Mass Bay RRE supports railroad preservation projects through two grant programs: The H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award and the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund Grants.
THE H. ALBERT WEBB MEMORIAL RAILROAD PRESERVATION AWARD
The purpose of the H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award is to assist in the preservation of New England railroad history. Nonprofit, tax-exempt [Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3)] organizations that preserve historically significant railroad equipment, structures or information from New England railroads are eligible to apply, whether or not they are based in New England.
Leigh Webb, the son of the late H. Albert Webb and donor of the Award, has committed to an annual award grant of $10,000. The Award grant may fund either an entire preservation project or the completion of a specific, measurable portion of a larger preservation project.
Mr. Webb has designated the Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc. (Mass Bay RRE) as the administrator of the H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award. Each year the Mass Bay RRE Board of Directors appoints an Award Committee to conduct the selection process and make recommendations to Mr. Webb, who makes the final Award selection. Among other considerations, projects will be evaluated on the basis of their historical significance and the ability of the sponsor to fund and complete the entire preservation project, not just that portion to be funded by the Award grant.
The Greenville Junction Depot Friends of Greenville, Maine, was the recipient of the 2023 H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award. This $10,000 grant enabled the Friends to complete construction of a deck and and ramp connecting the freight house section of the depot to the recently-acquired Bodfish Section House and providing full ADA access to the Depot.
Learn more about the H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award
Read Leigh Webb's moving tribute to his father and the significance of railroad preservation: Dad, Me and the RRE
THE MASS BAY RRE RAILROAD PRESERVATION FUND
Mass Bay RRE established the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund in 2016 to further support worthy projects to preserve historically significant railroad equipment, structures, information or artifacts in New England. Grants, generally not exceeding $5000, are awarded annually, funded by the Club's available funds and donations to the fund from members.
Each year, Mass Bay RRE designates its largest Preservation Fund grant or grants as “The Ralph S. Hawkins Memorial Railroad Preservation Grant” to honor and preserve the memory of its dear friend and supporter, Ralph Hawkins, who died suddenly early in 2018.
Nonprofit, tax-exempt [501(c)(3)] organizations are eligible to apply for a Mass Bay RRE Preservation Grant. Projects will be evaluated on the basis of their historical significance and the ability of the sponsor to fund and complete the entire preservation project, not just that portion to be funded by the Mass Bay RRE grant.
Since its inception in 2016, the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund Grants has made grants totaling $175,000 to help preserve New England railroad equipment, structures and artifacts. For details and a complete list of Grant recipients, see the Grants page using the link below:
Learn more about the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund
Donate to the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund
2024 AWARD/GRANT APPLICATIONS & INSTRUCTIONS
The application period for the H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award and the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Grants is now closed. We expect to announce the recipients of the 2024 H. Albert Webb Award and the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund Grants in early 2024. The application period for the 2025 H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award and the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Grants will open in September of 2024.
