RailCamp

Where else but at RailCamp can high school students replace a knuckle on a tank car, learn how to inspect a working steam locomotive in a real roundhouse or take a course in railroad operations and dispatching?

Special Notice About RailCamp 2013

NRHS has made the difficult decision to suspend the 2013 season of RailCamp. At issue is new liability insurance demands for university housing that are being imposed on NRHS and similar organizations nationwide. NRHS is committed to resuming the program at both locations in summer 2014. More details can be found here.

About RailCamp

Where else but at RailCamp can high school students replace a knuckle on a tank car, learn how to inspect a working steam locomotive in a real roundhouse, learn about state-of-the-art modern day railroad or take a course in railroad operations and dispatching? Every year, the NRHS sends lucky high school students to spend 5 days learning hands-on rail preservation techniques, study railroad history, and even learn about current career opportunities in the railroad industry.

The NRHS offers two RailCamp programs; one at Scranton, Pennsylvania and a second in Tacoma, Washington. The program is open to high school boys and girls who are currently, Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, or Seniors (class of 2013). Individuals who enter the Freshmen year in 2013 will also be eligible to participate.

At RailCamp Scranton, students are housed in the University of Scranton dorms. Activities center around the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania but also includes side trips to some area railroad venues including facilities of the Canadian Pacific Railroad and a historic streetcar operation.

At RailCamp Northwest, students are housed in Pacific Lutheran University dorms. During RailCamp students will be presented with a variety of railroading experiences including station operations, observing heavy maintenance on the high-speed Talgo trains, conducting an annual inspection on an in-service Amtrak locomotive and much more.