The Restored Historic Lionel Layout Grand Opening April 9th, 2011 10 AM – 4PM Riverhead Restoration Site
The Railroad Museum of Long Island strives to tell the story of railroading on Long Island and explain the historic impact rail transportation has made on developing our communities. One aspect of this story is the love of toy trains. Fostered by the westward expansion of America on steel rails, toy trains have served as a stimulant of local children’s imaginations since the turn of the 20th Century. From around the Christmas tree, to the bedroom floor to the basement train boards and layouts, Long Island youngsters have aspired to be involved in rail transportation and its related disciplines for more than 110 years. To recognize this history and provide an outreach to our community, the Long Island Toy Train Engineers Committee of the RMLI was formed. Through the medium of toy trains we exhibit and relate the story of railroading. Today we are pleased to unveil the Historic Lionel Visitor’s Center toy train layout as a learning tool, a source of wonder and joy, and a family destination to downtown Riverhead, New York. Donated to the RMLI by Lionel LLC, electric trains – this permanent exhibit, (designed after the 1949 New York City Lionel Toy Train Display), was moved from Lionel’s offices at Chesterfield, Michigan and lovingly restored by museum volunteers. Children of all ages will be amazed at this fourteen feet by forty feet train layout, able to run seven train sets at a time and chock full of Lionel accessories that you can operate!
Saturday April 9, 2011~ 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Admission for the day is FREE! Children of all ages will be amazed at this 14’ by 40’ train layout, able to run seven train sets at a time and chock full of LIONEL accessories that you can operate! Donated to the RMLI by LIONEL LLC, electric trains – this layout, (designed after the 1949 New York City LIONEL Toy Train Display), was moved from LIONEL’s offices at Chesterfield, Michigan and lovingly restored by volunteers of the Railroad Museum of Long Island.