Hawthorne Station restoration

We're working on the Haw­thorne sta­tion restor­ation Saturdays on a regular basis. We need to work around the out­side of the building doing lots of different things. At right is the station with exterior resto­ration, painting & landscaping completed. Click image to enlarge

Volunteer Railroaders Association

The Volunteer Railroaders Association aka VRA is a non­profit all volunteer group created in 1993 based on a concept­ualiza­tion of the then 'Susquehanna Volun­teer Association' by Steve Weiss, Bob Blumen­stock, Joseph K. Weber and KC Smith to assist the NYS&W railway with their pas­senger steam train pro­gram. When the railroad moved their passenger steam train pro­gram to NY state in the late 90's, the SVA became a group without a cause. Our members wanted to continue to be involved in railroading so we began to run trips and get involved with the effort to create a New Jersey Transportation Museum.

Order Personalized Paver Bricks

By purchasing pavers you will be en­hancing the future of a building that has seen so much of the past and has many stories to tell generations to come. The paver bricks will be part of the walking path that leads to the station.

With these new goals firmly in place, the group adopted the name it has now in 1997 to better reflect its direction. Since 1993 the VRA has run countless trips carrying tens of thousands of people and raising over $100,000 for the preser­vation and restoration of historic railway equipment, structures and right of way. In 1997 we got into motorcars (aka speeders) and since we have acquired four operating cars that we bring to many public and private events. We also own a one of a kind Lehigh & New England Railroad Sheffield 40B.

We lease and maintain the NYS&W station at Hawthorne, NJ, which we use for meetings and community functions. We also use it as it was meant to be used – as a ticket office. Plus, now the building houses the Joseph K. Weber Memorial Railroad library, named in memory of one of the VRA's founding members who also was a long time supporter of preserving railroad history.

Through these events we try and do all we can to help the URHS and the Friends of the NJ Railroad & Transportation Museum to create a State Transportation Museum.

A story about the VRA that ran in the August 20th 2009 edition of the Suburban News — 'Cars keep working on the railroad' three VRA members are quoted in that story.

VRA core values

Our mission is to raise funds for the restoration and preservation of and awareness about historic railroad right of way, rolling stock and other related items. Also to educate the public through our many events about the history and future need for railroad operations.

As a group we get involved in the operation of all sorts of railroad related projects. We run passenger trains, own and operate four motor cars and lease and maintain the historic New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad Hawthorne New Jersey station. We are heavily involved in the creation of the future New Jersey Transportation Museum through our membership in the NJ based United Railroad Historical Society. We ask that our members get involved.

Family Trips

Each year during the holidays the Volunteer Railroaders Association runs several Santa Claus Train Rides and Easter Bunny Trains rides. These trips are run to raise funds to help the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey and to help create a New Jersey State Transportation Museum and Heritage Center and other NJ railroad related historical preservation projects.

Volunteer Railroaders Association Inc.