Railroad Preservation
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.
2026 AWARD/GRANT APPLICATIONS & INSTRUCTIONS
A single, unified application form is used for both the H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award and the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Fund Grants. Organizations may apply for both the Webb Award and a Mass Bay RRE Grant, but only one Award or Grant will be made to any given project.
The application period for the H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award and the Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Grants is NOW OPEN. The application period will close at 11:59 PM on Monday, December 1, 2025.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the convenient ON-LINE APPLICATION.
Download the 2026 APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applicants may also use the downloadable, fillable PDF APPLICATION.
Completed PDF applications may be submitted by email to: awards@massbayrre.org or by US Mail to: Award 2026, Mass Bay RRE, P.O. Box 4245, Andover, MA 01810-0814.
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 Bartlett Roundhouse Preservation Society of Bartlett, New Hampshire received the 2025 H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award. The $10,000 grant will enable the Society to repair or replace two of the four sets of doors on the roundhouse.
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 $5,000, are awarded annually, funded by the Club's available funds, donations to the fund from members, and a grant from the Samual L. Freeman Charitable Trust.
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. Read our tribute to Ralph Hawkins.
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 $285,000 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