Danbury Railway Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1994 |
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| Location | 120 White Street, Danbury, Connecticut |
| Type | Railroad History |
| Public transit access |   Danbury HARTransit: 2, 7, 8 |
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Danbury
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| Former services | ||
| Lua error in Module:Adjacent_stations at line 236: Unknown line "Pittsfield Branch".
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New Haven Railroad Danbury Turntable
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Railway Turntable in October 2016
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| Area | 3 acres (12,000 m2) |
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| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | Nichols, Geo. P. & Bro.; American Bridge Co. |
| Architectural style | Center-bearing deck girder |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001048 |
| Added to NRHP | September 15, 2005 |
The Danbury Railway Museum is a cool place to learn about trains! It's located in the old Union Station building in Danbury, Connecticut. This museum opened in the mid-1990s. It focuses on the history of railroads in southern New England and nearby New York. Besides the old station, the museum has many historic train cars. These are kept in the rail yard next to the building.
The station was built in 1903 by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. People in Danbury really wanted a new station. At its busiest, about 125 trains stopped here every day! By 1993, only a few commuter trains used it. The state then closed the old station. A new, modern station was built nearby. Just two years later, the museum was created. Volunteers worked hard to make the old station look new again.
The building has a unique look. It mixes different old architectural styles. Famous director Alfred Hitchcock even filmed parts of his movie Strangers on a Train here. He used the station's special curved platform. In 1986, the station was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historic site. In 2005, the old train turntable also joined the Register. It's the only complete one left in Connecticut!
Contents
Exploring the Museum Site
The museum sits on a 1.3-acre (0.53 ha) piece of land. It's at the corner of White Street and Patriot Drive. Right behind the museum are the railroad tracks. There's also a 6-acre (2.4 ha) rail yard. Sometimes, Metro-North trains are stored on these tracks. The museum's collection of old train cars is in the middle of this yard.
Inside the Station Building
The station building is shaped like an "L". It's made of light and brown bricks with stone details. It has a gabled roof, which means it's sloped on two sides. There are also dormer windows sticking out of the roof. Long canopies run along the tracks. These protect people on the platforms from rain or sun.
Inside, the museum has many exhibits. You can see old photos and railroad items. There are also cool model train layouts. The museum also has a gift shop and restrooms. You can still see the original ticket window. The old wooden doors and window frames are also still there. There's even a fireplace with fancy brick designs.
Discovering the Rail Yard
On summer weekends, you can ride the "Rail Yard Local." This ride takes about 30-35 minutes. A special part of the ride is going on the museum's working turntable. A turntable is like a giant spinning platform for trains. It helps turn locomotives around. You also get a tour of the old Danbury fairground's pumphouse. The turntable was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. It was built around 1914. It's the only complete train turntable left in Connecticut!
You can explore some of the trains in the yard. This includes a 1907 2-6-0 steam locomotive (B&M #1455). There are also two cabooses. You can see a self-propelled rail diesel car and a track inspection car. The museum is run by volunteers. They welcome anyone who wants to help out!
A Look Back: History of the Station
In the 1880s, three different railroads served Danbury. Each had its own small station. Later, these railroads all became part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. People in Danbury wanted one big station for all the trains.
So, in 1901, the new station was built. It was designed by A. Malkin. The station combined different architectural styles. It was said to be the biggest station on the New Haven's New York Division.
In the early 1900s, the station was very busy. Up to 125 trains passed through each day! Many passengers were workers for Danbury's hatmaking industry. Others were commuters going to jobs in Bridgeport or New York City. Summer travelers also came to visit hotels. And many people visited the famous Danbury Fair every October.
After World War II, fewer people rode trains. More people started flying or driving cars. The hatmaking industry also declined. Because of this, many of the station's original decorations were removed. By the 1960s, train service to many areas was cut. The last long-distance passenger train left in 1972. The station then became property of the state.
Metro-North closed the station in 1993. The mayor of Danbury, Gene Eriquez, wanted to save the old building. He thought it would be perfect for a rail museum. So, in 1994, the Danbury Railway Museum was formed. It was started by a group of train fans.
The museum quickly grew. A temporary museum opened while the old station was fixed up. A grant of $1.5 million helped restore the building. In late 1995, the restored station was officially reopened. The museum's inside exhibits opened the next year.
The turntable was also restored in 1998. Since 2005, it has been a regular part of the Rail Yard Local ride. Today, the museum has many members and over 60 pieces of train equipment.
More to Explore
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
- List of railway museums
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Fairfield County, Connecticut
