Rolling Stock Curator & Acquisitions Lead

The Texas Railway Preservation Association (TRPA) is seeking a Rolling Stock Curator & Acquisitions Lead to serve as the primary architect of our physical collection. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, you will oversee the strategic identification, historical vetting, and acquisition of locomotives and rolling stock that define the industrial legacy of the Southern Continental region.

In this pro-bono executive role, you are the gatekeeper of the TRPA roster. You will ensure that every piece of iron we acquire—from the SP 982 to future freight and passenger assets—aligns with our mission of "Industrial Power" and high-fidelity historical demonstration. This is a role for a historian with a logistical mind and an eye for mechanical pedigree.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Roster Development: Create and maintain a "Master Acquisitions Plan" that identifies key pieces of rolling stock necessary to tell the complete story of Texas railroading.
• Historical Vetting & Provenance: Conduct deep-archive research to verify the historical significance and "pedigree" of potential acquisitions, ensuring they meet museum-grade standards.
• Acquisition Logistics: Lead negotiations for the donation or purchase of rail assets. You will coordinate with railroads, private owners, and scrap yards to "rescue" historically significant equipment.
• Technical Assessment: Collaborate with the Chief Mechanical Officer (CMO) to evaluate the physical condition and restoration potential of new acquisitions.
• Curatorial Documentation: Maintain the "Archive of Record" for all physical assets, including blueprints, original painting schemes (like the Sunbeam/Daylight patterns), and service histories.
• Asset Lifecycle Management: Advise the Executive Director on the long-term "health" of the fleet, identifying when assets need preservation, restoration, or strategic deaccessioning.

Professional Requirements

• Historical Authority: Deep knowledge of North American railroad history, specifically Southern Pacific and Texas-based lines.
• Acquisitions Experience: Proven ability to navigate complex logistics, contract negotiations, or equipment procurement (ideally in an industrial or museum context).
• Research Mastery: Ability to utilize national archives, mechanical blueprints, and historical databases to reconstruct an artifact’s history.
• Industrial Literacy: A basic understanding of rail equipment mechanics—you know the difference between a project that’s "restorable" and one that is "beyond repair."
• Executive Communication: The ability to represent TRPA to other museums, railroads, and corporate donors with professional weight and institutional authority.

The TRPA Advantage

You are the "Master of the Roster." You will decide which pieces of history are saved and which are lost to time. Working directly with the Executive Director, you will help build a physical collection that will define the Houston skyline and the Texas educational landscape for the next century.

Join the TRPA. Curate the Power.