Penn Central Corporation
The Penn Central Railroad Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that preserves the history of the Penn Central Transportation Company through its POST magazine, PC Modeler e-magazine, exclusive HO scale models, decals, and annual conventions, serving railroad historians, modelers, and enthusiasts in the United States under license from American Premier Underwriters, Inc.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersFlagtown, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Penn Central Corporation does
The Penn Central Railroad Historical Society (PCRRHS), doing business as "PCRRHS" and "PC POST," is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in Ohio and headquartered in Flagtown, USA, founded in 1999 to preserve the history of the Penn Central Transportation Company—its people, equipment, pre-1968 heritage, and transition into Conrail. The society operates under a licensing agreement with American Premier Underwriters, Inc. (successor to Penn Central and subsidiary of American Financial Group) granting it exclusive permission to use the Penn Central name and emblem. The society has 11-50 employees and serves US-based railroad historians, model railroaders, and railroad enthusiasts through a hybrid content-and-commerce model.
The society's core products include the POST Magazine (a triannual print publication featuring historical articles and photographs, published continuously since 2000 with over 100 issues), PC Modeler eMagazine (a free electronic publication for model railroaders launched in 2022), exclusive custom-decorated HO scale locomotive models (Walthers NW2 and GP9 in specific Penn Central road numbers), custom decal sets in HO and N scales, and annual wall calendars. Distribution occurs through a Squarespace-based e-commerce storefront (shipping internationally), annual conventions rotating across US cities, and physical presence at the Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show in West Springfield, MA.
The society generates revenue through four primary streams: recurring annual membership subscriptions ($40 Regular / $75 Sustaining, including three POST issues), one-time merchandise sales (models $135-$295, decals $3.50-$15, calendars $14.95-$16.95, POST back issues $9-$12.95), convention registrations ($85 base to $217 full registration with tours, meals, and banquet), and member donations for preservation projects (e.g., $2,760 raised from members for the N10 caboose restoration). The society maintains active partnerships with the Railroaders Memorial Museum, Horseshoe Curve Chapter NRHS, Penn State Altoona, and tour-site partners including PATCO and SMS Rail Shop. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors with identified leadership including President Gary Farmer and Vice President Craig Zeni.
Penn Central Corporation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Penn Central Corporation
- Legal name
- Penn Central Railroad Historical Society
- Website
- https://pcrrhs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Penn Central Railroad Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that preserves the history of the Penn Central Transportation Company through its POST magazine, PC Modeler e-magazine, exclusive HO scale models, decals, and annual conventions, serving railroad historians, modelers, and enthusiasts in the United States under license from American Premier Underwriters, Inc.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Penn Central Corporation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Flagtown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Penn Central Corporation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others, Personnel
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual memberships provide three issues of POST magazine plus benefits. Regular memberships $40-50/year, Sustaining memberships $75/year include gifts as thank you for additional support.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of custom models (HO scale locomotives), decals, POST back issues, and calendars through the Society Store e-commerce platform. Models priced $135-$295, decals $3.50-$15.
- Convention Registrations: Annual convention registrations ranging from base registration ($85) to full registration including tours, meals, and banquet ($217). Additional add-ons for tours, banquet, and box lunches.
- POST Magazine Sales: Back issues of the POST magazine sold for $9-$12.95 per issue. Digital and print formats available.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Regular Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Sustaining Membership |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Convention Full Registration |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Convention Base Registration |
| Other | Multi-year contract | 2026 Convention Add-ons |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 2026 Calendar |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Walthers NW2 8803 DCC/sound Model |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Walthers NW2 8807 DCC-ready Model |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Walthers GP9 7248 DCC/sound Model |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | HO Scale Decals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | N Scale Decals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | POST Back Issues |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Penn Central Corporation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Penn Central Railroad Historical Society preserves the history of the Penn Central Transportation Company as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, producing the POST triannual print magazine and PC Modeler free e-magazine, selling exclusive custom HO scale locomotive models and decals, and running annual conventions with railroad facility tours. It funds these activities through memberships (Regular $40-$50, Sustaining $75), merchandise sales, and convention registrations.
Product overview
The Penn Central Railroad Historical Society operates a unified platform offering historical preservation content and merchandise. The core products include the POST Magazine (triannual print publication), PC Modeler eMagazine (free digital publication for model railroaders), and HO scale model trains sold exclusively through the Society. Supporting merchandise includes custom decal sets for modelers and annual calendars. The Society also offers calendar-year memberships and annual convention events with registration packages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- POST Magazine: Official triannual publication of the PCRRHS featuring articles and photographs about Penn Central prototype and model railroading subjects, including the ongoing 'The Crummy Locker' series about PC railroadiana.
- PC Modeler
Products and services
- POST Magazine Official triannual print publication of the PCRRHS featuring articles and photographs about Penn Central prototype and model railroading subjects, including regular features like 'The Crummy Locker' about PC railroadiana and employee tales. Distributed to members with three issues per calendar year.
- PC Modeler eMagazine Free electronic publication (PDF) containing articles and information to help model railroaders preserve the Penn Central through historically-accurate models and layouts. The online format allows longer, more in-depth modeling articles than the print POST magazine.
- HO Scale Model Trains Custom-produced HO scale model trains exclusive to the society, including Walthers NW2 locomotives (Penn Central 8803 DCC/sound at $179 and 8807 DCC-ready at $135) and GP9 locomotive (Penn Central 7248 with DCC and sound at $295). Members receive discount codes via eNews.
- Decal Sets Custom decal sets for modelers in HO and N scales, including PC Red/White Diesel Logos (PCH-4 $3.50), PC 2-Bay Covered Hoppers Black (PCH-8 $5.00), PC 2-Bay Covered Hoppers White (PCH-9 $5.00), PC Vehicles and Trailers (PCH-12 from $15.00), N Scale PC Caboose Set (PCN-1 $4.00), and PRR 100 Ton Open Coal Hopper (PRRH-1).
- Penn Central Calendars Annual 11x17 inch wall calendars featuring 12 full-color photos of Penn Central system scenes including diesel and electric locomotives from various photographers and collections. Priced $14.95 for members and $16.95 for non-members.
- Membership Subscriptions Calendar-year memberships including Regular ($40 new/$50 renewal), Sustaining ($75 with gift), and Gift memberships. All include three issues of POST magazine annually. A $10 surcharge applies after March 1.
- Convention Events Annual conventions with tours, banquets, and presentations. Includes full registration ($217), base registration ($85), Saturday tours/train rides ($55), banquet tickets ($50), and box lunches ($27). 2026 convention to be held September 17-19 in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Quantifiable outcome
- $2,760 raised from membership for caboose restoration plus $2,500 matching funds from society and $5,000 initial donation
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Penn Central Corporation
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Penn Central Corporation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Penn Central Corporation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Railroaders Memorial MuseumcoreThe PCRRHS partnered with the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, PA to restore Penn Central N10 caboose 24026. The society contributed $5,000 in seed funds and launched a matching campaign to raise $2,500 from members (matched by society). The caboose was acquired by the museum in 2006 and was built in Altoona in 1969.
- American Premier Underwriters, Inc.coreAmerican Premier Underwriters Inc. (successor corporation to the Penn Central and subsidiary of American Financial Group) has granted the Penn Central Railroad Historical Society permission to use the Penn Central's name and emblem. This is a licensing relationship that gives the society legal authority to use the historical branding. The PCRRHS is not otherwise affiliated with American Premier Underwriters.
- Horseshoe Curve Chapter, National Railway Historical SocietyminorThe Horseshoe Curve Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society has been working on the N10 caboose restoration since 2021, raising approximately $8,000 for sandblasting and priming. They are spearheading the restoration effort alongside museum volunteers.
- Penn State Altoona Rail Transportation Engineering ProgramminorVolunteers from the Penn State Altoona Rail Transportation Engineering Program are participating in the restoration project for Penn Central N10 caboose 24026 at the Railroaders Memorial Museum.
- Holiday Inn HotelsminorConvention hotels including Holiday Inn Purdue - Fort Wayne, Holiday Inn Express Marion OH, Holiday Inn Philadelphia - Cherry Hill, and others provide venue and room blocks for annual conventions. Group rates are negotiated for convention attendees.
- Amherst Railway SocietyminorThe PCRRHS regularly exhibits at the Amherst Railway Society's annual Railroad Hobby Show in West Springfield, MA. This partnership provides visibility and sales opportunities for the society at one of the largest railroad hobby shows in the Northeast.
- PATCOminorPort Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) allows convention tours at their Operations and Maintenance Facility in Lindenwold, NJ as part of the 2026 convention activities.
- SMS Rail ShopminorSMS Rail Shop in Logan Township, NJ is included in the 2026 convention bus tour itinerary, providing members access to tour their facility.
- Woodstown Central RailroadminorWoodstown Central Railroad in Pilesgrove, NJ provides train ride experiences for convention attendees as part of the 2026 convention Saturday tour.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Penn Central Corporation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Erie Lackawanna Historical Society: Historical society for the Erie Lackawanna Railway, another Northeastern fallen flag absorbed into Conrail alongside Penn Central. Comparable as a single-railroad historical society with publications, conventions, and merchandise, serving an overlapping railfan demographic.
- National Railway Historical Society: The largest generalist railroad historical society in the US, publishing a bi-monthly magazine and hosting chapter events nationwide. Directly comparable as a membership-based railroad historical preservation organization with publications, conventions, and local chapters.
- Conrail Historical Society: Historical society specifically dedicated to Conrail (Consolidated Rail Corporation), which directly absorbed Penn Central in 1976. Highly comparable as a single-railroad historical society with similar membership, publication, and merchandise model targeting the same Northeastern railfan demographic.
- New York Central System Historical Society: Historical society for the New York Central Railroad, another direct predecessor to Penn Central. Comparable as a single-railroad historical society with similar publishing, conventions, and merchandise model serving overlapping enthusiasts in the Northeast and Midwest.
- Railway & Locomotive Historical Society: Long-standing historical society dedicated to preserving the history of locomotives and railroad technology. Comparable as a publishing-focused railroad historical society with members and archival content, though its scope is broader (all railroads) versus PCRRHS's single-railroad focus.
- Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Historical Society: Historical society dedicated to the B&O Railroad, another major Northeastern railroad. Comparable as a single-railroad-focused membership society with publications, conventions, and model railroad merchandise serving the same Northeastern railfan market.
- Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society: Historical society dedicated to the Pennsylvania Railroad, the immediate predecessor railroad to Penn Central. Highly comparable as a single-line historical society with publications, conventions, and merchandise sales, serving an overlapping (and arguably parent) enthusiast demographic.
Regional players
- Amherst Railway Society: Operates the largest railroad hobby show in the Northeast (Springfield, MA), where PCRRHS regularly exhibits. Comparable as a regional railroad hobby and exhibition organization, though its primary function is operating a hobby show rather than preservation publishing.
Emerging players
- Reading Railroad Heritage Museum: Regional railroad heritage museum in Pennsylvania that preserves the Reading Railroad, another fallen flag predecessor. Comparable as a Northeastern fallen-flag railroad heritage and preservation organization with museum operations and enthusiast programming.
- Railroaders Memorial Museum: Altoona, PA-based museum dedicated to preserving railroad workers' history, which PCRRHS has directly partnered with for caboose restoration. Comparable as a Northeastern railroad heritage and preservation organization with museum operations, restoration projects, and educational programming.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Penn Central Corporation social profiles
Digital presencePenn Central Corporation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Penn Central Corporation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Penn Central Corporation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Penn Central Corporation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Penn Central Corporation
What does Penn Central Corporation do?
The Penn Central Railroad Historical Society preserves the history of the Penn Central Transportation Company as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, producing the POST triannual print magazine and PC Modeler free e-magazine, selling exclusive custom HO scale locomotive models and decals, and running annual conventions with railroad facility tours. It funds these activities through memberships (Regular $40-$50, Sustaining $75), merchandise sales, and convention registrations.
Is Penn Central Corporation a public or private company?
Penn Central Corporation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Penn Central Corporation founded?
Penn Central Corporation was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Penn Central Corporation based?
Penn Central Corporation is headquartered in Flagtown, United States, in the North America region.
How does Penn Central Corporation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales, convention Registrations and POST Magazine Sales.
Who are Penn Central Corporation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Erie Lackawanna Historical Society, National Railway Historical Society, Conrail Historical Society, New York Central System Historical Society, Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Historical Society and Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society. Amherst Railway Society is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Reading Railroad Heritage Museum and Railroaders Memorial Museum.
Does Penn Central Corporation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Penn Central Corporation.