National Museum of Transportation Awarded $46,650 Grant to Digitize Historic Railcar Blueprints

ST. LOUIS - Oct. 2, 2025 - PRLog -- The National Museum of Transportation (TNMOT) is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $46,650 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Museums for America grant program. This funding will support TNMOT's Engineering Drawing and Blueprint Digitization Project, a vital preservation initiative focused on safeguarding a remarkable collection of American rail history.

The project will digitize approximately 25,000 original blueprints and engineering drawings produced by prominent railcar manufacturers from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. These irreplaceable documents — many of them hand-drawn on fragile materials such as linen and vellum — offer unparalleled insight into the design and manufacturing processes of historic rail vehicles.

TNMOT serves as the sole lead on this project and is not collaborating with other agencies or organizations. The grant is a dollar-for-dollar match, and the Museum is encouraging public support to help fund this effort. Donations can be made directly at tnmot.org.

"This project is about more than just preservation — it's about unlocking the stories embedded in these extraordinary documents," said Terri McEachern, Executive Director of TNMOT. "These blueprints are windows into the golden age of American rail innovation, and digitizing them ensures that future generations — from researchers to rail enthusiasts — will have access to this critical part of our industrial heritage."

The blueprints and engineering drawings, currently housed in the TNMOT Library and Archives, number close to 50,000 in total. Many were donated over the Museum's 80-year history by major manufacturers such as American Car and Foundry, Budd Manufacturing, and General Steel — companies that shaped the course of American transportation.

Representatives from the Smithsonian Institution have recognized TNMOT as having "one of the largest and best collections of transportation vehicles in the country." This digitization project represents the Museum's ongoing commitment to excellence in preservation, education, and public access.

The National Museum of Transportation is a 501(c)(3) organization and receives no government funding.  TNMOT relies solely on the community for its ongoing operation and mission to preserve the past for future generations.