The Railroad & Industrial Preservation Society, Inc. is honored to announce receipt of a $5,000 grant from the Berkheimer Foundation of Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania to further the restoration of the last surviving diesel-electric locomotive from the Lehigh & New England Railroad (LNE), 77-year- old #611. The grant was arranged by the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (https://www.lehighlines.org).
This comes just weeks after a previously announced $10,000 grant from Norfolk Southern.
Both the Berkheimer Foundation and the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society have supported the project for a decade, supporting the fledgling L&NE Preservation Society that first took interest in saving #611. The Chapter was the only historical society that both acknowledged the historic value of the locomotive and was willing to take the risk to save it. There has been unwavering support from the Berkheimer Foundation from the beginning. It is thanks to all of these parties that the locomotive returned to Pennsylvania in 2016.
The Railroad & Industrial Preservation Society, Inc. acquired the locomotive on Halloween 2021, 60 years to the date after the LNE shut down and is proud to continue the effort. And we are thrilled the Berkheimer Foundation and the Chapter continue their support.
