A new group dedicated to preserving railroad history in Lewes is ready to unveil its plans to the public.

The Lewes Junction Railroad and Bridge Association has scheduled a meeting at the Lewes library from 7 to 9 p.m., Friday, May 10.

Gary Wray, who helped form the group, said the association wants to form a nonprofit organization to preserve the 103-year-old hand-cranked railroad swing bridge over the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal and bring three railroad cars to the remaining track section at the library site.

Wray, Randy Voith, a retired CSX civil engineer, and David Ludlow, who works for the Wilmington and Western Railroad, will make the presentation. Wray said other Lewes nonprofit organizations are expected to join in the effort.

Wray said the group has been waiting for approval from Delaware Department of Transportation officials before making their plans public. DelDOT owns the bridge, which was taken out of commission after a $3 million price tag for repairs was deemed too expensive. With no swing bridge to provide access via rail to SPI Pharma, DelDOT officials decided it was time to end rail service from Georgetown to Lewes. SPI Pharma was the last remaining Delaware Coast Line Railroad customer in Lewes.

The rail line was decommissioned, with the last train leaving Lewes Dec. 15, 2017, after nearly 150 years of railroad service to Lewes.

The tracks were then removed to make way for the the Lewes-Georgetown Trail. Phase 1 of the trail in Lewes city limits opened in fall 2016; Phase 2 from Savannah Road to Log Cabin Hill Road will be completed this spring.

A 221-foot section of track of the Delaware Coast Line Railroad was left intact next to the trail between the library and the Lewes History Museum.

Wray said the group would prefer that the swing bridge remain at it current location. “But if DelDOT wants it moved from the canal, Plan B is to move it to the library with the three railroad cars,” he said.

The group is working for donations of a locomotive, caboose and passenger car to display on the tracks.

Possible plans also include a replica of an early 20th century Lewes train station and miniature railroad garden to hide the mechanical area behind the library.

Wray, who is president of the Fort Miles Historical Association, said it's important to educate the public about Lewes' railroad history as well as the railroad's connection to the fort.

“There would be no Fort Miles without the railroad,” he said. “The reason the area was selected was because it had a railroad to the beach.”