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Railroad History & Preservation - Central

This page provides a directory of railroad historical societies, railway preservation groups, and websites offering a history of railroads in Central USA and Canada.

Amazon.com Railroad History Books - Thousands of new, used, and out-of-print railroad history books

American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation (APRHF) - Plans an educational exhibition in La Plata, Missouri, featuring the history of passenger rail in America

Arkansas Railroad Club - North Little Rock, Arkansas

Arkansas Railroad History - Photos and information related to Arkansas railroad history

Arkansas-Boston Mountains Chapter, NRHS - Railroad historical society meets monthly in Springdale, Arkansas

Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Subjects - Information about Santa Fe depots, coaling towers, water facilities, motive power, and rolling stock

Auctions on eBay - 100,000+ collectibles and railroadiana items including vintage ads, maps, timetables, tickets, stock certificates, watches, clocks, signs, lanterns, utensils, locks, apparel, and more

Blackhawk Chapter, NRHS - Studies Chicago and Northwest Indiana's rich railroad history; Lockport, Illinois

Bridges, Stations & Tunnels - Guide to the earliest, longest, highest, and largest railroad structures

British Train Society - Organization of British railway enthusiasts and modelers around Chicago, Illinois

Brodhead Historical Society - Operates a restored 1881 Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul depot with railroad equipment on display; Brodhead, Wisconsin

Burlington Route Historical Society - To preserve and disseminate historical information about the collective Burlington railroads; La Grange, Illinois

Canadian Pacific Railway Heritage Park & Interpretive Centre - Preserving the Portage la Prairie CP Rail Station in Manitoba, Canada

Central Electric Railfan's Association - Encourages the study of the history, equipment, and operation of urban, suburban, and mainline electric railways with a focus on the greater Chicagoland area

Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Historical Society - Preserves the history of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad and operates a museum in Watseka, Illinois

Chicago and North Western Historical Society - Overview, membership, company store, photos, and more

Chicago Chapter, NRHS - Meets monthly in Downers Grove, Illinois

Chicago Great Western Page - Photos, historical, and technical information about the Chicago Great Western Railway

Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad - History and photos of the North Shore Line, an interurban line that operated between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Chicago Tunnel Company - Information and photos about a 60 mile network of freight tunnels forty feet below the streets of downtown Chicago

Chicago's North Side Switching - Historical organization preserving the history of Chicago's near north side Milwaukee Road and C&NW railroad operations

Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad - History of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad

Choctaw Terminal - History of the Choctaw & Memphis Railroad's terminal in Little Rock, Arkansas

CN Lines Special Interest Group (SIG), NMRA - Covers the Canadian National family of railways with emphasis on equipment and modeling; Winnipeg, Canada

Coal Towers - Photographs of coaling towers from the early 1900s

Copper Range Railroad - History and photos of the Copper Range Railroad on Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula

Danville Junction Chapter, NRHS - Danville, Illinois

Duluth Depot - 1892 depot restored as the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center's Historic Union Depot; Duluth, Minnesota

Duluth, South Shore, and Atlantic Railway - Stretched from Duluth, Minnesota, through Wisconsin, to Sault St. Marie, Michigan, with branches running to Calumet and to St. Ignace in the early 1900s

Eagle Lake Depot - Documents the history and ongoing restoration of the former Gulf Colorado & Santa Fe Railway depot in Eagle Lake, Texas

Early Railroads - Records and firsts for railroad construction and operation in the U.S. and worldwide

El Paso Streetcars - The Paso Del Norte Streetcar Preservation Society is involved in the preservation of El Paso, Texas streetcars and streetcar history

ERIX RailCar - Restoration of Great Northern streamlined coach-dining car #1146

Fort Worth Tandy Center Subway - Private subway serving the Tandy Center in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, from 1963 to 2002

Fred's Arkansas Streetcars and Trolleys - Photos of the eight streetcar lines that served 13 towns around Arkansas

Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail - Advocates the conversion of the three mile elevated Bloomingdale Line railroad into a mixed-use trail and linear park in Chicago, Illinois

Frisco High Line, The - History of the Kansas City, Osceola, and Southern Railroad

Frisco Library - Discussion of the operations, equipment, and people of the Saint Louis and San Francisco Railway Company

Frisco's Eastern Division - Documents the history of the Frisco line from Pierce City, Missouri to Ellsworth, Kansas

Galesburg & Great Eastern Railroad - History and photos of a former 10-mile coal hauling line in Knox County, Illinois

Galesburg Railroad Days - Annual festival in Galesburg, Illinois

Gopher State Railway Museum - Preserving railroad history by building a railroad museum park in New Prague, Minnesota

Grasselli Tower - Preservation effort of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum to save the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad tower in East Chicago, Indiana

Great Northern Archive - Photos and rosters of the Great Northern Railway's streamlined passenger trains

Great Northern Empire - Photos, histories, and rosters of the Great Northern and its locomotives, rolling stock, and structures

Great Northern Railway Historical Society - Dedicated to the preservation, study, and history of James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway

GreatThirdRail.org - History of the Chicago Aurora & Elgin Railroad

Green Bay & Western Lines - History, maps, timetables, rosters, photos, and modeling information from a paper carrying line and bridge route that operated until 1993 between the Mississippi River at Winona, Minnesota and Lake Michigan at Kewaunee, Wisconsin

Gulf Coast Chapter, NRHS - Operates the Houston Railroad Museum; Houston, Texas

Historic Railpark - Historic railroad cars on display at the L&N Depot in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Houston Streetcar History Pages - History and photos of the two dozen former trolley routes in Houston, Texas

Hub City Heritage Corp. Railway Museum - Dedicated to preserving the structures, artifacts, paperwork, and equipment of the railroads of Oelwein, Iowa

Illinois Central Railroad Heritage Association - Preserves and documents the history and heritage of the Illinois Central Railroad, its predecessors, and successors, including the Chicago Central & Pacific, Illinois Central Gulf (ex-Illinois Central lines), Paducah & Louisville, Mid-South Railroad, and Canadian National-operated IC lines

Illinois Central Railroad Historical Society - Dedicated to the preservation of historical and educational information about the Illinois Central Railroad, and the many predecessor railroads that have been part of the Illinois Central System

Iowa Railroad Historical Society - Operates the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad and plans a railroad museum and library in Boone, Iowa

Iowa Traction Railroad - Electric freight railroad operates 13 miles between Clear Lake and Mason City, Iowa

James J. Hill and the Building of the Stone Arch Bridge - Online video tells the story behind the construction of James J. Hill's famous Minneapolis landmark, The Stone Arch Bridge

Jeff Prince's Guide to the Rock Island Lines - Diesel paint scheme guide, photos, and assorted RI subjects

Kansas City Southern Historical Society - Dedicated to preserving the history of the Kansas City Southern Railroad (KCS); Shreveport, Louisiana

Kansas City, Clay County & St. Joseph Interurban Railway - History and photos of the former interurban route between St. Joseph and Kansas City, Missouri

Katy Railroad Historical Society - Preserves the history of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (The Katy)

LeClaireRail.com - Collection of historic rail photos from the Edwardsville Illinois area in the 1950s, including the Nickel Plate, Litchfield & Madison, Illinois Terminal, Wabash, and others

Locomotive Records - Guide to the earliest, fastest, heaviest, largest, and most powerful steam locomotives

Malvern Roundhouse - History and photos of the 1887 Hot Springs Railroad roundhouse in Malvern, Arkansas

Mendota Museums & Historical Society - Promoting the preservation of the history of Mendota, Illinois, its railroads, and also recognizing agricultural heritage through three museums (including the Union Depot Railroad Museum)

Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transit Historical Society - Preserving the memories and artifacts of electric railway history in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Road - Pictures of Milwaukee Road passenger cars

Milwaukee Road Heritage Center - Preserving the Milwaukee Road history through extensive displays of railroad equipment and a working railroad yard with turntable; Montevideo, Minnesota

Milwaukee Road Historical Association - History and information regarding the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific RR

Milwaukee Road Online - Photos, roster, modeling information, and more about the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad and its predecessors

Mineral Point Railroad Society - The history of the operation and restoration of the Mineral Point, Wisconsin depot - the oldest remaining depot in Wisconsin and on the Milwaukee Road (1856)

Minnesota Railroad Stations Past & Present - Photos and information about train stations throughout the state

Missabe Railroad Historical Society - Railfans, modelers, and rail historians with an interst in the Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range Railway (DM&IR) and its predecessors

Mississippi Great Southern Chapter, NRHS - Railroad historical society in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Mississippi Rails - Histories and photos of past mainline, shortline, and logging railroads in Mississippi and Alabama

Missouri Pacific Historical Society - Preserving the rich history of the Missouri Pacific Railroad

Missouri Railroad Depots - Collection of photos, drawings, paintings, and post card art of more than 1200 railroad depots

Missouri-Illinois Railroad Railfan Site - History, maps, and photos of the Missouri-Illinois and Mississippi River & Bonne Terre Railroads

MOPAC Railroad Screaming Eagles - Photos and history of the Missouri Pacific, Texas & Pacific, C&EI, M-I, KO&G, and predecessor roads

Morrisonville Depot Preservation Society - Restoring the depot at Morrisonville, Wisconsin on the former Milwaukee Road, Madison & Portage line that is now part of Canadian Pacific Railway

Nashville, Chattanooga & St Louis Preservation Society - Preserves the buildings, rolling stock, papers, and motive power of the NC&StL

Nickel Plate Road Historical & Technical Society - Dedicated to preserving and disseminating information concerning the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad and its predecessor railroads

North Arkansas Line - History of the former Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad between Joplin, Missouri to Helena, Arkansas

North Texas Chapter, NRHS - Members from around the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area

Northstar Chapter, NRHS - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Northwest Indiana Railroad Preservation Society - Dedicated to the restoration and future operation of Nickel Plate Road 624 steam locomotive

Oregon Depot Restoration - History and news concerning the restoration of the CB&Q railroad station in Oregon, Illinois

Paducah Chapter, NRHS - Operates the Paducah Railroad Museum; Paducah, Kentucky

Pere Marquette Historical Society - Collects and disseminates information regarding the Pere Marquette Railroad, a Class One road which served Michigan, Ontario, Indiana, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin

Project Depot - Effort by the citizens of Mattoon, Illinois to save and restore their Illinois Central Railroad depot

Queen & Crescent Chapter, NRHS - Fosters the preservation of area railroad history and artifacts; Meridian, Mississippi

Railroad and Transportation Museum of El Paso, Friends of the - Brings together individuals and organizations supporting the concept of a railroad museum in El Paso, Texas

Railroad Artifact Preservation Society - Established to protect, restore, preserve, and display AT&SF steam locomotive number 5000, currently in Amarillo, Texas

Railroad Stations of San Antonio, TX - Photos and history of San Antonio (Sunset Depot, Missouri Pacific Station, MKT Rwy) and other Texas stations

Railroads in Kansas - Kansas railroad history by Stephen Chinn

Railway & Locomotive Historical Society - Southwest Chapter - Restores and preserves railroad equipment in El Paso, Texas

Record Railroad Routes - Guide to the highest, steepest, and longest railroad grades worldwide

Rock Island Technical Society - Preserving the history of the Rock Island Lines; Kansas City, Missouri

S.S. City of Milwaukee National Historic Landmark - Former railroad car ferry that served the GTW, PRR, and Ann Arbor Railroad from 1931 to 1981

Santa Fe Archives: R. L. Crump Library - Collection of AT&SF historical documents now available online

Save the 905 - Dedicated to the preservation and the restoration of Rock Island 4-6-2 steam locomotive #905 in Duncan, Oklahoma

Sedalia Katy Depot - 1896 Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway depot now houses railroad heritage exhibits; Sedalia, Missouri

Shore Line Interurban Historical Society - Railfan group interested in the electric railways of the Chicago area

Shortlines of Chicago Historical Society - Preserving historical information about industrial and shortline railroads in the Chicago metropolitan area

Siouxland Historical Railroad Association - Preserves the Milwaukee Road shop complex in Sioux City, Iowa

Soo Line Diesel Roster - Extensive photo roster for railfans and modelers alike

Soo Line Historical and Technical Society - Includes the Soo Line Railroad; Wisconsin Central; Algoma Central; Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway; Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern; and other Soo Line successors and predecessors

Southern Pacific T&NO Depot Restoration Project - Effort to restore the 1913 depot for use as a museum; Wharton, Texas

St. Louis Chapter, NRHS - Meets monthly in Chesterfield, Missouri

Steam Locomotive Heritage Association (Soo Line 1003) - Preserves and operates a 1913 2-8-2 steam locomotive for special excursions, primarily on the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad

Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Historical and Technical Society - History of the Terminal Railroad and St. Louis Union Station

Texas & Pacific Railway - T&P maps, ads, timetables, models, photos, rosters, and more

Texas & Pacific Railway Memories - T&P history, photos, and information for railfans and modelers

Texas Transportation Archive - Historic photographs, documents, and genealogy on Texas shortline, mainline, logging, and electric railroads

The 4000 Foundation, Limited - Preserves CB&Q steam locomotive #4000, the Grand Crossing Tower, and a caboose in Copeland Park, La Crosse, Wisconsin

The Alphabet Route - Histories, rosters, maps, photos, timetables, and more about the Midwest and Northeast railroads that joined together in 1931 to compete against the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad, including the Nickel Plate, Wheeling & Lake Erie, Pittsburgh & West Virginia, Western Maryland, Reading, Central Railroad of New Jersey, Lehigh & Hudson River, and New York, New Haven & Hartford

The City Transformed - Railroads and their influence on the growth of Chicago in the 1850s

Train Records - Guide to the fastest, longest, and heaviest trains in U.S. and world history

Train Wrecks - Guide to the earliest, deadliest, and strangest train wrecks, crashes, derailments, and accidents

Trinity Valley Railroad Historical Association - Promoting public interest in the railroad industry through the collection and preservation of historic artifacts, rolling-stock, and locomotives, and through the preservation of local and regional railroad history; Fort Worth, Texas

Unofficial CGW Web Site - History of the Chicago Great Western Railway, merged into the CNW in 1968

Wabash Railroad Historical Society - Dedicated to the collection and preservation of historical artifacts, data, photos, and drawings on the history, operation, and equipment of the Wabash Railroad and its predecessors

Western Kentucky Chapter, NRHS - Meets monthly in Madisonville, Kentucky

Wisconsin Chapter, NRHS - Dedicated to gathering, preserving, and disseminating information, both historic and current, pertaining to railroading in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest; meets monthly in Fox Point, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society - Non-profit educational society preserving electric railway history since 1967

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Related RailServe.com Categories

Historical Societies: North America

Historical Societies: World

Railfan Discussion Groups: North America

Rails-to-Trails & Urban Greenways

Steam Locomotives

Tourist Railroads & Museums: North America

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