American Steam Railroad Partners With Northeast Ohio Affiliate of Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Nick Stewart | September 18, 2025
CLEVELAND — The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association (ASR) and the Northeast Ohio Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (SGK) have announced a partnership on community events, outreach programs and a collaborative line of merchandise. This favorable partnership will jointly benefit SGK’s breast cancer awareness and research efforts, as well as ASR’s restoration of American Freedom Train steam locomotive No. 250 to operating condition.
“This new partnership is a win-win for everyone,” said Forrest Nace, ASR Treasurer. “The combined efforts of both of our organizations will provide new revenue streams to meet the critical needs in communities and invest in breakthrough research for the prevention and cure of breast cancer, and to bring a historic tourist attraction back to operation which should annually attract 20,000 to 50,000 more tourists and generate $2 million to $5 million for the Greater Cleveland Area economy.”
As part of this partnership, special hats and T-shirts honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month have been released, with $5.00 from each sale benefiting SGK. These items are available for purchase through ASR’s online store www.americansteamrailroad.org/shop/susan-g-komen.
On Saturday, September 20, ASR will debut the merchandise and appear as a sponsor at SGK’s More Than Pink Walk at Wade Oval in Cleveland.
ASR and SGK merchandise will also be available during Locomotive No. 250’s 80th Birthday Open House on Saturday, October 11. Tickets can be purchased online at www.americansteamrailroad.org/visit-events.
“For each ASR/SGK T-Shirt and hat sold, $5.00 will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to fight this disease that affects 1 in 8 women and 1 in 830 men,” Nace continued. “To also be a sponsor in attendance for the 2025 Komen Northeast Ohio MORE THAN PINK Walk here in Cleveland is a way for ASR to work with another non-profit's Cleveland area chapter that our members are passionate about, furthering the cause and fundraising efforts beyond each of our own memberships and public outreach campaigns.”
In 2005, a group of engineers, businessmen, and railroaders came together to establish the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, a 501c3 non-profit organization. In 2015, ASR surprised the railroad preservation industry by signing a multi-year lease for Reading Company steam locomotive No. 2100 and completing a 2,200-mile move to Cleveland, Ohio. It has become one of the most ambitious steam locomotive restorations in the United States, with over 23,000 volunteer hours committed, and most recently, a successful steam test in April 2025. Upon its debut, locomotive No. 2100 will be adorned in the striking red, white and blue colors of the American Freedom Train and renumbered to No. 250.
Tax-deductible donations towards the restoration of AFT No. 250 / Reading No. 2100 can be mailed to American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, 2800 W. 3rd St, Cleveland, OH 44113, or made online at www.americansteamrailroad.org/donate.