The collection is arranged in four series:

Series I. Railroads and Associated Companies, 1835-1986. This series contains materials acquired by Perkins through his general interest in railroad history. The materials have no clear focus, though Norfolk & Western Railway materials comprise a large portion of the series. Included are a wide array of materials, including train passes, timetables, printed materials, business forms, legislative acts, train orders, company histories, ephemera and memorabilia. Of particular interest, perhaps, are an 1835 invitation to the opening of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad and an 1840 letter from the Bank Stock Railroad asking an unidentified minister to promote the railroad in his sermons. Also included in this series is a collection of dinner menus from several railroads, printed materials relating to the rail industry, and a set of souvenir buttons bearing railroad logos. This series is arranged alphabetically by business name, then by document type.

Series II. Individuals, Families and Businesses, 1881-1953. This series contains the papers of various people and companies apparently not directly connected to railroads but accumulated by Perkins in the course of pursuing his hobby. Included among the many disparate materials in the series are expense account records of F. W. Hawks, a cartographer working in Ohio. Also within the series are several pieces of correspondence between Robert L. Humphrey of Galax, Virginia and his sisters Mamie and Belle, together with some other Humphrey family-related papers. Also prevalent within the series are a number of bills of lading issued to G. W. Plumer, a Massachusetts merchant, and a set of telegrams between members of the Snidow-Dixon family in West Virginia and Southwest Virginia. A few freight bills issued to General G. C. Wharton may also be found in this series. Arranged alphabetically by surname.

Series III. Personal Papers, 1957-1996. Included in this small series are materials that relate to Perkins' personal life, though most of them are also connected to his hobbies. The series contains a folder relating to various railroad enthusiast organizations of which Perkins was a member and a folder relating to model railroading, including instructions, advertising matter, and other printed material. A very small selection of personal materials completes the collection and includes letters and ephemera, with some items relating to a George Wythe High School class of 1966 reunion. Arranged by subject matter.

Series IV. Photographs and Postcards, 1887-1987. This series contains images collected and created by Perkins and is devoted almost entirely to railroad-related subjects, including locomotives and other rolling stock; structures; and scenery. The series is divided into two subseries:

Subseries A. Photographs, 1887-1976. While a few of the images in this subseries seem to have been created by Perkins, and the creator of others is unknown, most of the photos are attributed to others. Included among these are significant collections from photographers C. W. Jernstrom and Harold K. Vollrath. As with the materials in Series I, the photos span subjects throughout North America, though there is a focus on the Norfolk & Western Railway. Included at the end of the photographs is a set of promotional photos for the Bendix-Feragen automobile frame-straightening system and a machine-pen autographed photo of Charles A. Lindbergh with his mother and the "Spirit of St. Louis." The railroad images are arranged by name of photographer, then by subject. Non-railroad images are grouped at the end of the subseries.

Subseries B. Postcards, [1906?]-1987. This subseries contains postcards collected by Perkins. While some have never been used, several of the older postcards include names and messages. Included at the end of the subseries are postcards depicting World War II-era combat aircraft and scenes from the southwestern United States. Railroad images are arranged alphabetically by company name, with non-railroad items grouped at the end of the subseries.