On April 20, 2024, long-time friend, donor, and benefactor of the American Heritage Center and the University of Wyoming, James L. Ehernberger, was honored with the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society’s Gerald M. Best Senior Achievement Award for his more than 70 years as a dedicated railroad historian and celebrated author.
Jim Ehernberger’s archival collection at the AHC is one of the most comprehensive collections of railroad history, particularly the Union Pacific, ever assembled. It amasses over 1,100 boxes of material, including over 50,000 photographs, and more than 100,000 negatives either taken by or acquired by Jim over the many years of his collecting. And it’s still growing!
The massive collection is completely available to the public and is a frequently used and oft-quoted resource for railroad enthusiasts and historians from all over the country.
As one of the premier collections in its holdings, the American Heritage Center is proud to house this incredible legacy, and even prouder of its long association with Jim Ehernberger.
The Center wishes to congratulate our good friend Jim Ehernberger on this richly deserved award, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with him to preserve railroad history for future generations.
Post contributed by AHC Assistant Director and Collections Manager William Hopkins.
I am the granddaughter of Paul Bischeld who worked on McKeen Motorcars. I just saw Floyd Schultz’s article in the UP Streamliner from 2003 on the McKeen Motor Car. In that article is a picture of the bronze plate from Standard Motor Works motor no. 337, credited to your collection. This plate is identical to the plate I recently found in Paul Bilcheld’s collection of McKeen Motor car memorabilia. A picture of our plate is posted at the website listed below. I also have the flying eagle off of Car #1 and some pictures.