American Steam Railroad, breast cancer foundation partner to raise money, awareness for both organizations
A nonprofit that works to preserve steam locomotives and historic railway equipment is pairing up with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation this October for an initiative that aims to raise awareness about breast cancer and funds for both organizations.
The American Steam Railroad recently launched a line of merchandise, including T-shirts and hats in pink.
“The combined efforts of both of our organizations will provide new revenue streams to meet the critical needs in communities,” American Steam Railroad treasurer and Butler resident Forrest Nace said, “and invest in breakthrough research for the prevention of breast cancer, and to bring a historic tourist attraction back to operation, which will benefit the local economies where it travels to.”
He and a handful of other Butler County residents spend their spare time working with the American Steam Railroad in hopes the trains can be preserved for future generations.
The American Steam Railroad is raising money to finish building a replica of the steam engine that pulled the American Freedom Train. It’s steam engine pays tribute to the Reading Railroad 2101 steam engine that led the freedom train in its 1975-76 tour carrying American cultural artifacts around the United States. The group hopes to have it ready by July 4, in time for the United States’ 250th birthday.
Nace said he went to see the American Freedom Train in the Pittsburgh area with his dad when he was 11 years old. He said 7 million people bought tickets to the train when it operated and 20 million people watched it pass.
The steam engine that pulled the American Freedom Train was the 2101; the second model built. The model American Steam Railroad has is the 2100, which is the first built, Nace said.
Members of the organization from seven states meet in Cleveland every weekend to continue restoring the model. The group has put around 23,000 volunteer hours into the restoration and is $127,000 away from getting the tools it needs to complete the $1.92 million restoration.
Unlike the original, the steam engine has been modified to operate using recycled oil. Other restored steam engines have used recycled oil, snow and rainwater, Nace said.
“We can get recycled oil for $1.30 a gallon,” Nace said.
The organization plans to take the freedom train replica, once it’s finished, wherever will have them.
The number of people who know someone with breast cancer is why the nonprofit teamed up with the breast cancer foundation for the joint merchandise line, Nace said.
One in eight women and one in 830 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. An estimated 319,750 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with it this year, according to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
The T-shirts are sold in two-tone pink and feature the American Freedom Train 250 and Susan G. Komen logos for $29.50 including shipping; and hats in pink, graphite and black feature both logos for $32.50 including shipping.
The joint merchandise can be purchased at the American Steam Railroad gift store.
From each purchase, $5 will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and American Steam Railroad.
