Whippany Railway Museum Receives
Significant Achievement Award - Passenger Car
WHIPPANY, NEW JERSEY - The Whippany Railway Museum is the recipient of the "2021 Significant Achievement Award - Passenger Car" by the HeritageRail Alliance (HRA) for its complete restoration-to-operation of Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (DL&W) Subscription Club Car No. 2454. The award was presented to the Museum during the HRA Fall 2021 Virtual Conference on October 28, 2021. Museum trustee Terence Mulligan accepted the award on behalf of the Museum. Each year HRA celebrates and recognizes remarkable accomplishments in railroad preservation.
DL&W No. 2454 was the subject of a massive seven year, half-million dollar restoration project undertaken by Museum volunteers, with mechanical and heavy metal fabrication, and exterior painting conducted by contractor StarTrak, Inc., as well as additional work carried out by a host of other sub-contractors and volunteers. The project cost was underwritten with grants provided by the NJ County Transportation Officials Association (CTA) and Liberty Historic Railway, Inc.
As described by retired executive director of the Morris County (NJ) Department of Transportation, Frank Reilly (also a long-term CTA official), the restoration of No. 2454 is "...the rebirth of New Jersey's most historically significant railcar." Reilly went on to say that, "It is no ordinary railcar - it was built in 1912 by the Barney & Smith Car Company of Dayton, Ohio for special service on the Lackawanna Railroad. No. 2454 was a plush club-parlor car used exclusively by wealthy commuters on the "Millionaire's Express" that ran between Gladstone and Hoboken, NJ."
In the late-1920s, the DL&W began an aggressive suburban electrification program that would result in No. 2454 being refitted in 1930 for electric service - (celebrated New Jersey inventor Thomas A. Edison rode as a guest onboard 2454 on Sept. 22, 1930) where it continued to serve in its role as an exclusive club / parlor car, until it was retired in late-August 1984.
Museum president, Steve Hepler said: “The HeritageRail Alliance award confirms what our volunteers are capable of accomplishing.” Frank Reilly noted, that "Terence Mulligan of the Museum was put in charge of the 2454 restoration project. He is a very knowledgeable and dedicated gentleman with great drive and persistence for excellence." It was through Mr. Mulligan's guidance that the restoration of No. 2454 was completed with outstanding results.
Hepler added that there new restoration projects awaiting. “This is the perfect opportunity for interested people to join the Museum as volunteers and get involved. We have a a number of projects coming up that will require work, but the end results will be very rewarding.”
Founded in 1965, the Whippany Museum is a 501(c) 3 non-profit, educational organization dedicated to the preservation of New Jersey's railroad history . The Museum, staffed by an all-volunteer membership, educates the public through interpretive displays and its excursion trains that operate between April and October each year.
For further Information about this exceptional car and the restoration process, Click Here
Donate your Car, Truck, Motorcycle, RV or Boat
Help Save our Railroad History!
 |
A fundraiser for the Whippany Railway Museum Your Wheels Can Help Keep Railroad History Alive. Call 1-855-500-RIDE (7433) |
| Why Donate a Vehicle? | Easy as 1...2...3... |
| - No Need to pay hefty repair bills | - Call or visit us online |
| - Avoid the hassles of selling a vehicle | - You schedule the FREE pickup |
| - Free up space in your garage | - We process all the paperwork! |
| - Receive a Tax Donation Receipt |
Since 1965, WRyM has been dedicated to preserving the heritage and history of the railroads of New Jersey through the restoration, preservation, interpretation and operation of historic railroad equipment and artifacts from New Jersey and the immediate vicinity.
Some of the projects that your donation will help support include the continued restoration and upkeep of our historic collection of locomotives, railcars, artifacts and archives as well as the management of our 1904-era Museum building and grounds.
Call 1-855-500-RIDE (7433)
or
Click HERE to access our easy online form
Do you value your local history?
Are you Retired or at leisure?
Are you looking to Volunteer?
Come Help us Preserve the Heritage of NJ Railroads
We need YOUR help in one or more areas:
(prior experience helpful but NOT required)
Must be 21 or Older
Click HERE to Visit our "Volunteer" Webpage
or Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We are asking for your help to reach our goal of raising $100,000 to cover the cost of the fire box stay bolts. Like all steam engines, the fire box is held in it's boiler by over 900 stay bolts. These bolts cost approximately $35 each or $100 each installed.
Please click on the Buy a Bolt link for more information as well as how to make a donation.
Closed for the Winter
The Museum is currently closed for the Winter. We will be reopening at the start of our Easter Bunny Express train rides in the early spring. Online tickets for the new season will be available in Mid January
~~~~~ Notice ~~~~~
The Non-profit Whippany Railway Museum is in no way affiliated with the For-Profit Polar Express organization.
Please direct all inquiries and questions to that organizations email address
