The National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) has kicked off its annual Outstanding Railroad Historic Preservation Award program recognizing a railroad’s historic preservation efforts. NRHS for the fourth year is partnering with Railway Age to present the 2026 award in honor of a common-carrier railroad for its efforts to preserve railroad history in the United States, Canada or Mexico.
“NRHS is honored to continue its partnership with Railway Age in recognizing an exemplary North American railroad preservation project,” said NRHS President Tony White. “In alignment with our mission to preserve railroad history in all its forms, this award formally acknowledges distinguished preservation efforts by common-carrier railroads. We invite nominations from NRHS members and Railway Age subscribers for projects that most fully exemplify the enduring principles of railroad preservation.”
“Railway Age has been chronicling the rail industry since our founding in 1856,” Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono noted. ”This year, during the 250th anniversary of the United States, and as the U.S. rail industry prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2027, it’s essential that we continue to partner with NRHS on a preservation award. We are eager to honor an outstanding example of this commitment to historic preservation.”
The criteria for the Outstanding Railroad Historic Preservation Award:
Projects may include locomotives or any type of rolling stock, buildings, stations, a rail line, or a significant rail line feature such as a bridge, viaduct, tunnel, etc.
Projects that result in returning the asset to use as originally intended will be prioritized vs. a static display or no longer operational asset.
Projects accessible to the public will be prioritized for recognition (for example, periodic operation of historically significant railroad equipment, scheduled excursion train service, publicly accessible historically preserved railroad stations, or buildings and/or museums displaying historic railroad artifacts).
Historic railroads, tourist lines and museums not operated by common-carrier railroads are ineligible for this award
For full information on the award program, and to nominate a railroad preservation project, see the NRHS website. The nomination period is open through April 17. The award will be presented during a ceremony at Railway Interchange, Omaha, Neb., on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
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