Historical Integrity & Research Officer (Volunteer Staff)

The Texas Railway Preservation Association (TRPA) is seeking a Historical Integrity & Research Officer. Reporting to the Digital Content Producer and the Director of Brand Strategy on a project-by-project basis, you are the guardian of the TRPA’s factual authority.

In this volunteer staff role, you are responsible for the "Deep Logic" behind our storytelling. We are looking for an individual well-versed in Texas industrial and railroad history who can navigate both physical archives and modern digital research tools. You make sure that while our content looks like a movie, it reads like a masterclass—accurate, verified, and prestigious.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Fact-Checking: Review all social media copy, website articles, and video scripts to ensure technical, mechanical, and historical accuracy before publication.
• Archive Sorties: Utilize specialized research tools, university libraries, and national archives to uncover the "unknowns" of Houston railroading and the SP 982’s unique "Double Engine" history.
• Digital Documentation: Maintain an electronic database of primary-source materials—including digitized blueprints, manifest logs, and period-correct terminology—to support the content team.
• Verification Support: Act as the "on-call" expert during merchandise drops or documentary shoots to verify that historical references (such as specific paint schemes or mechanical parts) are 100% accurate.
• Institutional Benchmarking: Compare TRPA’s historical data against established Texas industrial records to ensure our "One-of-a-Kind Educational Ecosystem" is the most accurate in the state.

Professional Requirements

• Historical Domain Expertise: A deep-seated knowledge of Texas industrial history and/or North American railroad operations (Southern Pacific knowledge is a high-value asset).
• Digital Proficiency: Must be highly "electronic device inclined." You should be comfortable utilizing cloud-based research databases, digital archival software, and collaborative team tools (Slack, Google Workspace, etc.).
• Research Mastery: Proven capability in navigating physical libraries, historical societies, and digital technical repositories.
• Analytical Precision: The ability to translate complex historical data into "Layman’s Terms" without losing the integrity of the facts.
• Mission Alignment: A commitment to the "Apple Garage" hustle—using 21st-century tools to preserve 20th-century power.

The TRPA Advantage

You are the intellectual backbone of the Association. You provide the substance that justifies our style. Working alongside our creative leaders, you have the unique opportunity to become the foremost authority on the SP 982’s legacy, ensuring that the TRPA is recognized as a premiere, peer-reviewed educational institution.

Join the TRPA. Authenticate the Power.