Program areas at NRHS
Convention: a National convention is held annually at a location of rail history significance and attended by several hundred people. Convention activities include seminars, field trips to visit railroads, Historical railroad sites, inspect rail facilities, observe operation of preserved railroad equipment and rail excursions, often on rail lines which rarely have passenger train service. The Society's conventions are open to members of the general public interested in Railway history. The 2022 convention was held in California and was attended by about 160 people.
Grants: since 1994, the National Railway Historical Society has awarded grants for projects that preserve, research, educate, or publish Railway history. Example projects include railroad structure and equipment stabilization, mechanical repairs, preservation and restoration, book publication, cataloging of archival materials, and oral history productions. The program is open to nrhs chapters and other 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations. The maximum award is $5,000 per year per project.
Railcamp: the Society operates two (2) one-week sessions of railcamp, a training program of seminars and field trips open to high school students from 9th to 12th grade, to provide a background in railroad history preservation, railroad history interpretation, which involves learning how to tell the story of railroad history to the general public, along with railroad operation and transportation career opportunities.
Publications: nrhs issues two (2) publications. Four printed issues of the "nrhs bulletin" were distributed to the members of the Society. This publication provides Historical data and information not likely to be covered in similar publications and provides a showcase for new writers in the field of railroad history. Six issues of "nrhs news" were distributed electronically to the members of the Society and posted the Society's web page. Three printed issues of this publication were also distributed. The purpose of this publication is to keep the members abreast of current events and activities taking place in the Society and in the field of railroad history.