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About the National Railway Historical Society
The importance of the railroads to the growth and expansion of
the United States is a compelling story. We all share a genuine
interest in this all-encompassing industry which has woven an iron
and steel path across the face of the nation.
It was this interest in preserving what had passed and what
lay ahead that in 1935 inspired a group of rail historians to
form the National
Railway Historical Society at. From fewer than 40 persons,
the NRHS has grown to include over 17,000 men and women of all
ages and professions in every state and many foreign countries,
making it the nation's largest rail historical society. The NRHS
is a non-profit section 501(c)(3) organization, and contributions
are tax-deductible.
Most members belong to one of our more that 170 chapters. Each
one has its own activities - presenting slide and movie programs,
restoring rail equipment, managing rail museums, running rail
excursions, publishing newsletters and books, or simply providing
a way to enjoy the lore of railroading. Chapter affiliation
brings people together to exchange ideas and information about
their avocation and to take part in group activities. For those
who do not wish to affiliate with a chapter, and Associate
Membership brings the BULLETIN and other NRHS benefits - and can
be upgraded to Chapter membership at any time.
The Annual Convention is a highly visible NRHS function. Each
year several hundred members gather in a place of railroading
significance, and the results are publicized nationwide. From
prominent guest speakers to local area tours to spectacular rail
excursions, there's enjoyment for everyone at an NRHS Convention.
The NRHS is managed by a Board of Directors consisting of the
national officers and a director from each chapter. These
administrators meet at least three times a year to discuss and
govern the Society. Members can take part in an annual membership
meeting help at the Convention.
All the accomplishments of the NRHS are achieved by volunteers
from its ranks. The NRHS is proud of its many family teams that
provide leadership and skills in chapter and national projects. A
mixture of the "fan" and the serious administrator have
made the NRHS the leader in rail preservation, history and
operation.
Back in 1935 the founders of the NRHS recognized the need to
preserve and promote railroading nationwide. This need still
exists - and you can be a part of our efforts.
Photographing or preserving locomotives... riding or running
trains...reading or researching history... there's something for
you in the National
Railway Historical Society. We invite you to join us in this
fascinating and rewarding world of railroading.
History of the
NRHS Emblem
The official emblem now in use is the second one designed for the organization since its founding in 1935. The original emblem adopted was a "keystone" design, with the front of the locomotive and the front of a trolley car side by side. It was approved at a board meeting held in Lancaster, PA on February 13, 1936. It represented the first attempt to establish a herald for our then very young railway club. The thought behind the keystone shape was "to symbolize the paramount importance of the work this organization can do for posterity." The trolley and locomotive represented and indicated the extreme interest of our original members in scale model railroading. However, because many persons thought it gave an impression of leaning toward the Pennsylvania Railroad due to the shape of its outline, the Board of Directors, at the suggestion of Ed Reese, of Lancaster, PA, authorized the ground work for a new emblem design in October 1937.
Mr. David Bowers of the Philadelphia Chapter, a highly skilled professional artist and designer, finally perfected the present circular shaped herald with the attractively proportioned 4-4-0 gracing its center focal point. It was adopted by official action of the board at a special meeting held in Philadelphia on January 7, 1937. It has remained the same ever since, with the exception of one slight design change. The original drawing had a silhouetted map in the sky over the locomotive. But because this may have blurred on small reproductions, it was removed from the design in October 1947.
The emblem first appeared on the April 1937 Bulletin and on membership cards for that year. By July of that same year, Mr. Bowers had adapted the design onto the membership button, the first of which were hand assembled by another member, Mr. Martin Flattley." (Excerpted from the Society Newsletter, September 1998, by Tom Moss, Chapter National Director, Intermountain Chapter, NRHS; Vol 38, No. 4, May - June 1999 Intermountain News)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE NATIONAL CHAPTER,
PLEASE WRITE:
NRHS
P.O. Box 58547
Philadelphia, PA 19102-8547
Or E-Mail: nrhs@compuserve.com
NRHS and its
logo are trademarks of the National Railway Historical Society
Photos are by Chris Behe unless otherwise noted.
