The Rail Heritage Trust, officially known as The John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust, is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Paola, Kansas. The organization operates as a tax-exempt grantmaking foundation established to support the preservation and restoration of historic American rail passenger equipment and operations. The Trust is administered by First Option Bank in Paola, Kansas and operates with no paid employees, relying instead on an unpaid volunteer advisory committee.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.6M
+2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$250K
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
18
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+0.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Rail Heritage Trust reported a distributable amount of $327K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust was created to help recreate and preserve the rail passenger travel experience as it existed in the United States from approximately 1920 through 1960. The organization's funding priorities include:
- Preserving and restoring to working order rolling stock and other working artifacts from the "Golden Age" of U.S. rail passenger service
- Supporting organizations that offer the general public opportunities to ride historically significant equipment over historic rail lines
- Funding restoration or rebuilding of ancillary facilities essential to the operation or extension of working passenger operations, such as trestles, grade crossings, and electrical facilities
- Supporting the restoration of historic depots when used to support ticket sales, souvenir sales, or other functions directly related to passenger operations
The Trust emphasizes support for working demonstration passenger railroads and does not fund cosmetic restoration of structures or equipment for static display only.
Grantmaking
The Trust makes annual grants to nonprofit organizations supporting rail heritage preservation. In the most recent fiscal year (ending April 2025), the organization made 22 grants totaling $374,792 in expenses against $532,482 in revenue.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust funds rail heritage preservation projects across the United States, with recent grants supporting organizations in Oregon, Tennessee, Maryland, and other regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (Ending April 2025):
- Total Revenue: $532,482
- Total Expenses: $374,792
- Net Income: $157,690
- Total Assets: $6,553,386
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Number of Employees: 1
The Trust maintains substantial assets to support its ongoing grantmaking activities.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,553,386 | $6,394,817 | $6,283,185 |
| Revenue | $532,482 | $458,333 | $-243,319 |
| Expenses | $374,792 | $361,714 | $354,195 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $311,596 | $307,359 | $301,886 |
| Net Investment Income | $480,899 | $408,785 | $252,678 |
| Distributable Amount | $326,928 | $311,888 | $297,191 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Rail Heritage Trust
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation ($27,000), Railway Restoration Project #113 ($25,000), Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Inc ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BELLEFONTE HISTORICAL RR SOCIETY INC BELLEFONTE, PA | EXCURSION REV, DONATIONS, MEMBERSHIPS, SOUVENIR | $13,100 |
| BLACK RIVER RAILROAD HISTORICAL TRUST INC POINT PLEASANT BORO, NJ | PASSENGER TRAIN TICKET SALES | $11,000 |
| COLEBROOKDALE RAILROAD PRESERVATION TRUST BOYERTOWN, PA | PULLMAN ROOF REPAIR | $15,000 |
| FORT WAYNE RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC NEW HAVEN, IN | GRANTS, FOUNDATIONS & TICKETING | $15,000 |
| FOX RIVER TROLLEY ASSOCIATION INC SOUTH ELGIN, IL | TICKET SALES AND PRIVATE DONORS | $10,000 |
| IRON HORSE SOCIETY AT STEAMTORN INCORPORATED SCRANTON, PA | EXCURSION/EVENT TICKET SALES | $15,000 |
| IRON MOUNTAIN RAILWAY JACKSON, MO | TRAIN TICKET SALES | $2,600 |
| NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WASHINGTON, DC | OPERATION REVENUES, PRIVATE DONATIONS | $8,800 |
| NICKEL PLATE HERITAGE RAILROAD INC NOBLESVILLE, IN | TICKET SALES, FOOD & BEVERAGE SALES, FEES | $15,000 |
| NORTHWEST RAILWAY MUSEUM SNOQUALMIE, WA | PASSENGER TRAIN REVENUE, PUBLIC & PRIVATE GRA | $7,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Rail Heritage Trust was founded by John Henckel Emery (1937-2012), a Chicago native and accomplished businessman, investor, and writer who was an avid train enthusiast. Emery traveled to over 125 nations and was passionate about preserving the historic passenger rail experience. The organization is currently administered by a volunteer advisory committee of three members.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST OPTION BANK | TRUSTEE | 2 | $102,104 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Trust announced grants for 2026, continuing its annual grantmaking cycle. The organization actively solicits donations from individuals and encourages donors to consider the Trust in estate planning and for Required Minimum Distributions from IRAs for those over 72 years old.
Emery Rail Heritage Trust announces 2026 grants (corrected) - TrainsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Rail Heritage Trust fund?
The Trust was created to help recreate and preserve the rail passenger travel experience as it existed in the United States from approximately 1920 through 1960. The organization's funding priorities include: • Preserving and restoring to working order rolling stock and other working artifacts from the "Golden Age" of U.S. rail passenger service • Supporting organizations that offer the general public opportunities to ride historically significant equipment over historic rail lines • Funding re…
How do I apply for a grant from The Rail Heritage Trust?
The Trust makes annual grants to nonprofit organizations supporting rail heritage preservation. In the most recent fiscal year (ending April 2025), the organization made 22 grants totaling $374,792 in expenses against $532,482 in revenue. Recent grantees include: • Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation ($27,000) • Railway Restoration Project 113 ($25,000) • Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum ($20,000) • Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Development Corporation Grant applications can be submitted up to F…
Where does The Rail Heritage Trust make grants?
The Trust funds rail heritage preservation projects across the United States, with recent grants supporting organizations in Oregon, Tennessee, Maryland, and other regions.
What size grants does The Rail Heritage Trust award?
In 2025, The Rail Heritage Trust awarded 18 grants totaling $250K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Rail Heritage Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Rail Heritage Trust reported a distributable amount of $327K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Rail Heritage Trust's EIN?
The Rail Heritage Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4327372. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Rail Heritage Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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