SCRANTON, Pa. — The Lackawanna Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society has donated $10,000 to the Iron Horse Society for restoration of a World War II troop sleeper built by Pullman.
The Iron Horse Society is the non-profit organization supporting Steamtown National Historic Site, where Delaware, Lackawanna & Western car No. 3621 — one of more than 2,400 troop sleepers built between 1943 and 1946 — is preserved. The gift from the Lackawanna Chapter marks the launch of a campaign to restore the car.
“The Chapter is excited to be working with IHS and local contractors in restoring this monument to the Greatest Generation veterans who fought valiantly in WWII,” Mark Krisanda, president of the Lackawanna Chapter of the R&LHS, said in a press release.
“Troop Sleeper No. 3621 represents the journeys of thousands of young Americans who answered the call to serve during World War II,” said Mike Rinkunas, president of the Iron Horse Society, said. “Restoring this car is about more than saving steel and rivets — it’s about preserving the stories of the soldiers who traveled in it, and ensuring future generations understand the role railroads played in America’s wartime history.”
The society has set a fundraising goal of $115,000 for the project. For more information, or to donate, visit this web page. More on the Iron Horse Society is available at its website; more on the Lackawanna Chapter of the R&LHS is available here.
