NASHVILLE, TN — Shane Meador, Vice President of Mechanical and Co-Founder of FMW Solutions, has been honored with the Historic Preservation Recognition Medal by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for his exemplary leadership and contributions to the preservation of American railroad heritage.
Presented by the Cecilia Bradford Carroll Chapter of Mt. Juliet, the award recognizes Meador’s significant impact in restoring and operating historic steam locomotives. The honor celebrates “recent remarkable achievements in preservation,” a standard Meador has consistently upheld throughout his personal and professional achievements.
In Nashville, Meador has led the ambitious effort to restore Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway steam locomotive No. 576, relocating the 1942-built machine from its longtime display in Centennial Park for an extensive restoration. The locomotive – the last surviving steam engine from the native Tennessee railroad – is expected to return to operation in 2025/2026 and is destined to become a significant regional attraction for Middle Tennessee. Meador has also stirred support from major performing artists such as Marty Stuart, Harry Stinson, and Old Crow Medicine Show, among others, and has also campaigned to raise over 3 million dollars to support the monumental task of breathing life into Music City’s iconic locomotive. Pending completion of the restoration, the organization’s next goal will be to create and expand an interpretive facility and passenger train to support the 576’s operation in the Nashville region.
“Shane’s involvement with Nashville Steam has been nothing short of awe-inspiring,” stated Joey Bryan, Vice President of Nashville Steam. “He is one of the hardest-working and humblest individuals I’ve ever met. It is an honor to work alongside him and to be one of many who have learned from him.”
Meador began his career in steam preservation in 1994 as a fireman at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he joined Norfolk Southern Railway as a machinist, where he was handpicked by the CEO to oversee the restoration of two historic Southern Railway locomotives for a public excursion program. Following that success, Meador co-founded FMW Solutions, a national rail preservation, consulting, and mechanical services firm. Today, he continues to support steam and diesel restoration efforts across the country.
DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical women’s service organization with over 190,000 members in 3,000 chapters worldwide. The group is dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and supporting education through a broad range of service initiatives.
FMW Solutions offers professional restoration and consulting services for the rail industry, including mechanical and engineering design, diesel locomotive servicing and repair, rail operations, strategic planning support, marketing, public relations, safety compliance administration, training, and alternative fuel technology research and development.
FMW is also an accomplished rail preservation resource, with expertise in the restoration and operation of historic equipment, including steam locomotive inspection, restoration, appliance repair, and overhaul services. For more on FMW Solutions, to request a quote, proposal, or to explore opportunities for your railroad operation, visit fmwsolutions.com, email info@fwmsolutions.com, or call (423) 425-9753.
I would love to see the NCST.L 576 running excursions from Nashville , Tennessee to places like Louisville , Kentucky , Huntsville , Alabama , Chattanooga , Tennessee , Atlanta , Georgia , Montgomery , Alabama Charleston , South Carolina , Spartanburg , South Carolina , Erwin , Tennessee , Kingsport , Tennessee , Huntington , West Virginia , and Cincinnati , Ohio and starring in the Warner Brothers movies Andrews Raiders and Train Marshall including doing the 250 anniversary of the American Freedom Train with NAW 611 , Nickel Plate 765 , Pennsylvania 1361 , NYC 3001 , Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 , Southern 4501 , and Reading 2100.
Also I would love to see Illinois Central Mountain 2500 , C A O Allegheny 1604 , Georgia Mikado 302 , and Atlanta and West Point 290 operating by CSX crews along with Atlantic Coast Lines 1504.
1 more thing.
I would like to see 4014 , 765 , 1504 , 4501 , 2500 , 611 , 578 , and 576 to star in the 2029 National Railway Historical Society convention in Chattanooga , Tennessee with trips to Vicksburg , Mississippi , Lexington , Kentucky , Birmingham , Alabama , Bristol , Virginia , Asheville , North Carolina , and Atlanta , Georgia with a banquet and a ride on both the Lookout Mountain incline railway and the Tennessee Valley Rail Museum.
I would love to see 302 haul passengers from Augusta , Georgia to Charleston , South Carolina , Savannah , Georgia , Montgomery , Alabama , Chattanooga , Tennessee , Huntsville , Alabama , and Louisville , Kentucky.
2500’s excursions will be from Paducah , Kentucky to Jackson , Mississippi , Memphis , Tennessee , Evansville , Indiana , Louisville , Kentucky , Centralia , Illinois , Chicago , Illinois , Cincinnati , Ohio , Lexington , Kentucky , Chattanooga , Tennessee and the Whitewater Valley Railroad and the Casey Jones Festival.
1504 will need diesel helpers for trips from Chattanooga , Tennessee , Knoxville , Tennessee , Bristol , Virginia , Asheville , North Carolina , Salisbury , Charlotte , Wilmington , and Winston-Salem , North Carolina , Charleston , South Carolina Atlanta , Georgia , Montgomery , Alabama , Jacksonville , Tampa , West Palm Beach , Pensacola , Green Springs Cove , Leesport , Miami , and Clewiston , Florida for a grand welcome home celebration.
C A O 2716 will pull passengers in Kentucky , Virginia , Alabama , North Carolina , South Carolina , Connecticut , Georgia , and Tennessee on CSX trackage.