Tag: Danbury Railroad Museum

Railway Post Office Dog Day at the Danbury Railway Museum

On Saturday, July 19, the Danbury Railway Museum will host a celebration
honoring the legacy of Owney, the Railway Post Office dog. A centerpiece
of the day will be the museum’s fully-restored Pennsylvania Railroad
circa-1910 Railway Post Office (RPO) car. The museum at 120 White Street
is open from 10am to 4pm. Admission for this event is $8.00 (under 3 is
free) which includes a train ride, access to all activities, and a free hot
dog!

Owney_the_Post_Office_Dog

Owney was a stray dog which found its way into the Albany, NY post office
in 1888 and was soon adopted by the Railway Mail Service clerks and became
the mascot of this elite government service. He traveled throughout the
state, and then all over the country, in the RPO cars, eventually venturing
around the world as a U.S. Post Office Department “emissary” in 1895. In
2011, the U.S. Postal Service issued a postage stamp to honor him. Owney
has been preserved and is on display at the National Postal Museum in
Washington, DC. Visitors to the museum on the 19th will hear the true
story of Owney, the mascot of the U.S. Railway Mail Service, and can tour
the lovingly-restored RPO car.

The “Railyard Local” – a short train ride in a 1920’s passenger coach or a
vintage caboose pulled by a 1947 GE “44-Tonner” or ALCo RS-1 locomotive –
will take visitors through the historic rail yard and past over 60 vintage
railroad cars and locomotives, including a Boston & Maine steam locomotive
built in 1907. Riders will have an opportunity to “go for a spin” on the
operating turntable. Trains depart hourly from 10:30 to 2:30. Of course,
the fascinating exhibits inside the restored 1903 Danbury station will be
open, along with a fully-stocked gift shop. The model train layouts inside
will also be operating.

The Danbury Railway Museum is a non-profit organization, staffed solely by
volunteers, and is dedicated to the preservation of, and education about,
railroad history. The museum is located in the restored 1903 Danbury
Station and rail yard at 120 White Street, Danbury, CT. For further
information, visit the Web site at http://www.danburyrail.org, email to
info@danburyrail.org, or call the museum at 203-778-8337.

JanetLeave a comment

Ride a Vintage Train to Visit the Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny will once again pay a visit to the Danbury Railway Museum located in downtown Danbury in Litchfield Hills and you can take a ride in a vintage train through the historic rail yard to visit him. This popular annual family event will take place on Saturday & Sunday, March 23 & 24, and Friday & Saturday, March 29 & 30.

Bunny_with_Conductor

Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; noon – 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Trains leave every 30 minutes from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m..
Admission is $9.00 (age 2 and up); each child will receive a small gift from the Bunny. Reservations are suggested and may be made by visiting the museums Web site at www.danburyrail.org. The short train ride in a fully-restored 1953 New Haven RR Rail Diesel Car (Budd RDC), will take visitors past the fully operational turntable, over 70 vintage railroad cars and locomotives, and many unique pieces of railroad history, including a Boston & Maine steam locomotive built in 1907 The highlight of the trip is when the train stops at the Easter Bunny’s special railroad car.

The museum’s beautifully restored circa-1910 Railway Post Office (RPO) car is open for tours. The exhibits inside the restored 1903 Danbury station will be open, along with a coloring station, temporary tattoos, Thomas® play table, and the operating model train layouts. Don’t miss a visit to the fully-stocked gift shop chock full of affordable items.

The Danbury Railway Museum is a non-profit organization, staffed solely by volunteers, and is dedicated to the preservation of, and education about, railroad history. The museum is located in the restored 1903 Danbury Station and rail yard at 120 White Street, Danbury, CT. For further information, visit the Web site at www.danburyrail.org email info@danburyrail.org, or call the museum at 203-778-8337.

For area information visit www.litchifeldhills.com.

JanetLeave a comment

Ride a Vintage Train to Visit Santa Claus at Danbury’s Railroad Museum !


That portly gent from the North Pole will once again pay a visit to the Danbury Railway Museum and you can take a ride in a vintage train through the historic rail yard to visit him. The event will take place on Saturdays and Sundays, December 4th, December 10-11 and December 17-18. Trains will depart every half-hour from 12:00pm to 3:30pm on Saturdays and on 12:30pm to 3:30pm on Sundays.

The short train ride in a fully restored 1953 New Haven Railroad Rail Diesel Car (RDC), will take you through the rail yard and past the only powered turntable in Connecticut that has been recently listed on the National Historic Register. On your way to visit Santa, you will see over 70 vintage railroad cars, locomotives and many unique pieces of railroad history.

The train ride will bring you to Santa’s very own private railcar where you’ll be greeted by Mrs. Claus and Santa’s helpers in Toyland. Of course, the exhibits and multiple operating model train layouts inside the restored 1903 Danbury station will also be open as will the be the well-stocked gift shop. Also inside the station, you will find hot chocolate, temporary tattoos and other activities for the little ones.

Admission is $9.00 for ages 2 and up (under 2, free). Each child will receive a small gift from Santa. Based on the popularity of this event the past couple of years, reservations are suggested.

About the Danbury Railroad Museum
The Danbury Railway Museum is a non-profit organization, staffed solely
by volunteers, and is dedicated to the preservation of, and education
about, railroad history. The museum is located in the restored 1903
Danbury Station and rail yard at 120 White Street, Danbury, CT. For
further information, visit the Web site at http://www.danbury.org/drm, e-
mail to info@danburyrail.org, or call the museum at 203-778-8337.

For area information visit www.visitwesternct.com

JanetLeave a comment