Heritage Grant provided by the National Railway Historical Society accelerates restoration of century-old electric railway car
The National Railway Historical Society has been a leader in railway preservation since its inception in 1935.
June 14, 2022 - INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - The Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company is excited to announce Electrify 429, a campaign to revive one of Indiana’s last electric interurban cars, has received a $4,255 grant from the National Railway Historical Society’s Heritage Grant program. The award is made with support from the NRHS Indianapolis Chapter, and is one of 21 national grants awarded from the NRHS convention in Los Angeles, California. The organization is actively fundraising a $1,000 match to coincide with $1,100 in funds already raised for the grant project.
Using AI colorization, one can gain a better understanding of how the main passenger compartment will look and feel thanks to the generosity of an NRHS Heritage Grant (not color accurate). The Heritage Grant covers ceiling restoration, mahogany wood restoration, faux red mahogany wood-graining of the walls and light fixture repair.
“It’s an honor to be awarded a grant by an organization that has been at the forefront of rail preservation for nearly 90 years. Completing the interior cosmetics of No. 429 will be a major milestone for the overall restoration of the car, creating tangible evidence of our commitment to museum-quality and accurate work,” comments Jakob Stage, project manager and chief mechanical officer.
Similar work to that of the Heritage Grant was previously conducted within the interurban’s smoking section. New, railroad-grade wiring has been installed throughout the entire car for all lighting so as not to disturb interior restoration work in the future.
Union Traction Company No. 429 “Noblesville” was built in 1925 as a modern, heavy-duty car to transport Hoosiers to and from Indianapolis – connecting major towns and cities through the world’s premier electric railway network. Because of the interurban, many had a cost-effective, rapid mode of transportation to reach schools and businesses, forever changing the landscape and development of Indiana.
Electrify 429 is a capital campaign for the operational restoration of one of Indiana’s last interurbans – an intercity electric railway car. The NRHS Heritage Grant will be applied towards the interior restoration of the main passenger compartment, beginning phase three of a four-phase restoration plan and complementing prior smoking section restoration work supported by the Tom E. Dailey Foundation. The work includes ceiling repair, mahogany wood repair, paint, light fixture repair and faux wood-graining of the interior walls.The interurban No. 429 restoration is entering its third year at a private facility near Indianapolis, with mechanical restoration more than halfway complete as part of the project’s second phase.
Volunteers restore an original 1925-built mahogany door within the main passenger compartment of Union Traction interurban no. 429. The main compartment is the subject of this Heritage Grant. The motorman compartment access door, now nearly-complete, will be installed within the adjacent smoking section.
No. 429 will ultimately serve the organization and greater Hoosier community as part of the state’s only electric heritage railway. This community development project will provide authentic, immersive experiences aboard the state’s last electric railway cars to facilitate education, economic development and tourism. The organization plans for interurban No. 429 to be completed by its centennial birthday in 2025, and is actively securing a permanent home to preserve and operate its priceless electric railway cars for the public.
About the Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company - The Hoosier Heartland Trolley Company is an Indiana nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in 2018 to save the last remaining railroad cars representing Indiana’s rich electric railway heritage. The organization exists to spark imagination in people across all walks of life regarding the art, science, culture, technology and economic empowerment of Indiana’s world-renowned electric railway industry from the 20th century. The company is developing the state’s only electric heritage railway to immerse Hoosiers in authentic transportation experiences as a community asset for education, economic development and tourism. More information regarding preservation efforts, news and development can be found at hoosiertrolley.org.
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