The Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Inc. is the oldest organization in North America devoted to railroad history, and among the first anywhere to pursue formal studies in the history of technology. Its object is to promote research and to encourage preservation of documentation pertinent to business history, finance, labor history, and biography as well as technology.

The Society has ten local/regional chapters, which are open to all national society members. Chapter membership requires membership in the national society. Memberships are offered in the national society plus, optionally, as many chapters as the member may wish to join.