Taken right out of service, no restoration should be required. Better to retain whatever dings, scratches, and other patina that became part of the historic fabric in service. Conservation and interpretation, which sort of requires indoor secure storage and some amount of support and archival facilities are what is required.

dave

The Society for the Preservation of state and Local History has been doing publications that help start up like you for many years.

They are located in Nashville , Tennessee and they have a good web site.

You shold look at their publications. They deal both with starting a non-profit and getting Federal tax exemption.

The National Railway & Locomotive Historical Society has chapters around the country.

At one time they did not allow chapters to own rolling stock but that was changed and they now have many local museums across the country.

They have a series of regional Vice Presidents; you might want to talk to the person for New England. Becomeing a chapter would be a lot easier than setting up your own non profit group.

The Eastern Connecticut Railroad Museum at Wallingford, CT is such a group. They are also the Eastern Connecticut Chapter of the NRHS. They are a going concern; you might want to contact them.

Ted Miles

I am going to try Legal Zoom http://www.legalzoom.com/non-profits/no ... icing.html this looks like just what I need.