Railroad enthusiasts young and old are invited to celebrate Long Island's rich train history at the 21st annual Riverhead Railroad Festival taking place on Saturday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, Aug. 25.
“We are celebrating the 190th anniversary of the Long Island Rail Road,” said Don Fisher, president of the Railroad Museum of Long Island told South Shore Press. “The Long Island Rail Road was the first railroad in the world to do many things that had never been done before in the world.”
Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m., promising a full day of activities, including not only both model and full-size trains, but music by The Brisket Brothers and food by The Fat Boys BBQ Bus & Restaurant of Manorville. Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for kids 5 to 13 years, and free for those younger, according to the organization's website.
The festivities happen at the Railroad Museum of Long Island, 416 Griffing Ave., where a visitor’s center, museum and restoration site with interactive fun are all based. But, according to Fisher, attendees can really make a day of it by also visiting the Greenport railroad museum at 40 44th St.
“You may take a Long Island railroad train from our Riverhead site at 10:10 in the morning, go to Greenport, see the Greenport museum site and then come back,” Fisher said. “You'll be at the Riverhead festival site about 12:30- 12:15, and you can enjoy the rest of the afternoon there.”
According to the Railroad Museum of Long Island website, festival highlights include the restored 1964-65 Long Island Rail Road World’s Fair park train, the working machines of the Long Island Antique Power Association, and the Historic Lionel Layout. Folks can ride the World’s Fair train to connect with the past. On top of all that, Fisher added, “We have model railroads of all scales,” as well as a souvenir shop to make memories last.
The popular event draws railroad enthusiasts of all kinds, from historians to families with children reared on Thomas the Tank Engine, and even those reminiscing about commuting on the Long Island Rail Road.
The Railroad Museum of Long Island started at Greenport in 1990 and expanded to Riverhead in 1993.
“We represent all types of railroading on Long Island,” Fisher said. “We maintain a collection of historic railcars, a lot of artifacts dealing with railroads on Long Island. You can see them at Greenport. We have our restoration site and our archive library at Riverhead, and we're open during the summer on Saturdays and Sundays.” The hours are 11-4 p.m. on weekends through Oct. 13.
According to the museum's website, Greenport took root at the historic 1892 freight house of the Long Island Rail Road with 3.4 acres that include a passenger station, railroad dock, and more, appearing on the state and national historic registers.
The Riverhead site is based on the historic property as well, formerly occupied by the Corwin & Vail Lumber Com. and including the Long Island Rail Road’s “Riverhead Yard.”
This year's Riverhead Railroad Festival received a financial boost from a grant provided by Suffolk County Legislator Catherine Stark and distributed through the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning.