The Railroad & Industrial Preservation Society, Inc. (RIPS) has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Norfolk Southern Corporation to restore the historic Lehigh & New England (LNE) locomotive #611, currently being overhauled in Topton, PA. The funds will be used to rehabilitate the locomotive’s traction motors.
David Organek, president of RIPS, said, “The grant allows us to take a major step forward in returning one of the most important artifacts of eastern Pennsylvania railroading’s past to operation. We are grateful to Norfolk Southern for supporting our mission and investing in a project that has drawn interest and volunteers from across the local community.”
Built in September 1948 by the American Locomotive Company, #611 is the last diesel locomotive to survive intact from the legendary Lehigh & New England Railroad, which connected the cement, slate and coal regions of north and west of Bethlehem, PA with the New England gateway at Maybrook, NY. #611 was assigned to the massive freight yard in Pen Argyl, PA for many years before the LNE shut down in 1961. The locomotive will be restored to its as-built condition, serving as an interpretive artifact for special occasions and community events.
“Norfolk Southern is the perfect partner for #611,” added Organek, who works for the railroad as an engineer based in Allentown. “The company’s Cement Secondary line from Bethlehem to Stockertown is original Lehigh & New England trackage, so there’s a real corporate-history connection.”
He notes that the relevance goes even deeper. “Topton, where our restoration base is located, sits on a mainline of Norfolk Southern’s Keystone Division. And our host railroad, the Allentown & Auburn, connects Kutztown with Norfolk Southern and rest of America. These funds support a project with both rich historical ties and modern-day community impact.”
The grant is part of two community programs launched by Norfolk Southern in 2023: the Safety First Grant Program, which seeks to advance safety organizations and initiatives, and the Thriving Communities Grant Program, which aims to promote economic opportunity, support vibrant community life, and provide equal access to basic necessities. Award recipients are selected annually from across the railroad’s 22-state network.
The Railroad & Industrial Preservation Society, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation formed in 2021 by a group of historians interested in preserving and providing stewardship for railroad and industrial artifacts. The principles of the society bring a blend of skills required for success in the modern era: David A. Organek (professional railroader), Richard Zmijewski (financial controller, ret.) and Rob Davis (marketing executive). Volunteers are welcome. The group is based in Souderton, Pennsylvania. Learn more at www.riptrack.org.
