New Lights Shine Proudly In Riverhead, Railroad Museum of Long Island

Another work filled weekend here at the Railroad Museum of Long Island Riverhead! As April 9th is approaching faster every week we are getting our new exhibit and exhibit hall ready for the public this Spring. Work continues on the newly built deck’s lighting system. The Museum has completed the restoration of two historic Midwestern railroad station lamps. The two lamps have both been completely rewired and stripped of all electrical components. Most of the original fixture was able to be restored and cleaned up to use again. Both lamps also received much needed cleaning and scraping along with new paint. Both lamps also received some new engineering on the bottom of the stands to allow an outlet to be installed on each. This will allow for convince of having more outlets around the museum and for the display of Christmas lights around the lamps. Now that was step one, their was a whole lot more prep work that had to be done before we could even bring the lamps outside. Last fall the foundation for the two lamps was poured so they can be bolted next to the deck. Over the last two weeks a lot of wiring went on after the PVP pipes were installed from each cement stand to the electrical box in the building running under the deck. Snakes were run to each stand that would later bring them power. When the time we were all waiting for finally happened, the placement of the lamps our electrician Don Fisher was ready to wire them up and that he did. The two lamps now proudly glow on out freight house looking exhibit hall. The lamps look GREAT!!!! On the building we have also installed a number of smaller lighting fixtures that are a reminder of the classic Conductor’s Lantern. As you can see from the photos bellow there is plenty of light in the RMLI Visitor’s Center now.

The new metal handrails are also coming along nicely on the deck. One more solid day of work and they will be done. The metal pipes are much safer to hold giving patrons a better gripe when using the new deck. The rails have also been sanded for a nice smooth surface to hold on to. The replacement of broken singles also continues with the ENTIRE South Side of the building done and the West end a work in progress. As stated in previous posts the building will receive a new coat of paint in the museum’s new Station colors of white and green trim.

Inside, the Lionel layout is also coming along nicely. The control panel has been completed looking sharp. New shelves have also been installed on the control panels deck to store rolling stock and engines. Brand new blinds have also been installed in the windows to keep the glare off the layout. We are also waiting on a delivery of carpet to be installed in the room. On the layout this week the focus has been the installation of railroad signals so the trains will be able to run on time. Lamps, much like the kind outside have also stared to be installed through out.

Thanks goes to volunteers Don Lavelle, Steve Sucic, Don Fisher, Anthony DeBellis and Gregory Kruszeski for all their hard work this weekend