of Industrial History
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway donated the replica "Old Company's Lehigh" sign to the left of the "speeder" to the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem, PA for their current exhibit. Photo by NMIH Historian and Museum Specialist Michael Piersa.

Date: December 2021
Project: Hoboken Manufacturers No. 700 / Middletown & New Jersey No. 2
Organizations: Tri-State Railway Historical Society / Operation Toy Train of New York
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway, Inc. has provided substantial funding to acquire, transport, and preserve two 44-ton GE locomotives: Hoboken Manufacturers (Hoboken Shore) Railroad No. 700 for Tri-State Railway Historical Society, and Middletown & New Jersey Railroad No. 2 for Operation Toy Train​. For the full story on this joint preservation project, visit www.Operation88.org.

Date: 2021
Project: New Jersey Zinc Battery Locomotive
Organization: The Mahan Collection Foundation
Funding: This fully restored 2' gauge battery locomotive was delivered to the Mahan Collection Foundation (MCF) by the American Mining Museum Co. on 12/4/2021. On the way, their President, Pete Jedlika and his volunteers made a photo stop at the Sterling Mining Museum at Odgensberg, NJ to show off their restoration masterpiece to the Sterling staff. The loco will be used as power for a demonstration ride at the MCF, Basking Ridge. The purchase/restoration was fully funded by Liberty Historic Railway.

Date: 2018-2021
Project: Spare Battleship New Jersey 16" Gun Barrel
Organization: The Mahan Collection Foundation
Funding: Views of the 16" barrel from the Battleship New Jersey dressed up for display at the Mahan Collection open house on 14 August, 2021. LHRy contributed toward the cost of moving it to Basking Ridge, NJ

Date: 2014-2021
Project: DL&W Club Car #2454
Organization: Whippany Railway Museum
Funding: June 20, 2021 was the celebration and first public runs of the outstanding seven-year restoration of Lackawanna Subscription Club Car No. 2454 @ Whippany Railway Museum. The lady in white represents the legendary Phoebe Snow and 2454 will be named for her. This Phoebe Snow is most appropriately, Lauren Stauffer, granddaughter of the Morris County Central Railroad founder, Earle H. Gil. United Railroad Historical Society of NJ donated the car to Whippany Railway Museum and Liberty Historic Railway was a substantial funder of the restoration effort. Photos by Steve Hepler and Mitch Dakelman.

Date: 2014-2021
Project: DL&W Club Car #2454
Organization: Whippany Railway Museum
Funding: Congratulations to Whippany Railway Museum for completing the outstanding 7-year restoration of the exterior and interior of Lackawanna RR Club Car No. 2454 by a cadre of volunteers and contractors in the US, UK, and India, under the most competent leadership of Terence Mulligan. LHRy was one of the major funders of this work. Photo by Steve Hepler.

Date: November 2020
Project: Susie-Q Herald
Organization: Whippany Railway Museum
Funding: LHRy funded the framing of an original 1964-era NYS&W "Susie-Q" herald. The piece is about 4 feet wide by 6 feet tall. WRyM had the "Ship With Susie-Q" slogan (which was not a part of the original) included, as it seemed a natural to be part of the overall display.

Date: September 2020
Project: Erie Crane #03125
Organization: United Railroad Historical Society of NJ (URHS)
Funding: LHRy provided funding for new batteries and repair/rebuilding of the generator for the URHS-owned former Erie 160 ton Bucyrus wrecking crane built in 1926 and converted from steam to diesel in the 1950s. Volunteer Erik Stenzel has spent many months cleaning, repairing and rehabilitating numerous parts to get the unit to operate.  Next phase of the restoration will be to replace all cables. Video & editing by Kevin Phalon, URHS President.

Date: June 2020
Project: Rahway Valley 70 Tonner #16
Organization: Tri-State Railway Historical Society
Funding: After severe damage to its bearings in the early 2000s, LHRy funded the transportation of replacement wheelsets from Texas to New Jersey and the majority of the cost of the Morristown & Erie’s shop work to swap the wheelsets at Morristown. The locomotive was then transported to Boonton Yard for preservation.

Date: March 2020
Project: 1937 Yellow Coach Bus #5496 and 1946 Ford Transit Bus #9082
Organization: Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center (Bus Division)
Funding: These two buses are from the Friends of the NJ Transportation Heritage Center collection.  The restoration of both was funded by LHRy and done by East Coast Bus Repair.  They are: 1937 Yellow Coach model 733 as PS No. 5496 (with non-historic "wings") and 1946 Ford Transit - Somerset Bus Co. No. 9082, which was given a vehicle wrap to cover the Somerset maroon, black and silver paint scheme so it would match 5496.  This was done for an HBO production series The Plat Against America based in Newark in the 1940s.  Friends received a nice fee for use of the buses.

Date: September 2019
Project: Grace Lord Park Railroad Bridge
Organization: Town of Boonton, NJ
Funding: In May, Liberty Historic Railway funded a Civil Engineering inspection of the 1896/1900 railroad bridge in Boonton's Grace Lord Park as a good will gesture for the Town. The plan is to restore the bridge for operation of a trolley shuttle between Morris Avenue and the foot of Boonton Falls with a cantilevered walking trail on one side. Click here to view the inspection report.

Date: May 2019
Project: DL&W Baggage Car #2037
Organization: Whippany Railway Museum
Funding: LHRy funded a project to scrape, prepare, repair, and coat the roof of the Whippany Railway Museum’s mail storage car No. 2037 (built 1925) with Armor 6100 protective coating by an independent contractor.

Date: May 2019
Project: Jeep on Rails Exhibit
Organization: Military Technology Museum of New Jersey
Funding: LHRy provided funding and track materials for the Jeep on Rails exhibit at the Military Technology Museum of New Jersey, which is located within the grounds of InfoAge - Science History Learning Center and Museums at Camp Evans in Wall Township, NJ.

Date: March 2019
Project: Sea Dart II Generator Set
Organization: Sea Scout Ship 228
Funding: LHRy has agreed to fund two new/replacement generator sets for Sea Dart II, the Sea Scout Ship 228, based at Linden, NJ.

Date: December 2018
Project: Trenton & Mercer County Traction Company No. 288
Organization: Liberty Historic Railway
Funding: Project leader, J.R. May (unanimously appointed new LHRy director the day before), hands check to property owner on Dec. 5, 2018 in payment for the remains of Trenton & Mercer County Traction Co. car No. 288. The 1914 Brill-built car was cocooned in a small house in Hamilton, NJ for 85 years. In addition to paying for the car, LHRy also paid for capping the sewer line; demolition of the house by John Nolan and his backhoe; lifting; loading on trailer; transport to a secure storage location and offloading the car. Serious fundraising now begins!

Date: December 2018
Project: Atlantic City & Shore Railroad car No. 250
Organization: North Jersey Electric Railway Historical Society
Funding: Atlantic City & Shore Railroad car No. 250 (Brill 1923, donated by Shoreline Trolley Museum to No. Jersey Electric Ry Historical Soc.) is unloaded @ Kinkisharyo in Piscataway.  LHRy paid to have the rail, on which it is being unloaded, trucked from Boonton.  LHRy will also fund the shrink wrapping of the car to protect it from further deterioration.  Let the restoration fundraising begin!

Date: November 2018
Project: Boxcar No. 2009 Restoration
Organization: Operation Toy Train
Funding: Boxcar No. 2009 was newly donated to Operation Toy Train by the Firefighters Training & Education Foundation. Painting completed by Jeff Conner of Greenville, PA with lettering provided by FastSigns of East Hanover, NJ. Funding for paint and lettering provided by LHRy.

Date: November 2018
Project: Boxcar No. 1947 Restoration
Organization: Operation Toy Train
Funding: Boxcar No. 1947 was newly donated to Operation Toy Train by Wells Fargo Rail. Painting completed by Jeff Conner of Greenville, PA with lettering provided by FastSigns of East Hanover, NJ. Funding for paint and lettering provided by LHRy.

Date: September 2018
Project: 1937 25’ Yellow Coach Bus #5496
Organization: Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center (Bus Division)
Funding: Professionally completed restoration of 1937 Yellow Coach Model 733 bus to represent Public Service No. 5496. This restoration, funded by LHRy, was done by East Coast Bus Repair in So. Amboy, and it is now in running condition at Lakewood Garage.

Date: September 2018
Project: New Door for the Morton Building
Organization: Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center
Funding: The Phillipsburg Morton Building door was hacked to shreds by metal thieves to gain entry to building to steal metal (now all gone). In the background is the new, heavy duty, vandal resistant steel door and new door frame installed on Sunday, September 9, 2018, with LHRy providing substantial funding.

Date: September 1, 2018
Project: DL&W baggage car No. 2038 and Erie air brake training car No. 10
Organization: Tri-State Railway Historical Society / Operation Toy Train
Funding: Morristown & Erie Nos. 20 and 2354 moved Tri-State’s Erie No. 10 and DL&W No. 2038 from their 17-year storage location in Madison to Boonton Yard. Upon arrival, all of the brake valves on the DL&W baggage car were replaced in preparation for a COT&S. The baggage car will be restored to operation to be added to Operation Toy Train’s annual Toys for Tots collection train consist. LHRy funded the move and the brake work. All photos by Rudy Garbely.

Date: June 2018
Project: A. J. Meerwald
Organization: Bayshore Center at Bivalve
Funding: LHRy provided funding for an engine room automatic fire extinguishing system and new, replacement sails for New Jersey's official "Tall Ship."  She is a wood, 1928 former Delaware Bay Oyster Schooner, which is owned, restored, and operated on public and charter sails between the Delaware Bay/River and Liberty State Park, as well as points between.

Date: February 2018
Project: Trackless Transit No. 60, a 1948 GMC model TDH 3207
Organization: Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center (Bus Division)
Funding: Engine and transmission rebuild, as well as later body repair and repainting, to be completed with grants from LHRy. Work to be performed at US Coach of Vineland, NJ. Trackless Transit was an Essex County, NJ bus operator.

Date: January 2018
Project: DL&W MU Parlor Car No. 2454
Organization: Whippany Railway Museum
Funding: The LHRy Board voted unanimously to fund the outstanding invoice of contractor StarTrak ($44,000 has been paid) and completion of restoration work.  Note: The replica individual wicker chairs have already been produced.

Date: January 2018
Project: Spare Battleship New Jersey 16" Gun Barrels
Organization: The Mahan Collection Foundation
Funding: LHRy donated $10,000 toward the expenses involved in moving (by rail) two of three spare 16", 124 ton gun barrels from the Battleship New Jersey for preservation and display. One of the three moved to Philadelphia Naval Yard, while the other two (funded by LHRy) are being moved to BB62 (battleship New Jersey) at Camden. One of these will be trucked from Camden to The Mahan Collection Foundation in Basking Ridge, NJ.

Date: January 2018
Project: Morristown & Erie Railbus #10
Organization: Whippany Railway Museum
Funding: Reupholstery of all seat cushions in the railbus was funded by LHRy.

Date: December 2017
Project: Toys for Tots Collection Train
Organization: Operation Toy Train
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway is a continuing supporter of Operation Toy Train, which collected 25,454 toys during its four days of operation in December of 2017.

Year: 2017
Project: Public Service of NJ GMC bus No. B340
Organization: Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center (Bus Division)
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway provided $5,000 towards the restoration and repainting of this bus into its original colors.

Date: November 16, 2017
Project: PRR N6b Caboose No. 981775
Organization: PRR N6b No. 981775 Project
Funding: A former Pemberton Trust collection steel frame in good condition was donated to the PRR N6b No. 981775 Project by Scott Kwaitkowski from Ringoes, NJ on the Black River & Western Railroad. Payment for the crane and trucking of the frame to the work site in Columbus, NJ was paid for by Ed Rizzo and LHRy director J.R. May, who jointly head the restoration team. Funding for new lumber has been provided by LHRy.

Date: November 11, 2017
Project:1937 Yellow Coach Model 733 bus
Organization: Friends of the NJ Transportation Heritage Center (Bus Division)
Funding: Originally owned by Lancaster Ohio (where buses replaced trolleys). Acquired by LHRy Chair Bill McKelvey and restored as Public Service #5496 ca. 1990. Donated to Friends of the NJ Transportation Heritage Center and stored at Phillipsburg. LHRy funded movement of bus from Phillipsburg to East Coast Bus Repair in South Amboy for repairs (to make operational and repainting) before going to Lakewood. Trucking provided by Somerset Hills Towing.

Year: 2017
Project: 1913 Allis-Chalmers Vertical Triple Expansion Steam Water Pumping Engine
Organization: Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center
Funding: Restoration of original People's Water Co. in Phillipsburg, NJ, owned by Warren County and leased to the Friends of the NJ Transportation Heritage Center. Repair and restoration work is being performed by three volunteer steam enthusiasts: Alexander Karnes, BA; Phillip Beard, Undergraduate; and Phil Christopher, Second Class High Pressure Boiler Fireman, State of MA. Liberty Historic Railway will pay costs of repairs, replacement parts, machining, welding, special tools, gaskets, solvents, lubricants, etc. Ken Miller is paying hotel expenses for the three volunteer steam engineers, who travel from MA on selected weekends.

Year: 2017
Project: PSE&G Whitcomb 25T Locomotive
Organization: Liberty Historic Railway
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway funded the 2016 acquisition, movement, and full restoration of this locomotive. Scroll down to see our report on this project in 2016, or click here for more information!

Date: 2017
Projects: PA System and Promotional Signage for Track Cars in Cape May Area
Organizations: Volunteer Railroaders Association / Cape May Seashore Lines
Funding: LHRy funded promotional signage and a public address system for track cars to give the public trips for bird and wildlife observation in the Cape May area. The track and motor-power cars are owned by the Volunteer Railroaders Association, while Cape May Seashore Lines operates the trips between Cape May station and the Cape May Canal. CMSL is the designated operator of the track which is owned by NJ Transit. LHRy also funded grit blasting some of the VRA equipment prior to painting. 

Date: 2017
Projects: Track rehabilitation of the Bel Del south of Riegelsville
Organization: New York, Susquehanna & Western Technical & Historical Society
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway purchased and donated a truckload of ties to upgrade track and extend the short excursion ride on the Milford, NJ end of the Bel Del line.

Year: 2017
Project: CNJ Blue Comet Coach D'Arrest
Organization: United Railroad Historical Society of NJ (URHS)
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway funded a significant portion of moving the D'Arrest, stored at Winslow Jct., by truck to Kenvil. Click here for more information!

Year: 2017
Project: 1960s Mack M123A1C Ten-Ton Tractor & M172 Trailer
Organization: The Mahan Collection Foundation
Funding: Purchased by Liberty Historic Railway from prior owner Capt. Phillip Francis and donated to The Mahan Collection Foundation, Basking Ridge, NJ - the largest collection of restored Mack trucks in the world. This truck was formerly assigned to the 104th Engineer Battalion at Teaneck, NJ Armory, and the trailer was used to haul military D7 bulldozers.

Year: 2017
Project: DL&W MU Parlor Car No. 2454
Organization: Whippany Railway Museum
Funding: LHRy located vintage quad air horns and enamel“Watch Your Step” signs for WRyM's historic MU car, purchased and donated both to the museum, and funded the restoration of the horns.

Year: 2017
Project: steamboat Splash
Organization: Delaware River Steamboat Floating Classroom, Inc.
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway granted $6,000 for new boiler tubes for the Splash's steam boiler. Work was completed in time for their 2017 operating season.

Year: 2017
Project: CNJ Blue Comet CoachWestphal
Organization: United Railroad Historical Society of NJ (URHS)
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway funded moving the Westphal, stored at Winslow Jct., by truck to Kenvil. Click here for more information!

Year: 2017
Project: Somerset Bus Company, Ford Transit bus #9082
Organization: Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center (Bus Division)
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway funded the complete exterior restoration of this bus to its original colors. Click here for more information!

Date: 2017
Project: Pennsylvania Railroad F41 flatcar #469521
Organization: United Railroad Historical Society of NJ (URHS)
Funding: LHRy periodically coats the oak deck of the flat with preservative to extend the life of the wood.

Year: 2017
Project: Morristown & Erie Railway C-424 No. 19
Organization: Tri-State Railway Historical Society
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway provided Tri-State with all $45,000 of the necessary funding to purchase the locomotive, thereby saving it from scrap and preserving it in operating condition for future generations.

Click here for a video of M&E #19
starting up in the URHS's Boonton Yard!

Year: 2016
Project: U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots "Operation Toy Train"
Organization: Military Transport Association / U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway became a sponsor of the annual Toys for Tots Train, which is organized by the Railroad Battallion of the North Jersey Chapter of the Military Transport Association.

Date: 2016
Projects: Track rehabilitation of the Bel Del south of Riegelsville, and planned new locomotive shop for the Delaware River Railroad Excursions
Organization: New York, Susquehanna & Western Technical & Historical Society
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway donated $4,000.

Year: 2016
Project: New York, Susquehanna & Western Wig-Wag Signal
Organization: Whippany Railway Museum / Friends of the NJ Transportation Heritage Center
Funding: This signal from Smiths Mills, NJ, owned by the Friends of the NJ Transportation Heritage Center and loaned to the Whippany Railway Museum, was transported and restored to operation with funding donated by LHRy.

Year: 2016
Project: Canal boat
Organization: Canal Society of New Jersey
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway funded and coordinated the movement of a rare canal boat, located in the foundation of a residence, to its new location at Waterloo Village.

Year: 2016
Project: Whitcomb 25T Locomotive
Organization: Liberty Historic Railway
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway acquired the locomotive, transported it to its new home in Boonton, and began restoration.

Year: 2015
Project: 1990 Dodge hi-rail truck
Organization: Liberty Historic Railway
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway acquired this former U.S. Navy (Naval Weapons Station Earle) truck, repainted it, and restored it to operation.

Year: 2015
Project: 1906 Lisbon trolley (built by the John Stephenson Company of Elizabeth, NJ)
Organization: Whippany Railway Museum
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway acquired title for this trolley from the Friends of the NJ Transportation Heritage Center, and transferred title to the Whippany Railway Museum. Subsequently, LHRy donated $10,000 to the Museum for transport of the car to a display location at Whippany and its restoration. 

Year: 2015
Project: Erie SW9 locomotive #436
Organization: United Railroad Historical Society of NJ (URHS)
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway provided the funding and manpower to cosmetically restore this locomotive to its original Erie colors.

Year: 2015
Project: American Brake Shoe & Foundry Co. 0-4-0T #1
Organization: Great Falls Development Corporation
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway paid for the asbestos abatement on this locomotive, which is on display outside the Paterson Museum (housed in the former Rogers Locomotive Works building, where this locomotive was built).

Year: 2014
Project: GE 45T Locomotive
Organization: Liberty Historic Railway / United Railroad Historical Society of NJ (URHS)
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway acquired the locomotive, transported it to its new home in Boonton, and restored it to operation before donating it to the URHS.

Year: 2013
Project: general historic education
Organization: Black River Railroad Historical Trust
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway donated $10,000 towards Black River's mission of preserving the history and heritage of NJ railroading and educating the public on railroad safety.

Year: 2013
Project: USA 0-6-0 #4039
Organization: Whippany Railway Museum
Funding: A $10,000 donation was made to the Whippany Railway Museum for boiler work on their steam locomotive #4039.

Year: 2012
Project: Boonton Shop Building
Organization: StarTrak
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway provided startup funding for StarTrak's new shop in Boonton Yard, which is used to restore equipment owned by the United Railroad Historical Society of NJ (URHS) and other railroad preservation groups.

Year: 2012
Project: Atlantic City Transportation Co. car #250, Five Mile Beach Electric Railway (Wildwood, NJ) car #34, and Public Service of NJ car #2431
Organization: Shore Line Trolley Museum
Funding: Liberty Historic Railway donated $10,000 towards the preservation of these three New Jersey streetcars.

Year: 2012
Project: Texaco 0-4-0T fireless cooker #7240
Organization: Whippany Railway Museum
Funding: A $10,000 donation was made to the Whippany Railway Museum for work on several pieces of equipment, including Texaco fireless cooker #7240.

Year: 2010-2014
Project: CNJ Jersey City Terminal / Liberty State Park
Organization: Liberty Historic Railway
Funding: Click here to learn about Liberty Historic Railway's initiatives in Liberty State Park.