NNRY Steam Up Sweepstakes
Over $100,000+ in Prizes
Grand Prize
Be The Engineer of a Steam Train and a Diesel Train
Fans get a chance to win some of our Hands On History Experiences, including our Be The Engineer Experience on one of the very steam locomotives your support helps bring back to life!
Sign up through July 21st, 2025!
Why The Sweepstakes?
Facing urgent repairs on all three steam locomotives, the Steam Up Sweepstakes was created to raise essential funds and restore these iconic engines to full steam before the season slips away.
Locomotive 81
Locomotive 81 was taken out of service due to a snapped Bissel Post, leaking boiler rivets, and a severely worn pilot truck. While initial repairs were underway, crews discovered major hidden issues—likely from a derailment prior to the locomotive being mothballed. The pilot truck showed extensive cracking, worn components, and even misaligned and oval holes. Worse, original factory casting flaws from 1917 were never properly addressed.
Almost every part had to be rebuilt or fabricated. The work requires precision boring, but the Lucas Horizontal Boring Machine broke its high-speed transmission, drastically slowing progress. Though the machine is still operational, the repairs are tedious and time-consuming.
Ken at the Lucas machining out the holes that he welded up; with the high-speed transmission out of service, its painful, painful slow!
Locomotive 81’s pilot truck with refurbished wheels, a new axle and a pretty red bow! Ken, the shop foreman is with Chris, another one of our interns.
Upper right, the inside of axle 4 showing the missing hub liner. Notice how shiny the axle is where the drive box sits. Above, the fireman’s side of the axle showing the burn on the axle, it should be shiny like the other side. Right, is the drive box. Inside the box is the crown brass showing the burn.
On the top of the box is the side bearing showing the unexpected wear! The little holes are actually the head of screws that keep the side bearing in place!
Locomotive 93
Locomotive 93 encountered an unexpected mechanical failure when a large metal chunk was spotted beside the track—later identified as a broken hub liner from axle 4. Upon removing the axle for inspection, further damage was revealed. The crown brass had overheated and burned, the axle showed severe wear, and a side bearing had reached its condemning limit. These critical issues required sending parts to Salt Lake City for machining.
Fortunately, the axle is salvageable and won’t need to be replaced. However, the specialized bearing material must be custom-manufactured, and the current lead time is six to eight weeks. In the meantime, the team is performing the locomotive’s annual inspection.
Locomotive 40
Locomotive 40 is the quiet workhorse waiting her turn in the shop. Though her boiler passed inspection—a promising sign—her firebox requires repairs, including a patch around the mud ring. Her driver and pilot wheels were sent to Salt Lake for refurbishment, and the pilot wheels have already returned in excellent condition. The largest challenge with Locomotive 40 isn’t mechanical, but financial and logistical.
The railway received a Save America’s Treasures grant for her restoration, but it comes with a looming September 30 deadline. All matching funds must be raised, spent, and the work completed by then.
The rear of Locomotive 40’s firebox showing the exposed mud ring. This is a common needed firebox repair, we will be welding in a patch sheet to complete the repair.
Locomotive 40’s refurbished pilot wheels, they are as good as new thanks to member support!
A Chance to Win One of the Hands on History Experiences
GRAND PRIZE!
Supreme Be The Engineer of a Steam & Diesel Locomotive with a Train Experience
A once in a lifetime chance to get behind, experience and operate both the Steam and Diesel Locomotives at NNRY, including a train ride for you and your friends.
Ways to Enter
Donations, Becoming a Member, Customizing a Brick - Every one of them gets you another ticket to WIN the sweepstakes! Every action brings steam back to life!
Donation Matched, Double The Entries
Every donation through Saving America’s Treasures is matched dollar for dollar and doubles your sweepstakes entries!
Your Donation Drives the Mission
No donation is required to enter the Steam Up Sweepstakes—everyone gets a chance to win! But your support helps bring our historic steam locomotives back to life.
Every dollar you give fuels real restoration work and earns you bonus entries.
Stay Tuned
The Winners Will Be Announced
Wednesday, July 25, 2025
Sweepstakes close at 11:59pm
