The Emery Rail Heritage Trust, officially The Rail Heritage Trust (“the Trust”), operates as an approved tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) foundation under the rules of the Internal Revenue Service (EIN# 46-4327372).

As stated in this website, one of the main goals of The Trust is to help educate the public on the intercity rail passenger experience and to offer the public the chance to see and ride trains that connected the U.S. before the advent of jet aircraft and the interstate highway system. Trust funds are used to help recreate and preserve, to the extent possible the “Golden Age” of the rail passenger travel experience as it was in the U.S. from approximately 1920 to 1960.

The Trust has been set up to provide yearly grants to worthy non-profit organizations to help allow this to happen. If you have read about the many grants over the years that the Trust has made and would like to be part of it, please consider a donation of any size as all are welcome so that we can continue this worthy endeavor.

Please also consider using this Trust in your Will or Estate planning. The benefit is that this Trust is already working with all setup previously completed. Consider that your gift could help fund the many Operating Preservation efforts throughout the United States. The Trust is administered by First Option Bank in Paola Kansas. There are no paid employees of the trust, only an unpaid Volunteer Advisory Committee.

Please also consider The Rail Heritage Trust if you are required to make a “Required Minimum Distribution” from your IRA if you are over 72 years old. If you make one of these distributions, you normally might have to pay taxes on this distribution. If you instead make a “Qualified Charitable Distribution” or “QCD” directly from your IRA to a qualified Organization such as The Rail Heritage Trust you are not required to pay taxes on that portion of your distribution. These QCD’s can begin at age 70 ½. Organizations such as Fidelity, Vanguard, American Century, etc., can make these QCD’s easily and directly to a charitable/nonprofit organization, often with filling out one form and a click of a few buttons. In any case please contact your IRA provider or tax advisor to determine whether this is appropriate or beneficial to you.

Any direct donations, bequests, correspondence or questions about the Trust should be addressed to:

First Option Bank
FBO The Rail Heritage Trust
Attn: Keri Peterson – Trust Officer
702 Baptiste Drive
Paola, Kansas 66071

For inquiries, questions, or if you would like a call back, please contact Steve Ferrari, Emery Rail Heritage Trust Advisor at steveferrari@yahoo.com .

We thank you for considering a gift to The Rail Heritage Trust.