56 West 1st Street
Oswego, NY 13126
Don Mayer, President: 315-343-2347
Bill Nickolas, Secretary: 315-342-0028
[Museum Hours & Admission] [Upcoming Events (NEW! Posted on 7/10/09)]
The Oswego Railroad Museum is dedicated to the historic preservation of railroad history in the Oswego County area.
This is depicted in an H.O. layout along with various static displays. It is sponsored by the Oswego Valley Railroad Association Inc. and is maintained by the members of the club and various volunteers. The museum is located in the city of Oswego on West First St. near the H. Lee White Marine Museum.
The Oswego Railroad Museum Offers:
- An excellent operating layout (24' x 36') of the southern Oswego County area in the 1950's Area
- Many other model and toy train layouts both large and small
- An extensive railroad library
Museum Hours:
Admission:
American Freedom Train Exhibit
Saturdays & Sundays July 11 - July 19
Due to popular demand the American Freedom Train exhibit will be returning to the museum for most of July. The first American Freedom Train was created in 1947 to help celebrate our freedom after World War II. The exhibit includes an O Scale model of the train that would tour the country until 1949. There will also be photos and souvenirs from the train. The second Freedom Train was created to help promote patriotism for the countries bi-centennial celebration and travel the country during 1975 & 1976. The O Scale Bi-Centennial Freedom Train is almost 40' long, including models of both of the steam locomotive that took turns pulling the train. There will also be photos, videos and souvenirs from the train. We will also have some items from the New York State Freedom Train that toured the state in 1949 & 1950.
Harborfest (Railroads & The Seas)
Thursday, July 23 - Sunday, July 26
This exhibit will tell the history of how the railroads and the shipping industry have worked together through the years. Some railroads actually have their own Maritime Divisions such as the New York Central that used tugboats and barges to carry their freight cars across the Hudson River to New York City. Oswego was home to a total of four coal trestles where the railroads would transfer the coal brought up from Pennsylvania to barges and ships for delivery to ports all along the Great Lakes.
New York Central Month
Saturdays & Sundays in August
On August 9, 1831, the first train ran in New York State between Albany and Schenectady for the Mohawk & Hudson Railroad, which later became part of the New York Central Railroad. Another part of the New York Central, The Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad came to Oswego and built the tunnel and bridge in the mid 1870's, so that it could reach Suspension Bridge, now known as Niagara Falls. The New York Central continued to serve Oswego until 1968, when it was merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad to form the Penn Central Railroad. The museum will celebrate the 137 years of the New York Central with models, artifacts, photos and videos.
Working on the Railroad
Saturday, September 5 - Monday, September 7
Labor Day Weekend will feature a look at men and women, who helped to build and run America's Railroads through the use of photos and videos.
Oswego Railroad Museum * 56 West 1st Street * Oswego, NY 13126