The Oyster Bay Historical Society...In the News

March 16, 2001, Friday

Engine 35 Chugging Nearer

By WALTER G. KARPPI

Things are happening and the future for Engine #35 looks closer, brighter and more promising than it has anytime in the past. The General Membership meeting of the Friends of Locomotive #35 was held Saturday, March 3. The location of the meeting was the old passenger waiting room of the Oyster Bay Railroad Station. The plan for this building is that it will house the future Railroad Museum under the auspices of the Oyster Bay Historical Society, Thomas Kuehhas, director.

President Steve Torborg told members that, from hereon in, meetings would no longer be as informal as they had been in the past but instead would be conducted under "Robert's Rules of Order." After calling the meeting to order the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Chairman of the Board, Ben Jankowski announced, with regret, that long time member and former co-chair, Gary Farkash, would no longer actively participate in the group due to unforeseen personal circumstances. Gary will be missed by all but intends to return as an active participant once conditions permit.

Mr. Torborg announced that the Locomotive #35 Restoration Committee is now officially known as the "Friends of Locomotive #35, Inc." and all checks and other correspondence should be so addressed. Of the approximately 60 current members all but 18 had sent in their 2001 renewal dues. The Show Committee has been reorganized to allow it to function more independently and autonomous of the board which will increase its efficiency. Those wishing to volunteer to work with the Show Committee were told to notify a member of the committee, Steve, Ben or Cathy Manning.

Updating the status of the move Ben said that the railroad was presently using the future museum property as a material storage area and is planning to build a future crew welfare facility (ie: bathrooms, lockers, etc) on a portion of the property. The construction of the building should have been finished by now but is behind schedule. Once it is finished lawyers for Nassau County and the railroad will deed the land to the Town of Oyster Bay which will in turn deed the property to the Oyster Bay Historical Society which will convey the property over to the Friends of Locomotive #35, Inc.

Done Deal

As far as Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto is concerned the land transfer is "a done deal." Many people in town, Mr. Jankowski said, besides the Friends wish to see the project move forward to completion so he counseled patience. Mr. Torborg added that a walking tour of the proposed property would follow the meeting for those interested in taking a look at the land and get a feel for what is planned. The tour was decided upon, rather than a drawing, to show what the area would like in the future, as it would give a more realistic picture.

Mention was made of the attempt to acquire, or lease, the former Commander Oil building on Harbor Place. The structure, now owned by Island Properties, is large enough to contain a locomotive and tender, repair and maintenance facilities, a gift shop, offices, displays, etc. Access would be by a short distance of panel track from the existing, to be restored, turntable. The less desirable alternative would be to construct a separate building to house the engine.

The Future Move

Nassau County, with the assistance of the Locomotive #35 group, will be responsible for implementing the move of the engine from Mitchel Field to Oyster Bay. They will assume the cost, provide needed equipment and provide a police escort assuring that the move is done safely and expeditiously. The county now owns the locomotive and, when the move is completed, the town will own it. The Mitchel Field cabooses will come up by rail and LIRR caboose #12 (now at the Shoreline Trolley Museum, East Haven, CT) will be moved here by truck.

Undecided was how the passenger cars would fit into the program but they definitely will. Other remaining equipment will come up by trucks, flatbed or trailer. Final determination of what equipment comes here and how it will be displayed will be decided then by the Oyster Bay Historical Society.

Due to the recently renovated Cradle of Aviation Museum and the planned Nassau County Children's Museum the need to vacate the property where the locomotive now sits may occur in the very near future. The Locomotive #35 group is using the property as a guest of the county and thus has no claim on it. Due to these circumstances the move may happen at rather short notice but, Mr. Torborg assured the assembly, this would not be a cause for concern.

Updating the status of other exhibits at Mitchel Field: The tender has been recently painted with donated white primer paint. Although not the intention this turned out to be quite an eyecatcher. People driving by stopped and email queries have asked about it. It is a very visible sign of things happening. The World's Fair ALCO cab is about 75 percent restored externally and, hopefully, the interior should be done by this summer. The observation car is badly deteriorated and will require estimates to determine what has to be done, how to do it and how to raise the funds to pay for it.

Compressor Problem

Number 35's air compressor is in the possession of the Black River & Western Railroad (New Jersey) as, at one time in the 1970s, that was planned to be its home. Most of the items have been returned except some small items and the headlight which were lost. The BR&W, however, kept #35's air compressor. Upon receiving documentation and a letter from Nassau County they agreed that the compressor belonged on Long Island. An agreement was proposed to have #35's and a BR&W compressor rebuilt by an outside contractor to get a cheaper price. This would cost between $10,000 and $20,000 dollars.

In other areas it was determined that, due to the cost of new or used units, the forklift would be rebuilt. Parts were obtained at a reduced price and an Oceanside firm has been contacted who will do the work for a fixed price resulting in a forklift that is (hopefully) as good as new.

Steamtown (Scranton, PA) is surplussing a lot of equipment among which are 2 LIRR "ping-pong" coaches now stored at Tobyhanna Army Depot. The cars, while complete, are in extremely bad shape. A future trip will be made for the purpose of surveying and evaluating these cars for those interested. Aside from the considerable expense in restoring these cars, and the limited space in which to store them, the cost of moving them from Pennsylvania to Long Island would be astronomical.

Working Together

Donations and expressions of cooperation have been received from the Railroad Museum of Long Island, Twin Forks Museum, Lindenhurst Historical Society and the Sunrise Trail Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society among others. The spirit among the groups is that more can be accomplished by uniting and working together than each going its own way. The goal common to all is railroad history and preservation.

Dave Morrison retired OB LIRR branch manager said that 2900 series passenger cars were off LI but two were available although in deplorable condition. They were, until recently, in service as alcohol and "slime" cars. Used as a standby train, in the autumn, when falling leaves cover the rails, they spread a white gel on the rails. The difficult question posed by Dave was: Can the group afford the total cost of the cars and would there be room to store them in the limited usable area in Oyster Bay. Steve assured the group that should they not take these cars they would not be scrapped but some other group would give them a home.

Station Fireplace

Dave made a request concerning the fireplace in the station shown in the photo. For many years it had been walled over - just when this occurred no one is sure. Recent reconstruction exposed this unusual unit but there are no photos, drawings or plans showing the fireplace as it looked when it was new and functioning. Should anyone have these items for Dave the information it would be most welcome. Send to: David Morrison, 28 Azalea Ct., Plainview, NY 11803.

A LIRR crossing shack has been offered to the group. Its owner is a retired LIRR employee. K. C. Madden furnished details of the structure. The dimensions are 5' long x 6' wide x 8' high with a large roof overhang. It is in the employee's back yard and the family is agreeable to donating it provided it is moved out. It is a large job to be sure but one that can be done with the onset of warmer weather. K.C. also updated the status of caboose #12 and its imminent move to its new home.

Good News

Counteracting some of the negative feedback he has gotten Steve mentioned the many items of far greater positive news. He said that more progress had been made in the past year than had been in the previous nine. An individual who donates $100 each year also has donated a K-4 steam whistle. Herb Mayer, in addition to making a cash contribution, has donated tools, machinery and other implements. Sunrise Trail, Twin Forks, The Model Railroading Education Association and The Great South Bay Model RR Club have all made significant donations as they believe in the group and its goals.

In the near future Railfan and Railroad magazine will publish an article about the group. Locally, Les Marbles of Pine Island Etch & Sketch, has made signage for the group and Bernstein's Hardware gave a case of Rust-O-Leum paint for the tender. Newsday's Bill Bleyer donated Hallmark Christmas train ornaments, Sherman-Williams (of Garden City) donated six gallons of paint. All of the board members were requested to make a donation and, without exception, all contributed at least $100.

Dave Morrison told of obtaining a painting of Engine #35 which had hung in Pennsylvania Station for many years. He had approached the artist Paul Goldberg's widow about the possibility of taking photos of the work. To his delighted surprise she said "take it"! A large work it measures 4' high by 7' wide it is being kept safe by Dave until it can be restored and put on permanent display.

After adjourning the meeting the group assembled on the platform for a walking tour of what would be the future home of Locomotive #35 and the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum. Steve said that the general public would not follow their route alongside the tracks, for safety reasons, but instead would use a path through Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park. The Long Island will install a turnout on the northernmost siding in the yard to allow equipment to be switched to the turntable, workshop and display tracks.

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