Union Pacific Receives NRHS-Railway Age-RT&S Outstanding Railroad Historic Preservation Award

Left to Right: Josh Perkes, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, UP; Mike Yuhas, NRHS; and Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor, Railway Age. Photo courtesy of Railway Supply Institute

by William C. Vantuono, Editor-In-Chief, Railway Age

The National Railway Historical Society, Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures have awarded Union Pacific’s heritage program their second annual Historic Preservation Award, which recognizes and honors a North American common-carrier railroad for a historically significant preservation project.

“We selected Union Pacific from among numerous entries in recognition of its ongoing commitment to preserving and operating historic steam and diesel locomotives, the centerpiece of which is 4014, the ‘Big Boy,‘ its tradition of honoring predecessor railroads with heritage liveries on modern locomotives, and—most important—sharing its railroading heritage with the public,“ said NRHS’s Mike Yuhas. “NRHS members and Railway Age and RT&S readers are strong advocates for sharing the railroad industry’s important history within North America.“

Yuhas and Railway Age Executive Editor Marybeth Luczak presented the award to Union Pacific Oct. 11 at the Railway Supply Institute Expo and Conference in Chicago.

Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 4014 at Bain, Wisconsin, July 2019. Photo by Dan Grudzielanek

Nominations for the 2025 Outstanding Railroad Historic Preservation Award will be accepted beginning in early January, 2025. The award will be announced and presented at the Railway Interchange trade show in Indianapolis in May,

The NRHS Preservation Award Committee is R. Victor Varney, Edward M. Berntsen, Tony White and Mike Yuhas.