Eisenbahnstiftung Joachim Schmidt

The Eisenbahnstiftung Joachim Schmidt was established in December 2001 to permanently secure valuable collections of railway history – particularly those assembled over long periods by private individuals. Often, heirs and successors lack the professional or ideological appreciation for such holdings, which can lead to the loss of historical documents and exhibits. The foundation accepts collections and estates as a trust foundation or direct endowment and preserves them with professional care. It is recognized as a non-profit organization by the Iserlohn tax office, making endowments and donations tax-deductible.

The Eisenbahnstiftung Joachim Schmidt is dedicated to preserving significant contemporary records of railway and transport history for future generations. It respects the donors' wishes regarding storage, presentation, and naming rights, and enables professional management and utilization of collections that would otherwise be dispersed or destroyed. Through public relations and reliable fiduciary administration, the foundation promotes awareness of the cultural heritage of the railway.

The foundation's funding and custodial activities are aimed at private individuals, heirs, collectors, and estate administrators who possess extensive historical collections, models, documents, or vehicles related to railway history and seek reliable, permanent accommodation. Also addressed are associations, museums, or research institutions that hold historically significant collections or wish to make them accessible in the long term for exhibition or research purposes.