About NRH
Founded in 2023 by passionate rail enthusiasts and professional railroaders, Northeast Rail Heritage, Inc. (NRH) is a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating past, present, and future generations by preserving, restoring, and operating historic railroad equipment significant to the Northeastern United States. Driven by a commitment to action, NRH was formed to save railroad artifacts often overlooked in modern preservation efforts. Its members are determined to prove that railroad history doesn’t stop at 1960!
In November 2024, NRH proudly acquired its first piece of rolling stock: Amtrak AEM-7 #927. Built in 1981, this iconic locomotive served on the Northeast Corridor between Washington, DC, and Boston, as well as the Keystone Corridor to Harrisburg.
Converted to AC propulsion in the early 2000s, #927 was retired in 2016, facing an uncertain fate—until now. Its preservation ensures this piece of rail history will continue to inspire future generations.
Looking ahead, NRH envisions establishing a museum where visitors can explore and experience the operation of historic railroad equipment. While a permanent site is under evaluation, NRH actively seeks partnerships with regional railroads, preservation groups, and museums to showcase equipment in excursions and public displays.
Board of Directors
Born and raised in Bloomsburg, PA, Mike is a lifelong rail enthusiast. He has over 20 years of preservation experience with organizations such as the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Wilmington & Western Railroad, Friends of the East Broad Top, and Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.
Those early days at PTM as a teenager helped motivate Mike to pursue a career in professional railroading, hiring as a conductor with Norfolk Southern in 2011. Promoted to locomotive engineer in 2016, Mike eventually became qualified on 800 miles of territory centered in the Harrisburg, PA region.
Mike Huhn - President
In 2019, Mike shifted his career to passenger rail, hiring as a locomotive engineer with Amtrak. He is qualified on the Northeast Corridor from Washington DC to New York City, as well as the Keystone Corridor from Philadelphia to Harrisburg.
One notable experience Mike recalls in 2019 was assisting members of the Mad River & NKP Museum during the move of Nickel Plate Road 757 from the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania at Strasburg to Bellevue, Ohio. He leaned on his professional railroading experience and advised the Mad River staff of the route the engine was to take from Strasburg to Norfolk Southern’s Enola Yard.
Mike’s experience and background in Class 1 railroad operations, personnel management, and community service will prove to be a valuable asset to NRH and the projects it will take on.
Ryan Merrill - Vice President
A native of Mechanicsburg, PA, Ryan has 10 years of experience in professional railroading. He began his career in 2014 as a trainman at the world-renowned Strasburg Rail Road, where he rose through the ranks to become a qualified brakeman, conductor, fireman, and engineer, before assuming the role of Trainmaster.
Ryan supervised various special events the railroad hosted throughout each operating season, including the wildly popular Day Out With Thomas, Santa’s Paradise Express, and various private photo charters. In addition, he oversaw freight rail logistics with interchange partner Norfolk Southern and local area customers.
Most notably, his expertise was crucial when several bigger steam locomotives were to traverse the Strasburg rails. In 2018, Nickel Plate Road 757 was tested on the Strasburg before being shipped to its new home at the Mad River & NKP Museum in Bellevue, Ohio, of which Ryan was involved in coordinating several test runs. In 2019, he also coordinated logistics for Norfolk & Western #611’s residency at Strasburg.
In 2021, Ryan entered a new chapter in his career, joining Amtrak as a locomotive engineer on the Northeast Corridor. He is qualified from Washington DC to New York City, operating both high-speed and conventional passenger equipment.
Ryan’s vast knowledge and experience in both shortline and mainline railroading, as well as historic equipment restoration and operation, will play a vital role in NRH’s success in the future.
Steve Johnson - Secretary-Treasurer
Steve also served as a Student Engineer Coordinator for Amtrak. His primary responsibilities were supervising on-the-job training, holding meetings, and developing training materials needed for student engineers to be promoted or “marked up” on their own. In addition, Steve served faithfully as Secretary-Treasurer for Division 482 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen in Washington, DC.
In addition to full scale trains, Steve’s interest also bleeds over to model railroading, where he has constructed a HO scale layout based on the Pittsburgh-area Union Railroad, a steel hauling shortline.
Steve’s invaluable wisdom, knowledge and experience in the railroad industry will no doubt assist NRH’s mission in the years to come!
After a career in law enforcement, Steve tapped into his lifelong love of railroading and enjoyed a 28 year career that started with Conrail in 1994 as a brakeman in Hagerstown, Maryland before promoting to conductor and later locomotive engineer. He then joined CSX in
1996 as a locomotive engineer, also based in Hagerstown. Steve later joined Amtrak as a locomotive engineer in 2011 based in Washington, DC, operating trains on the Northeast Corridor and Washington Terminal until his retirement in 2022.