Railroad Museum of Long Island

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Railroad Museum of Long Island Established in 1990, the Railroad Museum of Long Island is dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and interpretation the railroads on Long Island.
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Created in 1990, our Mission continues to this day: “Dedicated to the restoration, preservation and interpretation of the history and artifacts pertaining to the railroads which participated in the growth of Long Island, its communities and industries for the entertainment, edification, and good of present and future generations.”

The Museum maintains facilities at Greenport, L.I., N.Y. and Riverhead, L.I., N.Y. and is officially recognized by the New York State Education Department. The RMLI serves primarily the communities of Suffolk County. Our visitors and patrons also come to us from Nassau County, New York City, from across the United States and throughout the World! The RMLI established itself at Greenport in the historic 1892 freight house of the Long Island Rail Road. “Greenport, (the Eastern terminal of the Long Island Rail Road mainline from Brooklyn since 1844), was the reason for the LIRR.” The approximately 3.4 acres that make up “the yard,” including the passenger station, railroad dock, turntable and the Museum, appear on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. The Museum building has been lovingly restored by our members and volunteers and displays the Museum’s permanent collection of railroad artifacts as well as being host to annually changing exhibits. The RMLI’s Restoration Site & Visitor’s Center is located on the historic property of the Corwin & Vail Lumber Company and also occupies land that made up the Long Island Rail Road “Riverhead Yard.” Riverhead, the County Seat of Suffolk County, is at the apex of the North and South Forks of Long Island. Here is where we maintain and exhibit our collection of historic rail cars and locomotives and invite our visitors to “be interactive” with our Museum. You can ride the Long Island Rail Road miniature park train from the 1964 – 1965 New York World’s Fair, climb inside a 1960’s LIRR caboose, activate the fifty-seven accessories on the Historic Lionel Layout and watch scale model trains operate on two indoor train layouts and one outside garden railway. Although the Museum does not operate an excursion train ride, we are located on the Long Island Rail Road mainline and we encourage our visitors to travel between our two museum sites on the LIRR “Greenport Scoot” on weekends, once each day, from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. Step back in history on your ride through the North Fork. Experience a Long Island steeped in agriculture with farm views from your coach window reminiscent of the 1930’s and 40’s. Tickets are available from your conductor on the train. Click on our “Visiting Us” link on our website for details. Now, roam through our website. See who we are, where we’ve been and what we are doing. Please “experience Long Island railroading” with a visit to our all-volunteer Museum on a Saturday or Sunday between Memorial Day and Columbus Day weekends, bring the entire family! Please follow us on Facebook and visit this sight frequently for Museum news and updates. (Extended Saturday openings: the first Saturday of April through the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Closed for the season from Thanksgiving through March. Special Holiday Open Houses the first and second weekends of December.)

09/27/2026

🎶The Power of MUSIC!🪕

We hope everyone is safe and dry in the midst of this Nor’easter; it’s been a busy week for the museum and our team, but we wanted to make sure to share some positivity here!

Earlier this year a video was made showing our Railroad Museum of Long Island volunteers HARD AT WORK, repainting Long Island Rail Road #39 in a fresh protective coat against the elements… so that she is ready for her FULL OPERATIONAL RESTORATION to begin following our raising of $1.5M!

🚨PLEASE SUPPORT THE LIRR #39 RESTORATION!🚨
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML8TY6YHNF9E6/checkout/2YODEM2XVQBSBAQA5PFOWSNT?src=embed
The Railroad Museum of Long Island is a registered 501(c)3, with ALL DONATIONS towards the Steam Up LIRR #39 Project being tax deductible; to the fullest extent of the law.

This video was made entirely using clips of that THREE DAY work weekend, but we needed some music for the background. Anyone in filmmaking should know how hard it is to find free to use music, that matches their vision for the project… with many turning to artificial intelligence to produce it. Determined to produce this video ENTIRELY IN HOUSE and FREE OF AI; we turned to the natural musical talent of Joe Costa, and our “ancient mariner” himself Steven Sanflippo!

⭐️WATCH THAT ORIGINAL VIDEO HERE!⭐️
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Ck5ir1rW9/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Armed with a banjo and a harmonica, the two of them sat down with our RMLI President: Don Fisher and recorded this song for use! We wanted to thank them once again for this special production, and ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS for everything they do to keep the Railroad Museum of Long Island running! We ask our viewers to come check out the museum (preferably not during a nor’easter), and see the great work done by these dedicated individuals!

With an abundance of caution and to maintain our high level of safety for our members and patrons, we will be closed at ...
09/24/2026

With an abundance of caution and to maintain our high level of safety for our members and patrons, we will be closed at Riverhead and Greenport Museums this weekend, Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27.

LONG ISLAND REMEMBERS!Friday this week to most people, was just another Friday… but to Long Island it was a somber day o...
09/13/2026

LONG ISLAND REMEMBERS!

Friday this week to most people, was just another Friday… but to Long Island it was a somber day of remembrance, of an event that occurred 25 years ago… and changed New York FOREVER!

On September 11th 2001 the lives of 2977 innocent people were lost, in the most devastating attack ever on US soil (with 2753 of those individuals being in New York). Friday was a very busy day at the Railroad Museum of Long Island; with Curator: Patrick Voorhees, and Zach Sieglinger continuing work on the museum’s LIRR P-72 Coach. This coach (and eventually our baggage mail car next to the P-72) is being painted into an UPDATED 9/11 memorial scheme, replacing his previous work done in 2021!

The museum was also the site for Riverhead’s 9/11 Tribute Lights, which represented a grave reminder of the tragedy; but also the country’s (especially New York’s) indomitable will to persevere and come together in tragedy. We truly cannot begin to forget all the first responders who put their fellow man before themselves, with many losing their lives trying to save those trapped. We agree with the statement and “motto” of Patrick; “WE NEVER FORGOT”!

To read more about this project, and the museum’s 9/11 memorial ceremony; an article was just published yesterday by “RIVERHEAD LOCAL”. We thank them for covering this incredibly important event, and for helping keep the memory of so many lost alive.

https://riverheadlocal.com/2026/09/12/artists-paint-u-s-flag-mural-on-lirr-car-for-sept-11-anniversary-in-riverhead/

🎥RMLI RAILFEST IN FILM!🎞️🎬 With TWO exciting weekends behind us, now is the perfect time to look back at our 30th annual...
09/11/2026

🎥RMLI RAILFEST IN FILM!🎞️

🎬 With TWO exciting weekends behind us, now is the perfect time to look back at our 30th annual Riverhead Railroad Festival. An in depth video was produced by our good friend of the project Transcontinental Railfan, of all that the museum has to offer (even visiting LIRR #39’s components awaiting reassembly, in the yard). The production gives a FULL TOUR of the museum, AND in support of our FULL RESTORATION of Long Island Rail Road #39; 100% of its ad revenue will be DONATED to the project! We highly encourage you check it out, and share it with those around you; as it’s a FREE way to support our mission (and bring #39 closer to OPERATION)!

🚂 TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS TOWARDS THE RESTORATION OF LIRR #39, CAN BE MADE ONLINE AT:
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML8TY6YHNF9E6/checkout/2YODEM2XVQBSBAQA5PFOWSNT?src=embed
⭐️THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!⭐️

🌟 We truly cannot THANK Transcontinental Railfan enough for coming out to join us at the Railroad Museum of Long Island, and for his INVALUABLE SUPPORT for the STEAM UP LIRR #39 PROJECT! Please be sure to LIKE his video, SUBSCRIBE to his channel (as the account offers a wide variety of Preservation News, and Railfan content), and WATCH his Steam Up LIRR #39 Promotional Playlist!

By Bill Didden100% of the ad revenue from this video will be dona...

09/09/2026
🚂HEAD TO HEAD!🚂We are THRILLED to invite YOU, to join us at the Williams Grove Historic Steam Engine Association THIS Th...
09/02/2026

🚂HEAD TO HEAD!🚂

We are THRILLED to invite YOU, to join us at the Williams Grove Historic Steam Engine Association THIS Thursday-Sunday (Sept. 3rd-6th) for FOUR WHOLE DAYS of fun; alongside our good friends at the Williams Grove Railroad! We have been graciously invited by Josh Ozio, and the team behind the ONLY OPERATIONAL PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD STEAM LOCOMOTIVE (PRR #643); to join in on the fun at their FALL STEAM SHOW!

Our team is excited to announce that not only will we be doing our promotional “BLOW THE WHISTLE FOR LIRR #39” event (where for a donation of $5 YOU can blow LIRR #39’s Pennsy 3-chime whistle, using the STEAM of PRR #643), we will be pulling out ALL the stops; and will be offering a vast assortment of other opportunities to support the project!

🎪Under The BIG TENT Beside The WGRR Station Will Be🎪

🚂 Our FULL Steam Up LIRR #39 Display (Including Our 45lb Bronze #39 Keystone)

🧢 Our Promotional Steam Up LIRR #39 Merch

🦆 Games For The Kids (WITH PRIZES)

🍪 A Promotional BAKE SALE
(Grab A Snack AND Support Steam Preservation)

🛤️ OPERATING Model Trains

🖍️ HOMEMADE Train Crayons Given As A Premium For Donations (ON-SITE) Of $5 Or More

We truly appreciate the friendship of the Williams Grove Railroad, and their support for our ongoing efforts to restore Long Island Rail Road #39 to OPERATION! We are looking forward to a GREAT 4 days at their Fall Steam Show and GREATLY RECOMMEND you check it out for yourselves! There is PLENTY to do on the grounds for EVERYONE, and we are excited to be a part of it!

If You Are Unable To Attend But Still Want To Support The OPERATIONAL RESTORATION Of A Pennsylvania Railroad Built STEAM LEGEND, Please Consider Making A Tax-Deductible Donation Today Online At:
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML8TY6YHNF9E6/checkout/2YODEM2XVQBSBAQA5PFOWSNT?src=embed
🚂THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!❤️

📰HEAD ON OVER TO RAILROAD FESTIVAL!🗞️We wanted to both THANK the “Suffolk Times” and HIGHLIGHT their recent publication ...
08/29/2026

📰HEAD ON OVER TO RAILROAD FESTIVAL!🗞️

We wanted to both THANK the “Suffolk Times” and HIGHLIGHT their recent publication about the Railroad Museum of Long Island’s “RIVERHEAD RAILROAD FESTIVAL” that is occurring NOW, and throughout the weekend! We appreciate this article, and the support for this MOMENTOUS EVENT, where we are not only celebrating Long Island’s RICH RAILROADING HISTORY; but 250 years of America!🇺🇸

Be sure to head on over to the Railroad Museum of Long Island TODAY (or tomorrow) to join in on the celebration! Riverhead Railroad Festival goes from 10am-4pm August 29-30th, and includes all the attractions the museum offers AND MORE!!!

We will also be pulling our WINNING RAFFLE TICKETS for our summer STEAM UP LIRR #39 raffle on Sunday at 3:00pm AT THE EVENT! THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE to enter to win!

🏆 AN HO MODEL KIT OF G5s LIRR #39
🥇 A STEAM UP LIRR #39 BACHMAN HO BOXCAR
🥈OUR NEW RMLI/STRASBURG LIRR #39 HAT
🥉OUR RMLI LIRR #39 WOODEN TRAIN WHISTLE

CHANCES COST ONLY $5 EACH, And Can Be Purchased Online At:
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML8TY6YHNF9E6/checkout/2YODEM2XVQBSBAQA5PFOWSNT?src=embed
🚂ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT LIRR #39’s RESTORATION!🔧

🚂Come Out To See LIRR #39!👀With the Railroad Museum of Long Island’s Riverhead Railroad Festival RAPIDLY approaching us...
08/25/2026

🚂Come Out To See LIRR #39!👀

With the Railroad Museum of Long Island’s Riverhead Railroad Festival RAPIDLY approaching us, we thought it was a PERFECT opportunity to reflect on work done on Long Island Rail Road #39’s components in the RIVERHEAD YARD; and INVITE YOU to come see it for yourself!

⭐️THIS WEEKEND (Aug. 29-30th - 10am-4pm)⭐️

Back in late April over TWENTY RMLI VOLUNTEERS came together with one goal in mind, to repaint what we could of #39 as she awaits her FINAL REASSEMBLY once a full $1.5 million is raised; and her parts shipped off to the skilled Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical shops.

🚨DONATE TODAY TO STEAM UP LIRR #39!🚨
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML8TY6YHNF9E6/checkout/2YODEM2XVQBSBAQA5PFOWSNT?src=embed
🚂THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!🚂

Over a span of 3 days the locomotive’s frame, 68” drivers, front truck, and 10,000 gallon tender were sanded, primed, and fully repainted into her “as built” color of Pennsylvania Railroad D.G.L.E. (Dark Green Locomotive Enamel). It was a collective labor of love for the engine that means so much to many of us; and while we can’t go starting the FULL PROCESS of her rebuild, this will help preserve those components from the elements (until her time comes for reassembly). We NEED your help to see this historically IMPORTANT steam locomotive RESTORED TO OPERATION, and ask that you would join us on this journey!

Address

416 Griffing Avenue
Riverhead, NY
11901

Opening Hours

10am - 4pm

Telephone

(631) 727-7920

Website

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