Corry Rail and Industrial Legacy Society

Corry R.A.I.L.S. (Corry Rail and Industrial Legacy Society) formed in 2016 with the focus to find, restore and display artifacts from the Corry area’s industrial and railroad heritage, while encouraging local tourism. We are a 501c3 Charitable Organization.

Six months after forming we had settled on what we hoped would be our first artifact … Project “A”…to attempt to purchase a rare Climax Locomotive Class “A” built in Corry in 1902. In mid 2018 we visited it in Alaska and over the next year we achieved various stages in negotiations until we had a signed Agreement in August of 2019, while at the same time raising funds for its purchase and retrieval.

Since then, the Corry RAILS Team has accomplished the retrieval of the A-313 Climax Locomotive and it now is being worked on during Work Sessions in our Restoration Building less than 1/2 mile from the building it was originally built in. Work also continues…making connections... crating new drawings and blueprints…raising funds…finding skilled craftsmen…gathering materials….

Work continues with work sessions being held regularly to clean and repair original parts.  A source has been found to provide construction of the boiler and procurement of beams and timbers is underway.  We are also preparing the museum portion and educational elements that will bring background to the community during visits.

With Erie Gives 2025, we hope to cap off the funding of the new boiler for Climax A-313 locomotive. This is, by far, the most expensive part of the rebuild.  Over the last year, we have raised $106,000 for the boiler and we need to raise another $57,000. The original boiler is at the Boilermaker's in Maine, along with the attaching parts, as the template for building a new one.  The old boiler will be used as a static display showing the construction methods used and the engineering design for this unique vintage "Tee" Boiler.

Thank you for your interest in our project to recognize the historical significance of the Climax A-313 locomotive.  Your support is greatly appreciated.

For more information about the locomotive and our small volunteer restoration team, please visit our web site or Facebook page.

Corry RAILS website
Corry RAILS Facebook