The Oyster Bay Railroad Museum Page 1

OYSTER BAY RAILROAD MUSEUM, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK

What simply began as a group of dedicated, young volunteers to clean and repaint steam Locomotive No.35 (last steam locomotive to operate on the Long Island Railroad), evolved into the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum in 2006. Today, an all-volunteer army is still at work maintaining its two locations (a short walk from each other): The "Museum," home to a host of historical railroad equipment, artifacts, displays, and more; and the "Rail Yard," populated with numerous Long Island iron that actually traveled the rails. Additionally, the original space-saving turntable designed to rotate in-coming/out-going locomotives 180-degrees, is in operation today to give vistors a spin. At 70-feet in diameter, this turntable is Oyster Bay's second turntable installed (1904). An original 50-foot mechanism was installed in 1889.

Spending time at Nassau County's Salisbury (later renamed, Eisenhower) Park until 1978, and later moved to Mitchell Field, Long Island's No.35 finally found the perfect retirement home at the Rail Yard. After 27-years of faithful service (1928-1955), the G5s 4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler" No.35, built initially by the Pennsylvania Railroad's Juniate Shop, is receiving a cosmetic restoration, as well as an operational restoration of all components. Our recent visit saw its major components dotting the Rail Yard's landscape (as of 2023), awaiting the reassembly stage. Unfortunately, proper length of available track and cost prevented a full steam-powered rebuild, but when completed, No.35 will be able to be towed to different locations.

And while progress seems to slowly delete our tales from the past, the Oyster Bay Railroad Musuem continues to highlight the role of the railroad in Long Island's history by collecting and preserving its heritage. Besides, you are also only steps away from the blue waters of Oyster Bay (Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park & Beach), the quaint hamlet of Oyster Bay itself, and the nearby home of our 26th President (1901-1909), Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt (Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay).

HISTORIC OYSTER BAY RAILROAD STATION

The bare beams and rafters of the historic Oyster Bay Railroad Station and museum.
Note: I took the artistic liberty to alter the image slightly.

Left Image: Railroad lanterns use for communication.

Left Image: Communication before internet, texting and facetime. Just needed loose change (what's that?).
Right Image: Bust of Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt (26th President).

This is the Sunrise Special logo found on the Nassau Tower (Mineola's signal tower). The Sunrise Special was a first-class, extra fare, summer-only train from New York to Montauk.

Left Image: New York City subway handhold c.1930.

THE RAIL YARD

Left Image: Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) DE30AC Diesel Cab simulator.
Right Image: LIRR M1 #7001 cab simulator.

Canadian National (CN) Railroad Fairmont "Speeder."

Left Image:These tracks are actively operational today and pointing toward the end of the line of the Oyster Bay Branch.
Right Image: Sign found next to the Caboose No.50.
Note: I took the artistic liberty to alter both images slightly.

Caboose No.50.

Young train enthusiast and his father enjoying a bit of history, riding the circa 1904 turntable in the Rail Yard.

Garden (model) Railway.

Left Image (Lto R): LIRR GE GS-1 #397, LIRR GS-1 Dinky #26 (to be named the “Theodore Roosevelt”), and Canadian National (CN) Railroad Fairmont "Speeder."
Right Image: LIRR GE GS-1 #397, LIRR GS-1 Dinky #26 (to be named the “Theodore Roosevelt”).

LONG ISLAND RAILROAD No.35 (G5s 4-6-0 "TEN WHEELER")

Four large drive wheels of the No.35 awaiting reassembly.

Large drive and other wheels of the No.35 awaiting reassembly.

Locomotive No.35 boiler.

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