The Iowa Railroad Historical Society [IRHS] is a passion project I founded to preserve and celebrate the rich railroad history of Norwalk, Iowa, and beyond. Our mission is to restore, maintain, and showcase historic locomotives and rail equipment, ensuring that future generations can experience the legacy of railroading firsthand. Whether it’s through hands-on restoration work, educational events, or community outreach, we’re dedicated to keeping railroad history alive. This isn’t just about machines—it’s about the stories, the people, and the impact railroads have had on shaping our world.
Thanks for reading!
No website is up yet still actively working on that
Gabe
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Good luck on your project GabeTehGameh
David
Just curious, Gabe, how do you find the resources to fund such projects?
Rich
I usually take some time to think about the pros and cons then I ask my family if it’s a good idea usually they tell me ‘If it feels right, then it is right to do it.’ or ‘If that’s the path I wanna go God won’t judge me.’ then they support me all the way through and I take the time to put the pieces together for a presentation for the City or State or any non-profit organizations that are willing to help with such an ambitious project that can leave a mark in history for both the City of Norwalk and the State of Iowa, Currently I’m awaiting a funding grant from The City of Norwalk (Funding for building track and any rail equipment needed), City of Iowa (Funding for the Purchasing of Diesel Locomotives that will enter Preservation), National Railway Historical Society [NRHS] (Funding for any extra or minor details needed to complete the Norwalk Railroad Preservation Society, and finally Donations are given to us at soon to be local pubic events that can boost morale and hopefully get more people involved that can affect how NRPS operates or will operate in the future.
Gabe
Founder, Norwalk Railroad Preservation Society (NRPS) - Est. February 6, 2025
Honoring the Rails, One Locomotive or Railcar at a Time.
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Thanks so much for that explanation, Gabe. That is pretty much along the lines that I was thinking, but I wanted to ask you just to be sure. I wish you much success in this endeavor. Please keep us posted on developments as they occur.
Rich
I’m also hoping to get a loan from City State Bank (CSB) of Norwalk for any extra funding needed to complete the project, UP and IAIS are willing to connect one or both ends of the line to one of their nearest Mainlines for any Locomotive or Railcar delivery(s) that will be made in the near future. Currently, nothing official has been released or will be released until further notice. I am also currently talking to EMD and GE about options on rebuilding the Metra F40PH-2(s) and rebuilding 4 GP40-2s to F40PHL-2s and painting them into Tri-Rail Colors with full licensing from the SFRTA for Tri-Rail logo use. I greatly appreciate the support Rich and anyone else. I will keep everyone posted on any developments and/or special events occurring with the NRPS
Gabe
Founder, Norwalk Railroad Preservation Society (NRPS) - Est. February 6, 2025
Honoring the Rails, One Locomotive or Railcar at a Time.
2 Likes
IRHS Website Up!
Still working on purchasing a domain name hopefully I’m going to use nrps-iowa as a .org domain but I have never purchased a web domain so I don’t know how it works yet.
IRHS Website
Gabe
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If anyone has any questions regarding the IRHS or the IRHS Website let me know
Gabe
Another heads up new blog post has been published
Potential Metra F40PH-2 Acquisition Blog Post | IRHS
Gabe
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Wow Gabe, I am impressed. I can’t wait to see where this goes!
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Thanks!
Hope you guys also signed up for an IRHS Account, If you want to save a seat when one of the F40s arrives to its new home here in Norwalk, IA. I’d suggest getting one now as they are free! when you purchase a ticket, an all-exclusive experience and possible F40 Cab Tour + Full interior Tour is included! Tickets are free until 03/01/2025 12:00 AM Chicago Central Standard Time It does say General admission but these tickets are for exclusive access the event/ceremony is completely free of charge, and exclusive tickets are $44.99 + Tax after 02/28/2025. they remain free currently!
Gabe
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Wow, I’ll be honest I initially thought you were a troll, but this is actually really cool.
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Glad to hear that @Mrchickenstrips!
If you have any knowledge of any locomotives that are on the brink of getting scrapped or retired and are rare or just common power with an interesting history, let me know I will try my best efforts to buy them for scrap value and restore them entirely or get them set up for static display on the new museum grounds.
Gabe
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If I were you, I’d get in contact with NRE in Mt. Vernon Illinois. They’re a rebuilder and have a vast dead-line.
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Thanks for that, I’ll contact them immediately, and any specific locomotives? I know that they have a good amount of older EMDs and GEs. I’m hoping I can get my hands on a GP40-2 and get it rebuilt to an F40PHL-2 Like Tri-Rail had in the '90s.
Gabe
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No, I don’t know any specifics. Mt. Vernon is about an hour north of me and I haven’t been over there in a while.
Just contacted them awaiting their response updates will be posted
EDIT: I asked about any Dash-8s, Dash-7s, Dash-9s (if any), P40s, U-Boats, etc. and a fair amount of EMDs, I’m currently Contacting Larry’s Truck and Electric (LTEX) on any similar units, No updates from Metra yet, I’m going to call the help desk myself tomorrow morning if any thought went into it
EDIT 2: Forgot to mention, I offered NRE a Partnership/offer to be our sponsor if they do take any thought and a official number of units we are receiving is given, Tickets to the “Welcome to Your New Home” Event will be dropped in March in time for the spring season.
Gabe
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If you are not a member of www.rypn.com, you should join them. There is a new preservation society ‘powered by’ Patreon, set up to appeal to those comfortable with modern social media and access. They get around much of the potential trouble involved in museums and government grants, many of which turn out to have unfortunate strings attached (study the sad and tortured history of PRR 1361 to see many of the concerns in one case study!)
If you are going to pursue grants… get a good piece of grant-writing software, and find one or more mentors experienced in effective ‘Dr. Grant Swinger’ operation. You will at some point want to go beyond just City of Norwalk concerns, which is good because many of the things you’ll be doing are the ‘wider context’ of the railroad service through the ‘history of railroading’ there.
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Alright, I’ll look into it @Woke_Hoagland, thanks for that I appreciate it!
Gabe
As some of you may know on the GG1 that I’m planning to acquire, negotiations have gone underway and I’m also working on acquiring over 15 EMD GP7s, GP9s, etc. for honoring the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy [CBQ] and a few other EMDs from BNSF and NRE. I have contacted Siemens and GE on the hopefully joint GG1 Project between the two, and also a small but big fleet of GE P40DCs from LTEX and NRE Combined. if you have any questions let me know. Just a heads up I’m also trying to get a GE BQ23-7 Replicated with GE/Wabtec and same with an EMD SD80MAC and SD89MAC if possible with EMD/PRLX.
EDIT: Trying to get a hold of CPKC for measurements of the only remaining SD80MAC that is still intact im hoping to get more than 12 for 6 to go to the Conrail Preservation Society (all of the replicas of the SD80MAC) Only 2 of the SD80s will be in CNW Paint as they placed an order but never where delivered as UP cancelled the order
Gabe