“The specific purpose of The CRHS shall be (1) to encourage the writing, collection, and preservation of historical and contemporary material associated with the Consolidated Rail Corporation and Conrail Shared Assets Operations (hereinafter jointly referred to as "Conrail"), and (2) to preserve the heritage of Conrail and its predecessor railroads by acquiring, restoring, preserving, and interpreting materials associated with Conrail.”
What exactly was "CONRAIL," anyway?
"Conrail," which is short for "Consolidated Rail Corporation," was a federally-created railroad that rescued the northeast's financially troubled rail system in 1976. Purchased in 1999 jointly by the Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation, Conrail now lives on through the preservation efforts of The Conrail Historical Society.
So why does CONRAIL history need to be preserved?
Conrail's existence from 1976 through its demise in 1999 was one of the most significant developments in the American railroad industry. However, with every passing year, more and more of Conrail's legacy is destroyed by increasingly modernized railroading procedures. The Conrail Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was formed in 1995 to take custody of important Conrail artifacts, documents, and stories and ensure their preservation.
What does The Conrail Historical Society do?
The Conrail Historical Society is dedicated to preservation of Conrail's history in several ways:
Events (ranging from barbeques to conventions)
Articles & publications (including the Conrail Quarterly, our members-only magazine)
Historic photo collection & archiving
Museum relations & cooperation
Model manufacturer consultation
How can I get involved?
Visit our membership page to join!