Summer 2010 - James Werner

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RAILROAD MUSEUM OF LONG ISLAND
The
Postboy
Preserving Long Island’s Rich Railroading Heritage
Summer 2010!
www.rmli.us
Celebrating 20 Years!
1990 - 2010
In This Issue:
Page 2: A Message From the President • Page 6: Equipment Restoration Progress • Page 10: A History of Speonk Station • Page 12: Miles of Smiles Book Signing
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A Message from the President
By Don Fisher
Summertime is in full swing and your
Museums are open and ready to accept
visitors!
Memorial Day weekend was a
beautiful weather weekend to start our
season and our initial visitor numbers look
very good for 2010. May we continue to
enjoy fair weekend weather and happy
patrons!
On May 22, twenty-eight RMLI
members attended our Summer Membership
Meeting at the Greenport site.
There,
everyone had an opportunity to preview the
New York Transit Museum Exhibit, “The
Long Island Railroad, 175 years of History”
before it opened to the public on May 29.
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Reports were heard from the various
Museum Committees, fresh donuts from the
Salamander Bakery and cold soda were
served and following the meeting, everyone
went to the Peconic County Miniature
Railroad on Webb Street where Frank and
Ruth Field hosted rides on their G-16 park
train.
Thank you Frank and Ruth for a
wonderful end to our meeting day!
Early June saw classes of Elementary
School Students from Southold and
Greenport Schools tour and learn at our
Greenport site and youngsters from Our
Church of the Redeemer Lutheran School
visit our Riverhead site. All the children
were fascinated with our trains and exhibits.
Lou Caruso and Scott McCarthy have
been working since Fall 2009 scraping and
painting our backshop building in the yard
beside 1556 and Engine #39. Lou reports that
he is just about finished with this project and
the building looks beautiful. He replaced
many pieces of rotted wood and painted the
trim and side boards. When in Riverhead
please stop by to admire the paint job and
give Lou a “Tip O the Hat!”
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Beginning in the Fall of 2010, Lou will be
managing the prep and painting of the first
floor of the RMLI Visitor’s Center.
Please
consider coming out on the weekend and
joining Lou in this important maintenance
work. The Museum will look so much the
better for your efforts.
Restoration work on LIRR switcher #399
continues behind the backshops on Saturday
mornings.
Bill Raynor, Tom Collins and
Anthony DeBellis have been replacing steel
panels on the rear bulkhead and engineer’s side
wall. Repairs have been made to the battery
box and electric cabinet doors, primer paint has
been applied and Smoke Gray finish paint has
been ordered to put the loco in LIRR World’s
Fair Livery.
Painting of LIRR Caboose C-68 is
nearing completion. Project Manager Anthony
DeBellis reports that all three coats of safety
orange paint and two coats of black roof paint
have been put down. Yellow highlights on
steps and railings and the black painted
equipment on the underbody are all that is left
for the painter’s brush. Lettering and Dashing
Dan decals will follow and C-68 should be
looking quite fine for Riverhead Railroad
Festival. The work crew on C-68 included
Anthony, John Henry, Joe Costa, Justin Bashe,
Neil Feldman, John Thompson and Greg
Kruszeski.
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BEDT 16 restoration is on track and we
hope by the Riverhead Railroad Festival to
have her back on her drive wheels. Painting
will commence in the fall.
Once again Engine #39 is stalled, this
time for lack of funding. We continue to search
for $250,000.00 a year for eight years to “git ‘er
done!” The current economy isn’t helping us –
if you, gentle member, have any leads or
resources please contact me at dfisher@rmli.us.
On June 13 I had the pleasure of
attending a Public Run Day at the Long Island
Live Steamers located at Suffolk County’s
Southaven Park in Brookhaven. This is an
outstanding train riding experience, if you have
not had the opportunity to ride these 7 !”
gauge railroad trains, make it a point to do so
this year. The Club maintains two huge block
signal controlled layouts that meander through
the woods. They operate multiple train sets
throughout the day and while I was there I saw
live steam, gasoline and battery operated
locomotives. Many thanks to my hosts, LILS
President, Walter Poppe, Secretary, John
Mehrling and member Stuart Greenberg for
showing me their first class operation. Visit the
LILS at www.longislandlivesteamers.org to
find directions and their next Public Run Day!
August 1st begins another membership
year for RMLI.
Our annual membership
renewal letter may have reached you already.
Please consider joining us again for 2010 -2011.
We have many exciting plans afoot for your
Museum in 2011, not the least of which is the
Grand Opening of the historic Lionel Visitor’s
Center layout in our Freeman Building. Don’t
miss out on all the fun and excitement. Renew
early, ask a friend to join the RMLI, and as 2010
marches on, consider a tax deductible donation
to help keep your Museums operating.
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In closing I would like to invite each of
you to celebrate RMLI’s 20th Anniversary at the
2010 Riverhead Railroad Festival. Saturday and
Sunday, August 28 and 29 from 10:00 AM to
4:00 PM each day. Visit and see all the work
that is going into your Museums, ride the 11:25
AM LIRR Scoot to Greenport and be back in
time to enjoy a hearty lunch from the Maple
Tree Gourmet Caterers. Listen to live bluegrass
music provided by Eastbound Freight and visit
the many vendors, railroad preservation and
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historical societies, train layouts and guest
exhibitors at the Festival.
This year, in
partnership with the Twin Forks Chapter
NRHS, we will be dedicating a plaque to the
Town of Riverhead that commemorates the
100th Anniversary of the Riverhead Railroad
Station. Don’t miss the ceremony at 2:00 PM on
Saturday, August 28. Mark your calendar now
and plan to join us as a patron or enjoy a day or
two of volunteering!
Cut and Save!
Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Railroad Museum of Long Island
Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Riverhead Railroad Station
Riverhead Railroad Festival
~ Happy Anniversary Days ~
The Railroad Museum of Long Island
416 Griffing Avenue, Riverhead NY
Saturday, August 28th and Sunday, August 29th, 2010
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Adults $6.00 - Children $3.00
Children under 5 yrs. FREE
• Refreshments available from “Maple Tree Gourmet Caterers” • Live Bluegrass Music
• Railroad related vendors • MTA Police • Try your hand at the “railcar switching puzzle”
• See many operating toy train layouts in “G,” “O,” “HO,” and “N” scale • Speeders
• Visit the Museum Gift Shop • Engage in the “locomotive races” • Historic Passenger cars
• Ride the 1964 - 1965 LIRR Pavilion World’s Fair Train • Historic railcars and locomotives
• View working machines of the “Long Island Antique Power Association” • LIRR M-1 cars
• Cabooses • Visit railroad preservation groups • Locomotives
• Ride the LIRR “Scoot” and visit our Museum in Greenport then return to Riverhead
“Scoot” tickets are purchased separately onboard the train from the LIRR Conductor.
Admission to the Riverhead Railroad Festival allows you to see both sites on the same day of purchase.
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Freeman Building Heating, Ventilation, and Air
Conditioning Installation
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Equipment Restoration Progress
by Anthony DeBellis
Presidents’ Aide de Camp
Now that summer is here and the weather is warm, we are in progress at your Riverhead museum site
maintaining our collection of rolling stock and locomotives that once proudly served the communities
of Long Island. This is a lot of work and will be the first in a series of columns that will keep you
informed as work progresses. Volunteers are always wanted and needed. Many hands make light
work, which in the long run, gets more work accomplished and equipment restored. Please contact
myself at adebellis@rmli.us or Don Fisher at dfisher@rmli.us to find out about contributing in any
capacity possible. As your Presidents’ Aide de Camp, I am fully dedicated to the well being of our
equipment, and seeing they are preserved for future generations.
Long Island Rail Road 25 Ton “Dinky” 399
The only currently operating standard gauge
locomotive in the Museum, #399 has been receiving
a lot of recent metal work to the cab. The rear of the
cab along with the side and front of the engineer’s
side have had large sections of metal removed that
were rotted, replaced, and welded into place with
new metal. #399 has also received a lot of decay
removed from the cab floor. A major step was
removing the battery box, and while a new one is
constructed, we are working on the new metal in the
back of the cab. Both of the engine doors have also
been removed and restored. A small ‘box’ that
helped to protect the engine of the locomotive has
been removed, repaired, painted, and put back in the
locomotive. #399 will also be getting a fresh coat of
paint after the removal of old paint left over from the
many years working in Morris Park Shops.
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Long Island Rail Road Caboose C-68
On Saturday June 19th, I single handedly applied
a second coat of orange paint to the car body and
a second coat of black to the roof and under
carriage. The caboose looks great, with now only
minor detail work remaining on the handrails in
addition to any touch up work required along
with the application of the Dashing Dan logos,
C-68, and LONG ISLAND across both sides. It
will be determined later in the summer if C-68
needs another coat of orange paint. A once polkadotted primer caboose is now a nice bright
orange that can be seen up the street on Griffing
Avenue as you come to your Riverhead Museum,
proudly telling the story of the Long Island Rail
Road.
Riverhead West Backshop
In the fall of 2009, Lou Caruso and Scott
McCarthy started the removal of the old
paint from the building we use as our
backshop at the Riverhead site. After years
of use it finally needed some TLC. Many of
the rotted wood pieces were removed and
replaced. Windows and doorways also
received extensive work with a new coat of
green and tan paint. The building is just
about done and is no longer an eye sore in
the Riverhead Yard, and it looks great!
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BEDT 0-6-0T 16
One of our more popular exhibits at the
Museum, and the first thing you see when
you pull up to your Riverhead Site, is
Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal #16.
After many years, #16 is getting some
much needed care. A new metal cap has
been installed under the boiler. This is to
hold the old metal is in place. It has been
washed and primed at this point. #16 will
also be lifted and placed once again on top
of the engine’s wheels. This is all part of a
major cosmetic restoration that will
include new paint applied to the
locomotive, along with the replacement of
rotted wood and metal. #16 will also have
many extra parts added such as opening
cab windows, steps for cab tours, lighted
head lamps, bells, and more that will be
added to the engine. #16 will be lettered
in yellow, as per the lettering of the BEDT.
#16 was the last steam engine to operate
in New York City, where it worked down
at the water in Brooklyn. It is a very
important artifact that helps to tell the
story of railroading in Brooklyn.
Railroad Museum of Long Island"
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Long Island Rail Road BM-62 Baggage Car 7727
Work has not yet started on this car, but will
commence in the Fall. Once other RMLI projects
have ended, 7727 will get some care. There is
much rust removal to be done. 7727 will get one
coat of primer and two coats of PRR Tuscan Red
with Black being applied to the roof. She will be
lettered in the traditional PRR style with LONG
ISLAND lettering. 7727 is currently used as our
Tool Car in Riverhead.
Spring 2010 Crossword Puzzle Answers
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A History of the Speonk Station
by George Wybenga
Trackside Cafe, Phillips Ave. Speonk
While we celebrate the 100th birthday of the Long Island Rail Road Riverhead station I
would like to tell you about the Speonk depot. Originally built in 1870 the station was
struck by lightening and burned in 1901. The current depot was opened in December
1901, thus predating Riverhead’s depot by nine years. The station was manned by a
telegraph operator and a block operator until 1958. Since then Dell Donovan operated a
snack bar in the station until 1973. Subsequently there were a few other owners who
eventually closed the restaurant. In 2003 Bob Nidzyn started the renovation,
restoration, and finally reopening the station as he remembered as a youth it in 1961.
These days the Trackside Cafe has many artifacts of the Long Island Rail Road, some
marvelous historic photographs as well as the writer’s LIRR caboose watercolor prints.
The menu of the Trackside changes every day as Ms. Tara Oliver, chef and manager
develops new specials. The menu’s focus is on freshness; the eggs come from Mr.
Nidzyn’s own chickens, the tuna never comes from a can, and Ms. Oliver purchases
fresh fruit and vegetables in season from farm stands on her way to the restaurant.
Ms. Oliver’s granola pancakes are a real treat as are the various deserts such as home
made key lime and chocolate mousse pies.
The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and recently started serving three course
Prix Fixe diners on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5-9 PM. I highly recommend
the Trackside with its great food and ambiance while you watch the trains go by.
George
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Railroad Museum of Long Island
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Miles of Smiles: Roxey the Long Island Rail Road
Dog Book Signing Event
by Don Fisher
On Saturday, June 12, your RMLI
sponsored a new and unique event. To raise funds
for the Museum and to celebrate a historical LIRR
story we had our first ever booksigning!
We are fortunate here on the North Fork of
Long Island to have living many talented and
creative people. Interest in local history is very
high in Riverhead and Southold Townships as
evidenced by our numerous Museums and
Historical Societies. It is a natural setting for
elementary school teacher and author, Heather
Hill Worthington of Southold, to explore the story
of “Roxey,” the Long Island Railroad Dog.
On one train trip the dog even had a friendly
encounter with President Theodore Roosevelt!
News Butcher & RMLI member Evelyn Fisher introducing
“Roxey” to a young admirer.
Author Heather Worthington & son Breton
Ms. Worthington heard of the little dog that
was loved by all railroaders and who rode the
trains all across the LIRR at the turn of the
Century. Roxey’s travails were known by Long
Island’s public through numerous newspaper
articles and celebrity gossip columns of the day.
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Heather’s research took her to LIRR
historian and RMLI member Dave Morrison and
photo historian Ron Ziel. She delved the written
word on Roxey and fashioned a lovable children’s
story that is historically accurate. Mr. Bill
Farnsworth created beautiful illustrations to bring
Roxey’s adventures to life. When we at RMLI
heard about the book, “Miles of Smiles – the story
of Roxey the Long Island Rail Road Dog” we knew
we needed to do something special to celebrate
our railroad history and our local author!
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Evelyn and Don Fisher with Miles of Smiles
With the help of Long Island Rail
Road marketing and development
personnel, Mr. Adam Diaz and Mr. John
Persico, we were able to create an event
that included a round trip ride on the
Greenport Scoot from Riverhead to
Greenport and back, a reading of the book
to our visitors by authentic “News
Butchers” on the Scoot, a personal signing
of books by Ms. Worthington at
Greenport, visits to both Museums with
special LIRR garden trains running on our
Freeman Garden Railway
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LIGRS enjoyed a bar-b-que at RMLI,
President Ed Assaf mans the grill.
courtesy of the Long Island Garden
Railway Society - and grand appearances
by book characters:
“The Mysterious Parasol Lady”
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and President Theodore Roosevelt, recreated
by Mr. James Foote of Oyster Bay.
Over eighty youngsters and patrons
young at heart enjoyed the day’s activities.
Thirty-one books were sold by RMLI and
signed by Ms. Worthington. Trustee Dick
Horn manned the soda concession at
Riverhead and Greenport and Trustee Bob
Mintz handled the finances for the day.
A successful event such as this does
not happen without many helpers Many
thanks go to our RMLI volunteers! At
Greenport we had George and Lynn
Summers, Lil and Bob White, Marilyn
Corwin, Joe Capuano, and Dave Fisher.
14"
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Riverhead staffing was handled by Stan
Urban, John Peck, Richie Miller and Greg
Kruszeski. On the LIRR Scoot and all about
were Don Fisher, “News Butcher” Evelyn
Fisher and Anthony DeBellis. Special guest
volunteers for the day included “News
Butchers” Breton Worthington, Hugh and
Owen Schmidt and “The Mysterious Parasol
Lady,” Janet Hentschel.
Teddy Roosevelt waves to the passengers
on the Worlds Fair Train
These wonderful books are available in
the RMLI gift shop. Stop by your Museum
and pick one up for that young person in your
life.
Railroad Museum of Long Island
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RMLI President Addresses
Long Island Metro Business Action
by Ernie Fazio
Don Fisher, President of the Railroad
Museum of Long Island was our speaker this
morning, (July 9, 2010). He began by emphasizing
the business side of operating a local museum.
Raising money to create the museum
environment is not easy, but it is important. In
2007 the museum hired Long Island Association
Economist, Pearl Kamer to study the multiplier
effects of money spent by the railroad museum.
She calculated that for every $1 spent by the
museum there is a ripple effect of $2.25 returned
to the community.
In other words jobs are
created.
On the soft benefits there are the
educational considerations, a sense of place, and
the inspirational aspects that children can
appreciate. Mr. Fisher pointed out to us that
whether we support his museum or some other
local museum, it is important that we do so,
museums are part of the fabric that makes our
communities interesting.
mechanisms. There is a special train that was
operated at the 1964 - 1965 World’s Fair that is
available for short rides.
The museum is actually two locations, one
in Riverhead and one in Greenport. You can visit
either one, but merely by coincidence the Long
Island Rail Road has a scheduled train that stops
at Riverhead on Saturday and Sunday morning at
11:24 AM" and terminates at Greenport. It laysover at Greenport for an hour and ten minutes
and then returns again to Riverhead.
Your $5 museum entrance fee in Riverhead
allows you to see the Greenport division on the
same ticket. The LIRR ticket is $5 for adults and
$1.50 for children round trip. This provides a
great day of history education, entertainment and
recreation for a family with children, without Dad
forgoing lunch for the next week.
Don Fisher, Bonnie Cornett, LIMBA Pres. Bill Miller
Later in his prepared remarks Don gave us
an overview of available activities. There are
tours of the vintage models they have on the
premises where you will see the actual operating
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Everyone at the meeting received a video
of historic rail systems from various places in the
world. Much thanks to Bonnie Cornett and the
Boncor Group for sponsoring this interesting
event.
Railroad Museum of Long Island
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Railroad Museum of Long Island
P.O. Box 726
Greenport, NY 11944
631.477.0439 • 631.727.7920
www.rmli.us
THE POSTBOY!
Summer 2010
Dates to Remember
Riverhead Railroad Festival
August 28th and 29th • 11AM-4PM Both Days
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Riverhead Station
and the
20th Anniversary of the Railroad Museum of Long Island
Moving?
Don’t forget to send us your updated address!
Email your contact information to Dick Horn at dhorn@rmli.us or mail us at:
Railroad Museum of Long Island
P.O. Box 726
Greenport, NY 11944