Tie Line Letters – Are a heartfelt storytelling project by the Cody Ron Foundation, created for children and families connected to the railroad. It gives them a space to write letters – to their lost loved one, to themselves, or to the tracks that shaped their story.
These letters are a powerful mix of grief, memory, and healing. Some are tucked into our Railroad Roots baskets. Others are shared at events, saved in our archives, or offered quietly for personal closure.
Each one is a reminder that the bond doesn’t end when the track does.
Because every story deserves to be written, received, and remembered.
Tie Line Letters is more than a project – it’s a lifeline. These deeply personal letters allow children, grandchildren, and loved ones of railroad workers to process grief, share legacy, and stay connected to the ones they’ve lost. Whether handwritten or typed, these stories help us heal — and help others know they’re not alone.
Your Donation Helps Us:
- Print and preserve letters for our digital + physical archives.
- Include selected letters in Railroad Roots baskets to comfort grieving children.
- Create school kits, grief resources, and journal sets that build emotional expression.
- Share stories during events like Tracks of Love and Survivor’s Joy Day.
- Build a permanent collection of railroad family history for generations to come.
Whether you’re donating $10 to help print a pack of stories, or $250 to sponsor a full journey from letter to healing basket. Every dollar moves a story forward.
| Pen Pal | $10 – $24 | Printing & materials for letters included in baskets |
| Story Keeper | $25 – $74 | Printing & materials for letters included in baskets |
| Letter Carrier | $75 – $149 | Journal kits & grief worksheets for Railroad Roots boxes |
| Legacy Basket Sponsor | $150 – $249 | Full Railroad Roots basket + Tie Line Letter bundle |
| Tracks of Love Host | $250 + | Public reading events, archive building, school outreach |
Honor a Loved One
You can dedicate your donation in memory of a railroader or someone special. Their name will be included in an upcoming Tie Line Letters Roundup, and optionally on a basket tag or event reading list.
“We don’t just collect letters. We collect the echoes of love, loss, and legacy—and carry them forward.”
The Cody Ron Foundation 