United Railroad Historical Society of NJ

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United Railroad Historical Society of NJ

The United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey, Inc.

(URHS) is a non-profit educational organization directed at supporting the preservation of historical railroad equipment and artifacts for the proposed New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center or in its absence, another railroad museum in New Jersey.

09/05/2026

This weekend is Railfest at Steamtown National Historic Site!

Our 1947 Railway Express Agency delivery truck is among the many visiting exhibits on display for the weekend. You’ll find us parked just outside the History Museum, near to the Railway Post Office car.

While you’re there, be sure to check out a special pop-up exhibit of Railway Express Agency and Railway Post Office artifacts, put together especially for Railfest. We’ll see you there!

08/24/2026

Looking for an interesting and rewarding way to give back to your community? Join URHS as a volunteer! There are many ways to get involved in the coming weeks—whether you enjoy getting your hands dirty or not!

Sunday, September 27, is Railroad Museum [for a day] 2026, our biggest annual event during which hundreds of visitors will fill Boonton Yard during the Boonton Day street fair. The following weekend, Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4, the yard will be open for a free open house as part of Morris County’s Pathways of History.

Many volunteers are needed to help visitors safely board, explore, and learn about our historic locomotives and railroad cars. No experience is necessary! Just bring your passion for trains or your desire to give back. You can volunteer during these events, help with preparations over the next few weeks, or join one of our weekly restoration-shop workdays.

Sign up today at https://www.urhs.org/volunteer

08/11/2026

📢**Railroad Museum [for a day]** returns on Sunday, September 27, 2026! Come get a rare look at our collection of cars and locomotives at Boonton Yard, along with visiting exhibits, antique vehicles, and live music. Many of our artifacts will be open to climb aboard, and you can learn about railroad history in a hands-on, true-to-life way. As always, we are hosting this event alongside the Boonton Day street fair, and our free shuttle bus will connect you with the entertainment, vendors, and food trucks on Main Street.

Visit the link in the comments for tickets and more information. Receive a discount and skip the line when you buy in advance!

RSVP at Railroad Museum [for a day] 2026 to get updates and announcements about visiting attractions!

07/09/2026

We are proud to share that the Morris County Board of County Commissioners has awarded New Jersey's Merci Train Boxcar an $18,560 grant through the Historic Preservation Trust Fund! This grant will cover 80% of the cost of preparing the design and contract documents for the interior and exterior preservation and restoration of this remarkable historic artifact.

We are also excited to announce that the New Jersey Questers have generously donated the remaining 20% matching funds, $4,640, fully funding this crucial first phase of the restoration project, for a total project cost of $23,200.

URHS extends a sincere thank you to Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects, LLC, who have partnered with us on this project from the very beginning. Their expertise has been instrumental in the boxcar's progress thus far, and we look forward to continuing our work together to restore this extraordinary piece of history.

Morris County has an exceptional network of both public and private support for historic preservation. Our collection of more than 70 historic railroad cars and locomotives is fortunate to call this county home. We are deeply grateful for the support of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, the Historic Preservation Trust Fund Review Board, and the many organizations and individuals who make historic preservation a priority. We look forward to being responsible stewards of these public funds.

You, too, can help preserve this unique piece of history by making a donation toward the continued restoration of the Merci Train Boxcar at https://www.urhs.org/mercitrain.

07/03/2026

🇺🇸 We’re answering Morris County Government’s call to “Light to Unite!” 🇺🇸 Boonton Yard, along with other landmarks across the county, will be lit from tonight through July 8.

Today, July 2, marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Lee Resolution, formally declaring the 13 American colonies independent from Great Britain. July 8 will mark the 250th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration. Be sure to join your community on July 8, when the Declaration is read simultaneously at 6:00 p.m. across the country!

In 250 years, few institutions have done more to define the American spirit than the railroads. For nearly 200 years, railroads have built, sustained, and united this country. We at URHS are proud to steward this important part of our nation’s history.

Happy Birthday, America! 🇺🇸

04/09/2026

More seats added! Our New York Central No. 37 has been added to our previously sold-out Auburn Road Special. Book today before the train sells out again!

Purchase tickets now at https://www.urhs.org/auburnroadspecial

The Auburn Road Special will have two back to back departures on April 18 and 19. On each of these special excursions, you will enjoy:
➤ A 6-hour, round-trip, rare-mileage trip from Solvay, NY to Seneca Falls
➤ URHS's signature first-class seating and service
➤ Onboard dining with beer and wine for purchase
➤ Two photo run-bys
➤ Tour of the restored 1870 Martisco Depot
➤ Exclusive New York Central–themed take-homes

Tickets aboard the NYC 37 are available in groups of 2 or 4 at reserved tables. Fore more info, visit https://www.urhs.org/auburnroadspecial

04/01/2026

Back to the Finger Lakes Rail Experience! New York Central lounge No. 37 and Pennsylvania coach No. 1547 came home to Boonton Yard for repairs and restroom renovations over the winter. Now they’re headed back north for a second, bigger season in New York. You can ride these beauties starting in May. Tickets go on sale soon!

02/27/2026

Our Auburn Road Special excursion is sold out! Thank you to all who are riding with us and supporting our organization!

If you couldn't get a ticket this morning, be sure to sign up for our wait list to be notified if an opening appears. Head to our ticking page at https://www.urhs.org/auburnroadspecial, click on that date and car you want to ride, and fill out the form to be notified if space opens up. You will also be the first to be alerted to new opportunities!

We'll see you in the Finger Lakes!

02/26/2026

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the Auburn Road Special! This is your rare chance to ride the Finger Lakes Railway, and you'll be riding in style aboard one of our three authentic New York Central lounge cars.

On each of these special excursions, you will enjoy:

➤ A 6-hour, round-trip, rare-mileage trip from Solvay, NY to Seneca Falls
➤ URHS's signature first-class seating and service
➤ Onboard dining with beer and wine for purchase
➤ Two photo run-bys
➤ Tour of the restored 1870 Martisco Depot
➤ Exclusive New York Central–themed take-homes

Special added perks are included with tickets aboard the Hickory Creek, including an onboard chef-prepared meal, beer and wine included, and a single-engine consist for unobstructed eastbound observation viewing.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10am on our website. Refresh the page at 10am to find the ticket link, and get your seat before they're gone. This is an exclusive event and only 78 seats are available per trip!

02/23/2026

📢 ANNOUNCING 📢 The Auburn Road Special! Join us April 18 & 19 for a one-weekend-only railfan event with two excursions covering the east end of the Finger Lakes Railway, the New York Central's former "Auburn Road" branch. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 27 at 10 a.m. There are fewer than 80 tickets per trip, and they will sell fast!

Aboard one of URHS’s three authentic New York Central lounge cars, you will enjoy:

➤ A 6-hour, rare mileage excursion from Solvay, NY to Seneca Falls
➤ URHS's signature first-class seating and service
➤ Onboard dining with beer and wine for purchase
➤ Two photo run-bys
➤ Tour of the restored 1870 Martisco Depot
➤ Exclusive New York Central–themed take-homes

Special added perks are included with tickets aboard the Hickory Creek, including an onboard chef-prepared meal, beer and wine included, and a single-engine consist for unobstructed eastbound observation viewing.

To make this trip even more special, funds raised from your ticket will be dedicated to planned improvements to the Hickory Creek this year! We thank our partners Finger Lakes Rail Experience, FMW Solutions, and the Finger Lakes Railway for making this special opportunity available. We'll see you on board!

Address

104 Morris Avenue
Boonton, NJ
07005

Website

http://urhs.org/

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