NASHVILLE, TN — Shane Meador, President of the Nashville Steam Preservation Society, 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 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 by the end of 2025 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.
About the Nashville Steam Preservation Society
The Nashville Steam Preservation Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to restoring and operating historic railroad equipment to preserve Nashville’s rich rail heritage. Its flagship project is the full restoration of steam locomotive No. 576, a Nashville-conceived steam engine that once powered passenger and freight trains across Middle Tennessee. When complete, No. 576 will operate public excursions and serve as a cultural ambassador for Music City, inspiring future generations through education, heritage tourism, and hands-on experience. Learn more at nashvillesteam.org.
