About us - the Volunteer Railroaders Association aka VRA
is a non-profit all volunteer group who's heart is into running fundraising passenger trains and operating motor cars. To find our what trips we are running please click on the "Motor Car Trips" above. Our group had the honor of being the exclusive VOLUNTEER group for the Susquehanna 142 steam program in New Jersey in 1993, when we were known as the Susquehanna Volunteer Association. When the NYS&W moved the program to New York the group was left with nothing to do. So they decided to run passenger trains for the enjoyment of the public and to raise funds for historic railroad related items. Since that time we have run many trips carrying THOUSANDS of people. Through these events we try and do all we can to help the URHS and Friends groups to create a State Transportation Museum. In 1997 we changed our name to what it is today to better reflect what we are all about. It was also that year that we got involved in MOTOR CARS. We own and operate four motor cars aka speeders, including a one of a kind Lehigh and New England Railroad Sheffield 40B. We operate these motor cars for the enjoyment of our members and the public.
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.
Membership info
To join our group you can E-mail us at
volunteerra@yahoo.com or call our HOTLINE (973) 238-0555. We welcome anyone who wants to be involved in RAILROADING. If you feel strongly about railroad historical preservation and restoration please
get involved with our volunteer group, membership is only $20 per year to be a member and ask them to get involved in our projects. We get dirty, we get tired, we have fun. As our slogan says "
SO CLOSE, ONLY THE PAYCHECK IS MISSING." We have quarterly members meetings at the
St. Clements Church, which is just down the street from
Hawthorne NJ NYS&W railroad station which we lease. We also have a quarterly
DIGEST newsletter that keeps our members up to date and informed.
Each year during the holidays the VRA runs several
Santa Claus Train Rides and
Easter Bunny Trains rides. These trips are run to raise funds to help the URHS and to help create a New Jersey State Transportation
Museum and Heritage Center and other railroad related historical preservation projects.
Volunteer Railroaders Association Inc. is a New Jersey nonprofit corporation that also is Internal Revenue Service recognized as a non-profit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
A national non-profit program to reduce collisions, deaths, and injuries at rail crossings and rights-of-ways.
is a non-profit all volunteer group who's heart is into running fundraising passenger trains and operating motor cars. To find our what trips we are running please click on the "Motor Car Trips" above. Our group had the honor of being the exclusive VOLUNTEER group for the Susquehanna 142 steam program in New Jersey in 1993, when we were known as the Susquehanna Volunteer Association. When the NYS&W moved the program to New York the group was left with nothing to do. So they decided to run passenger trains for the enjoyment of the public and to raise funds for historic railroad related items. Since that time we have run many trips carrying THOUSANDS of people. Through these events we try and do all we can to help the URHS and Friends groups to create a State Transportation Museum. In 1997 we changed our name to what it is today to better reflect what we are all about. It was also that year that we got involved in MOTOR CARS. We own and operate four motor cars aka speeders, including a one of a kind Lehigh and New England Railroad Sheffield 40B. We operate these motor cars for the enjoyment of our members and the public.