Empire State Railway Museum facts for kids
Phoenicia Railroad Station, home of ESRM
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| Established | 1960 |
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| Location | Phoenicia Railroad Station |
| Type | Railway museum |
The Empire State Railway Museum is a special place where you can learn all about trains! It's a non-profit museum that started in 1960. Today, it's located in the old Phoenicia Railroad Station in Phoenicia, New York. This station was built way back in 1899. It's one of the few old train stations still standing along the historic Ulster & Delaware line. The museum has a small collection of old train equipment.
For many years, the museum also published a guide called Steam Railroad Directory. This book listed all the tourist railroads and museums around the country. Later, another company took over publishing it.
The Museum's Journey
The Empire State Railway Museum was started in 1960 by people who loved trains. They wanted to create a permanent home for their passion. At first, they thought about buying a part of the New York Central Putnam Division train line.
Some of the museum's first train equipment gathered in Middletown, New York. They even bought an old steam engine, number 103, from Alabama! Other old train cars, like coaches and a caboose, were also bought. They even ran short train rides called the Middletown & Orange Railroad.
However, the tracks became old and worn out. So, the train rides stopped in 1966. The museum's search for a permanent home to run steam trains began again.
Between 1970 and 1971, many of the museum's trains moved to Connecticut. They found a new home on the Valley Railroad. Many people who were part of the Empire State Railway Museum started helping out at the Valley Railroad. This led to the creation of the Railroad Museum of New England.
Finding a Home in Phoenicia
Even though some members moved on, the remaining museum members kept meeting. They decided to look for a new home in Ulster County, New York. This area was along tracks that would be used by the new Catskill Mountain Railroad.
In 1985, the museum bought the old train station in Phoenicia, New York. They bought it with a local group that helps improve the community. This station, built in 1899, is very special. It's one of only two original stations left on the old Ulster and Delaware Railroad line. Volunteers worked hard to fix up and restore the station. It became the museum's new home!
The museum also bought another steam locomotive, number 23, in 1985. This big train was moved to Kingston, New York. The museum hoped to run this steam engine on tracks leased by the Catskill Mountain Railroad. They wanted to create a fun train ride for visitors, similar to the Strasburg Railroad.
The Museum Today
Today, the museum has exhibits inside the Phoenicia station. These exhibits show the history of trains in the beautiful Catskill Mountain region. The station used to be the end point for the Catskill Mountain Railroad until 2016. Without those trains bringing visitors, fewer people come to the museum now.
The museum still owns several old train cars and engines. This includes the famous LS&I No. 23 steam locomotive. People have been working to restore this engine for over 20 years! In 2002, they finished rebuilding and extending its tender (the part that carries water and fuel). In 2016, the steam locomotive was moved to Phoenicia. It is now kept safe inside a new barn built on the museum's property.
Train Collection
The Empire State Railway Museum has a small collection of historic train equipment. None of these items are currently on public display. Some have been placed inside the barn for future restoration and display.
- Lake Superior & Ishpeming 2-8-0 No. 23 (a type of steam engine)
- Delaware & Hudson Railway baggage car (a car for carrying luggage)
- Boston & Maine Railroad baggage car
- Central Vermont Railroad automobile boxcar (a car for carrying cars)
- New Haven caboose (the car at the very end of a freight train)
- Delaware & Hudson Railway caboose No. 35952
