Howard Pincus
APRIL 8, 2025 7PM EST
Howard having a late day staff meeting with Turbo in Thomaston Shop.
How the range of volunteer opportunities in rail preservation changed in the past several decades? What are the crucial roles for volunteers at preservation organizations? How can you prepare to volunteer with rail preservation organizations?
Howard has been involved with heritage railroading since 1969. He currently is an active part of Railroad Museum of New England, where he has served since 1982. Additionally, Howard was one of the primary participants in starting and developing the Naugatuck Railroad operation of RMNE, in 1995.
Over the years, he has restored rolling stock, painted cars and locomotives, raised money, dealt with Class One railroads, dealt with state agencies and elected officials, fired and operated steam locomotives, built and maintained track, wrote and administered over $3 million in state track rehabilitation grants (2013-2024), plus numerous other things. He is currently a licensed engineer and conductor.
Howard will speak for 45 minutes, and then we will open the floor to your questions. Make sure you are signed up for our mailing list to be notified with the event link and Q&A submission information.
Watch past webinars on demand
WHY VIRTUAL MENTORSHIP?
The field of rail preservation requires conversations where knowledge is exchanged (person-to-person, mentor to mentee, etc), but all too often these exchanges aren’t documented. When people either pass away or move on from the field, whatever knowledge they have is all too often taken with them. Virtual mentorship provides a means of clearly highlighting and documenting these exchanges of knowledge in an open and sustainable manner. Topics can include everything from preventative maintenance to car hosting to advertising. If it intersects with railroad preservation, we will cover it.
All virtual mentorship sessions are attended by a member of Next Generation Railroaders to ensure comfort, troubleshooting of technology, moderation of the topic at hand, etc.
OUR GOALS:
Document expert knowledge
Bridge geographical boundaries
Emphasize topical discussion
Facilitate employee and volunteer recruitment
Virtual Mentor Deep Dives are hour long online sessions open to the general public. A mentor provides a 45 minute presentation on a specific topic pertaining to rail preservation. The remaining time is open to questions submitted by the viewers.
Each presentation includes a mentor and a moderator. The mentor speaks on a topic that they have prepared. The moderator ensures that the technical elements of the presentation are working and selects questions from the audience.
VIRTUAL MENTOR DEEP DIVES
Network with your peers and mentors from across North America and beyond. Join us in this virtual coffee hour to chat with folks about the railroad industry and rail preservation!
Stay tuned for the launch of this programming by signing up for our newsletter!