Black River & Western Railroad

Projects

The BRRHT is running several projects to preserve railroad history and enhance our passengers' experience. Take a look through the information below to learn about what we've recently accomplished and what we're currently working on. On current projects, use the Donation button to make a contribution that will directly benefit that project!

Our current major project is the restoration of coach #1009.
Click Here To Learn About Coach #1009!

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Project Status: In progress (85% complete) Project Started: January 2011 Project Finished: TBD Donations Needed: Hand tools

Baggage Car 8424 was built for the New York Central Railroad, and eventually became the property of Amtrak. The BR&W purchased the car from Amtrak and moved it to Ringoes where it sat unused for several years. The BRRHT determined space was needed for storage and as a workshop to support restoration projects and this car fit the bill. The car is located in its semi-permanent location on the inside A-Line track near Ringoes Station and is currently in use as a storage and workshop car.

Project Status: Complete Project Started: 2005 Project Finished: 2008 Donations Needed: None

This hand-operated Fairmont crane was donated to the BRRHT by the BR&W. It carries the distinction of being the only piece of rolling stock purchased brand-new by the BR&W. After several years of disuse and deterioration, the crane was pulled from the weeds (literally!) by BRRHT volunteers and lovingly restored to operating condition. Currently on display at the entrance to the parking lot at Ringoes Station, the crane will eventually be used to support track rehabilitation projects on the BR&W.

Project Status: Complete Project Started: 2011 Project Finished: 2011 Donations Needed: None

Museum Car #420 was built in 1915 for the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) as baggage car #420 by the Harlan & Hollingsworth Company. It was purchased by the BR&W in 1965. It was shipped from Elizabethport, NJ to Somerville, NJ, then brought down to Flemington on the CNJ Flemington Branch. In Flemington the car was interchanged to the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) and moved the rest of the way to Ringoes. The car served as the BR&W git shop from 1966 until the late 1990's, then sat unused for several years before being acquired by the BRRHT. In 2011 Museum Curators Greg Ill and Pete Reimer, with assistance from Mark Krisanda, Kevin Knobl, and Rich Anderson Sr, transformed the aging car into a musuem housing a wide variety of railroad memorabilia illustrating the story of railroading in the Northeast, with particular focus on the history of the BR&W. The museum is open to visitors during most weekends when BR&W passenger trains operate.