Liberty Historic Railway in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Rail preservation groupA grant-making preservation nonprofit with no museum site to visit
Liberty Historic Railway is New Jersey's dedicated transportation preservation funding group, a nonprofit that since 2010 has given grants to help other 501(c)(3) organizations restore and interpret the state's rail heritage.
- Formed January 29, 2010
- Funds NJ preservation projects
- 501(c)(3) public charity
- Volunteer board of directors
Liberty Historic Railway at a glance
- Hours
- No public site or visiting hours
- Admission
- Not applicable
- Best for
- Preservation groups seeking grants and donors who want to support NJ rail history
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address103 Dogwood Lane, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 (mailing)(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(908) 464-9335
- Emailjrmay@lhry.org
- Alsorichter@lhry.org
- Websitelhry.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Liberty Historic Railway
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Liberty Historic Railway? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Berkeley Heights.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
A funding partner for New Jersey's rail savers
Liberty Historic Railway, Inc., known as LHRy, was formed on January 29, 2010 to educate the public about New Jersey's transportation heritage. It does that mainly by raising money and making direct grants and other financial support available to preservation projects in the state, both its own and those of other 501(c)(3) nonprofits. A railroad directory listing describes the group's early aim as helping restart long-delayed stabilization and restoration work at the Central Railroad of New Jersey's Jersey City terminal and train shed, which is why it is often linked with the Jersey City area.
Today the organization calls itself an advocate and funding group for the whole field. In its 2025 wrap-up, it pointed to support for the Black River Railroad Historical Trust and Lackawanna coach No. 605, the Berkeley Township Historical Society's 1925 Plymouth, and statewide efforts including work connected to Bordentown's John Bull. The group is led by a volunteer board, with J. R. May as chairman.
Where to see its work
There is no Liberty Historic Railway museum, train ride or collection open to visitors. The way to see its impact is to visit the museums and historical groups whose projects it has helped fund, such as restored rail cars and vehicles around the state. The organization's website lists past projects and its grant application process, and its Facebook page shares updates on the work it supports.
Don’t miss
- Lackawanna coach No. 605A restoration supported through the Black River Railroad Historical Trust, one of the projects the group highlighted in 2025.
- The past projects pageLHRy's website lists earlier grants, a good way to find preservation work worth visiting around New Jersey.
For families: visit the projects it funds
There is nothing for kids to climb or ride at Liberty Historic Railway itself. Families who want to see the results can plan a trip to a nearby museum that runs trains or displays restored equipment, such as the Black River & Western Railroad, which works alongside the trust that restored Lackawanna coach No. 605.
Plan your visit: tips for Liberty Historic Railway
- Nonprofits can learn about the grant application process on lhry.org.
- Donations are tax deductible; the site lists the group's EIN, 27-1997848.
- Follow the Facebook page to see which projects are being funded.
A volunteer board of preservationists
Liberty Historic Railway is run by a board of directors from around New Jersey, with J. R. May as chairman, Dan Richter as secretary and William J. "Capt. Bill" McKelvey as treasurer and chairman emeritus. It is a 501(c)(3) public charity, so gifts, bequests and other contributions are tax deductible and go toward preservation grants.
Museums to visit in northern New Jersey
To see restored equipment in person, the Whippany Railway Museum is about 11 miles away, the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey about 17 miles, and the Black River & Western Railroad about 27 miles. Our guide to New Jersey train museums has the rest.
- Whippany Railway MuseumWhippany, NJ · about 11 mi
- New Jersey Transit historic railway collectionsstatewide, NJ · about 16 mi
- United Railroad Historical Society of New JerseyBoonton, NJ · about 17 mi
- Paterson Museum locomotive exhibitsPaterson, NJ · about 23 mi
- New York Transit MuseumBrooklyn, NY · about 24 mi
- New York Central System Historical Societystatewide, NY · about 25 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Groups like this one give the little boost that helps restorers get an old coach back on its wheels. That makes me think of the stairs scene in our book, where Rally's short corgi legs cannot quite manage the big train steps and Dad lifts him up. Sometimes the people behind the scenes are the reason anyone gets aboard at all. My mom would have liked that idea. Read how her story became our book on our story page.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in New Jersey: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in New Jersey
- Halloween train rides in New Jersey
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Liberty Historic Railway?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Liberty Historic Railway official website(opens in a new tab)
- Liberty Historic Railway on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Liberty Historic Railway on YouTube(opens in a new tab)
- Liberty Historic Railway on X(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Liberty Historic Railway: 20 questions answered
What is Liberty Historic Railway?
Liberty Historic Railway, Inc., or LHRy, is a New Jersey nonprofit that advocates for and funds transportation preservation in the state. Through selected grants it helps other 501(c)(3) groups restore and interpret New Jersey's railroad and transportation history. It is a funding organization, not a museum with a site to visit.
Is Liberty Historic Railway Inc a nonprofit?
Yes. Liberty Historic Railway, Inc. is a nonprofit public benefit corporation exempt under section 501(c)(3) and classified as a public charity. Its Employer Identification Number is 27-1997848, and its New Jersey charities registration number is CH3459400, both listed on its About page.
Can I visit Liberty Historic Railway?
No. Liberty Historic Railway does not run a museum, train ride or public collection with visiting hours. Its address in Berkeley Heights is a mailing address. To see the kind of work it supports, visit New Jersey rail museums and historical groups whose restoration projects it has helped fund.
When was Liberty Historic Railway founded?
Liberty Historic Railway was formed on January 29, 2010. Its stated purpose is to educate the public about New Jersey's transportation heritage by promoting and providing grants and other financial support to preservation projects carried out by LHRy and by other nonprofits in the state.
Is Liberty Historic Railway connected to Jersey City?
It is often linked with the Jersey City area. A railroad directory describes the group's original goal as helping restart long-delayed stabilization and restoration at the Central Railroad of New Jersey's Jersey City terminal and train shed. Today its funding covers preservation projects across New Jersey.
Does Liberty Historic Railway have a train I can ride?
Liberty Historic Railway's own website does not describe any train ride or operating railroad. It presents itself as a funding and advocacy group. If you want to ride a historic train in New Jersey, look at heritage railroads such as the Black River & Western Railroad or the Whippany Railway Museum.
What projects has Liberty Historic Railway funded?
In its 2025 wrap-up, the group highlighted support for the Black River Railroad Historical Trust and Lackawanna coach No. 605, the Berkeley Township Historical Society's 1925 Plymouth, and statewide efforts including work tied to Bordentown's John Bull. Its website has a page describing past projects in more detail.
How do I apply for a Liberty Historic Railway grant?
Liberty Historic Railway funds 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on New Jersey transportation preservation. Its website, lhry.org, has a section explaining the application process for project funding. Read that first, then contact the board through the addresses listed on the contact page with questions.
Who can receive funding from Liberty Historic Railway?
The group supports historic preservation projects within New Jersey undertaken by itself or by other 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Its focus is transportation heritage broadly, which has included rail cars as well as other historic vehicles. Check the application guidelines on lhry.org for current rules.
How can I donate to Liberty Historic Railway?
Use the contribute link on lhry.org. Contributions are tax deductible under section 170 of the tax code, and the group is also qualified to receive tax-deductible bequests and other gifts. Money raised goes toward grants for preservation projects around New Jersey.
Can I leave a bequest to Liberty Historic Railway?
Yes. Liberty Historic Railway says it is qualified to receive tax-deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under the relevant sections of the tax code. Talk with your own advisor, and contact the board through lhry.org for details on how to name the organization.
Who runs Liberty Historic Railway?
A volunteer board of directors runs the organization. J. R. May is chairman, Dan Richter is secretary, and William J. "Capt. Bill" McKelvey is treasurer and chairman emeritus. Other directors include Edwin F. Gerecht Jr., Lawrence E. Gross, George R. LaPierre, Mark Lipkin and Jack May.
How do I contact Liberty Historic Railway?
Write to Liberty Historic Railway, Inc., 103 Dogwood Lane, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922, or email the chairman at jrmay@lhry.org. The contact page also lists (908) 464-9335 and emails for each director. The group is active on Facebook, which is another easy way to reach it.
What is the Liberty Historic Railway phone number?
The phone number listed on Liberty Historic Railway's contact page is (908) 464-9335, given alongside treasurer and chairman emeritus William J. McKelvey. Because the group is run by volunteers, email or a Facebook message may be the quicker way to get an answer.
Does Liberty Historic Railway hold public events?
The group does not post a calendar of public events on its website. It shares news about funded projects on Facebook, and the museums it supports often hold their own events when restored equipment is unveiled. Follow its Facebook page to hear about those.
Is Liberty Historic Railway good for kids?
There is nothing for children to visit at Liberty Historic Railway itself, since it is a funding group. For a family outing, choose one of the New Jersey museums or heritage railroads that display or run restored equipment, many of which offer rides and kid-friendly events.
Where is Liberty Historic Railway located?
Liberty Historic Railway uses a mailing address at 103 Dogwood Lane, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey 07922. Its board members live across the state, in towns from Wall and Branchburg to Paramus and Montclair. There is no public office or museum at that address.
Does Liberty Historic Railway have social media?
Yes. Liberty Historic Railway has a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a YouTube channel. Facebook is where it posts the most news about preservation projects it supports, including its yearly roundups of completed and ongoing work.
How can I volunteer with Liberty Historic Railway?
The organization does not list volunteer openings on its website. Most hands-on preservation happens at the museums and groups it funds, which often welcome volunteers. Email jrmay@lhry.org if you want to help Liberty Historic Railway directly with fundraising or advocacy.
What train museums are near Liberty Historic Railway?
In northern New Jersey, the Whippany Railway Museum is about 11 miles away, the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey in Boonton about 17 miles, and the Paterson Museum locomotive exhibits about 23 miles. The Black River & Western Railroad is about 27 miles away.
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