Volunteer Railroaders Association Inc.
80 Royal Avenue, Hawthorne, NJ 07506-1810 USA
Motor Car Trip October 18 - 19 NYSW Southern Division NJ
About the VRA Group at Hawthorne - Click for larger image

The Volunteer Railroaders Association aka VRA is a non-profit all volunteer group based in New Jersey who's heart is into running children's train rides as fundraisers in NJ. 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 slogan: "So close, only the paycheck is missing!"

NJ Family Train Rides

New Jersey Transit EMD F40PH diesel locomotiveNew Jersey Transit Comet 2 coachNew Jersey Transit Comet 2 coachNew Jersey Transit Comet 2 coachNew Jersey Transit Comet 2 coach
Each year during the holidays the VRA runs several Santa Claus Train Rides and Easter Bunny Trains rides. These Bergen and Morris/Passaic county trips are being run to raise funds to help the URHS and Friends groups to create a New Jersey State Transportation Museum and Heritage Center and other railroad related historical preservation projects. All of our trips have been very well received. So while you are enjoying a great day out on the rails with the kids you also will be helping to preserve New Jersey's rich rail transportation history for generations to come. These events combine the mystery, history and love of the American railroad and the thrill of "riding the rails" with the magic of celebrating the holidays.

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.

Membership info

If you feel strongly about railroad historical preservation and restoration please get involved with our volunteer group, membership is only $20 per year! We get dirty, we get tired, we have fun. We have quarterly members meetings at the St. Clements Church, which is just down the street from Hawthorne NJ NYS&W railroad station.


All content copyright © 1993-2008 Volunteer Railroaders Association
Last updated on Friday, October 03, 2008 8:40:26 PM

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.