Our History

Welcome to the wonderful world of RAILROADS! 

The North East Kansas Railroaders, Inc., is a widely diverse group of individuals who have one common interest - RAILROADS! Our goal is to keep alive the history and glory of America's great railways. If you share this love of trains and railroading, the North East Kansas Railroaders, Inc., invite you to join us in the journey. 

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US

The North East Kansas Model Railroaders Club was established in April of 1986. It was not long before members found that interest in railroading reached far more than just in modeling. As plans were made and goals were set, it was only natural that a name change take place. Only a few short months after organizing, the word Model was dropped and the organization became known as the North East Kansas Railroaders Society.

In 1988, the NEKR Society established the Atchison Rail Museum on property leased from the City with additional property purchased from Santa Fe Railway at the site of the Santa Fe Depot Museum. Also in 1988, NEKR became incorporated under the laws of the State of Kansas Revenue Code, 501, (C)(3). Therefore, contributions of material and money are tax deductible, charitable contributions.

1. The purpose of NEKR, INC., as stated in their constitution is:   * To encourage interest in Model Railroading and Toy Train operation and         preservation;                                                                                                   * To promote the preservation of prototype Railroad Equipment and                memorabilia in Atchison, Kansas, and across America and at the same            time to promote the science and methods of Railroading, past, present,        and future, by increasing the knowledge and awareness of its members        and the public;                                                                                                 * To obtain and circulate information on these subjects;                                   * To provide a means for the interested members of the Society to build          and exhibit their own modules and/or full-scale equipment;                         * To secure the cooperation of its members, the public, and all interested          parties in establishing a Railroad Museum dedicated to collecting,                  restoring, preserving, exhibiting, and operating technology's greatest            historical achievements in Railroading, both model and prototype.                                                                                                                                     The goals of NEKR, INC., are to bring together those persons who are interested in preserving, restoring, and maintaining interest in railroading, railroad history, and railroad items of the past and present, NEKR, INC., plans to do this in the following ways:                                                                        1.  Through the building of model railroad layouts that members can                 display to the public.                                                                                    2.  By creating, promoting, and maintaining a railroad museum, and display       site or sites as may be obtained or acquired in the future, and to operate       the same as a not-for-profit museum; and to improve the cultural,                 scientific, and educational values, aspects and effects of life as related to       railroading.                                                                                                   3.  By the establishing, building, and operating a 12" gauge scale railroad          on the museum grounds.                                                                             4.  And, our ultimate goal is to acquire track or trackage rights for weekend       excursion trips as a tourist attraction so that adventurers, young and old,       will cherish the memories of railway travel long since past.                                                                                                                                                   The Atchison and Western Railroad has been in existence since 1990 at the same location. We go through a very thorough inspection by trained professional from the State of Kansas yearly before our running season can begin.