New England Electric Railway Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE DESCRIPTION OF MISSION STATEMENT WITHIN SCHEDULE 0.WE PRESERVE KNOWLEDGE, CONTEXT, AND RESOURCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS BY COLLECTING, RESTORING, OPERATING, AND EXHIBITING SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC TRANSIT VEHICLES AND ARTIFACTS.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 11.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 525
- Highest pay
- $108,656, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $786,651 spent. IN 2024, AS IN PAST YEARS, THE NEW ENGLAND ELECTRIC RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, OPERATORS OF THE SEASHORE TROLLEY MUSEUM AND THE NATIONAL STREETCAR MUSEUM IN LOWELL [MASSACHUSETTS] HAVE CONTINUED TO CARRY OUT ITS PRIMARY MISSION OF COLLECTING, RESTORING, PRESERVING, INTERPRETING AND OPERATING TRANSIT VEHICLES, INCLUDING CITY STREETCARS, INTERURBAN CARS AND RAPID TRANSIT CARS, BUSES AND TRACKLESS TROLLEYS.BOTH MUSEUM CAMPUSES WERE OPEN IN 2024; THE LOWELL MUSEUM CONTINUES TO BE OPEN YEAR-ROUND ON WEEKENDS, AND SEASHORE TROLLEY MUSEUM WAS OPEN ON TUESDAYS FOR GROUP TOURS IN THE FALL, AND OPERATED FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC FROM WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY FROM MAY THROUGH OCTOBER, AND THE FIRST TWO WEEKENDS OF DECEMBER FOR KENNEBUNKPORT'S CHRISTMAS PRELUDE CELEBRATION. EVERY ELECTRIC STREETCAR OR INTERURBAN CAR IN THE OPERATING FLEET IS A RETIRED TRANSIT VEHICLE, MANY OF WHICH ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD, AND ARE SUBJECT TO SERVICING AND CAREFUL INSPECTION BEFORE BEING RELEASED FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ON THE1.7-MILE-LONG DEMONSTRATION RAILWAY. AS THE FLEET OF CARS OPERATED FOR THE PUBLIC COMPRISES HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS, THE COST TO MAINTAIN IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE OVERALL BUDGET.AUXILIARY OPERATIONS:AUXILIARY OPERATIONS EXPENSES INCLUDE THOSE EXPENSES RELATING TO MUSEUM STORE SALES, AND OTHER SALES.MUSEUM STORE SALES INCLUDE THE SALE OF RELATED MERCHANDISE TO VISITORS AND MUSEUM MEMBERS. OTHER SALES INCLUDES THE SALE OF PARTS, EQUIPMENT, AND GENERAL SCRAP THAT THE SOCIETY HAS ACQUIRED IN THE PAST, AND NO LONGER NEEDS, OR HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND CONSTRUCTION OF SPECIALTY CARS FOR PRIVATE CUSTOMERS. THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE SURPLUS PARTS AND EQUIPMENT INCLUDE PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITIES, OTHER RAILWAY-ORIENTED MUSEUMS, AND PRIVATE COLLECTORS. SCRAP IS USUALLY SOLD TO A MANUFACTURER OR TO A JUNK OPERATION.THERE ARE NO AUXILIARY OPERATIONS GENERAL EXPENSES, OTHER THAN THE COST BASIS OF THE ITEMS SOLD REPORTED IN PART VIII AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMISSIONED WORK. ANY SUCH COSTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE CURATORIAL AND EXHIBITS EXPENSES THAT RELATE TO THE PURCHASE OF PARTS AND EQUIPMENT FOR CONSERVATION OF THE COLLECTIONS.CURATORIAL AND EXHIBITSTHE CURATORIAL AND EXHIBITS FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES INCLUDE ALL EXPENSES THAT DIRECTLY RELATE TO ACCOMPLISHING THE SOCIETY'S MISSION. SUCH EXPENSES INCLUDE THE ACQUISITION AND CONSERVATION OF COLLECTIONS, THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF EXHIBITS AND DISPLAYS, THE COSTS OF OPERATING HISTORIC TRANSIT VEHICLES FOR THE PUBLIC, THE COSTS INCURRED FOR ADMISSIONS AND OPERATING SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE PUBLIC, THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE FACILITIES DEVOTED TO THE CONSERVATION, DISPLAY, AND INTERPRETATION OF THE COLLECTIONS, THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE PUBLIC, AND ANY OTHER ASSOCIATED EXPENSES.AS NOTED, THE MAIN ACTIVITY IS THE RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION OF THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION, PRIMARILY THE COLLECTION OF HISTORIC TRANSIT VEHICLES. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT STRENGTH OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND THE SOCIETY HAD BEEN A LEADER IN THIS FIELD. SUCH ACTIVITY INCLUDES RESTORATION, CONSERVATION, AND RUNNING MAINTENANCE. RUNNING MAINTENANCE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE MANY OF THE VEHICLES IN THE COLLECTION ARE USED TO PROVIDE RIDES TO THE PUBLIC. 4.A.2 PROTECTION OF THE MUSEUM'S EXTENSIVE VEHICLE COLLECTION IS A KEY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SOCIETY. IN RECENT YEARS, EFFORTS HAVE FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING THE NOW 60-YEAR-OLD BUILDINGS HOUSING MUCH OF THE COLLECTION. FOUNDATION WORK AND ENGINEERING STUDIES FOR ADDITIONAL WORK IN CAR BARNS HAS BEEN A FOCUS. IN 2024, THE MUSEUM OPENED A NEW CARHOUSE DISPLAY, SOUTH BOSTON CARHOUSE.A KEY PART OF OUR MISSION IS TO "PROVIDE A REPOSITORY FOR ARTIFACTS AND INFORMATION OF AN EDUCATIONAL AND HISTORICAL NATURE RELATING TO THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO MODERN SOCIETY." WE HAVE A DEDICATED AND VERY ACTIVE GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS IN THIS AREA, WHO HAVE ORGANIZED MUCH OF THE COLLECTION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS AND ASSOCIATED ARTIFACTS, AND MOVED SOME OF IT TO SAFER STORAGE. VOLUNTEERS HAVE ELECTRONICALLY SCANNED AND CATALOGUED MUCH OF THE COLLECTION.4.B PUBLIC OPERATIONS PROGRAMS THE MAINE CAMPUS IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON WEEKENDS IN MAY AND DECEMBER AND WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY FROM JUNE 1-OCTOBER 31. EVERY ELECTRIC STREETCAR OR INTERURBAN CAR IN OUR OPERATING FLEET IS AN AUTHENTIC TRANSIT VEHICLE, USUALLY OVER 100 YEARS OLD, SUBJECT TO SERVICING AND INSPECTION BEFORE BEING RELEASED FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ON OUR DEMONSTRATION RAILWAY. BUS TOUR BUSINESS BECAME SIGNIFICANT IN 2015 AND REMAINED SO THROUGH 2019, TAPERING OFF DURING COVID-19. BUS TOUR BUSINESS WAS BACK IN HIGH DEMAND DURING THE 2024 SEASON. SPECIAL EVENTS DURING 2024 INCLUDED OUR ALWAYS POPULAR PUMPKIN PATCH DURING FOUR WEEKENDS IN LATE SEPTEMBER AND EARLY OCTOBER, "TROLLEYWEEN, AND ANNUAL MEETING AND MEMBER'S DAY EVENTS FOR OUR MEMBERS. DANIEL TIGER VISITED THE MUSEUM IN JULY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAINE PUBLIC, AND A NEW SELL-OUT EVENT WAS BACK FOR A SECOND SEASON IN 2024: DINO TROLLEY. EACH OF THESE EVENTS IS DESIGNED TO SHOWCASE OUR SUBSTANTIAL COLLECTION OF STREETCARS, INTERURBAN CARS, BUSES, TRACKLESS TROLLEYS AND RAPID TRANSIT CARS AS WELL AS TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO THE MUSEUM.BESIDES RIDING AUTHENTICALLY RESTORED TROLLEY CARS, OUR 38,635 VISITORS IN 2024 HAD ACCESS TO THIRTY OTHER CARS IN THREE PUBLIC EXHIBIT BARNS. WHEN SUFFICIENT VOLUNTEER STAFF IS AVAILABLE AND INFRASTRUCTURE STATUS ALLOWS, A TROLLEY RUNS ON A SHORT SHUTTLE TRIP TO THE LARGEST OF THESE BARNS, AND/OR A DOCENT GIVES GUIDED TOURS OF THE EXHIBITS ON DISPLAY. VISITORS WHO CHOOSE TO NAVIGATE THE CAMPUS ON A SELF-GUIDED TOUR HAVE MAPS AND A COMPREHENSIVE INTERPRETIVE SIGN PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED IN 2014 AT THEIR DISPOSAL AND A NEW INTERACTIVE SELF-GUIDED TOUR WAS INTRODUCED DURING THE 2024 SEASON. VISITORS MAY VIEW THE RESTORATION WORK IN PROGRESS IN OUR SHOP VIA A VISITOR'S GALLERY. OUR VISITORS CENTER EXHIBIT TELLS THE STORY OF THE ELECTRIC RAILWAY INDUSTRY WHICH A CENTURY AGO WAS TH
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1948.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
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