Father’s Day at the Danbury Railway Museum

On Sunday June 16, the Danbury Railway Museum will offer free train rides to all fathers with a child’s paid admission.  The museum at 120 White Street is open from noon to 5pm with train rides every hour from 12:30 to 3:30.  The Tonawanda Valley, an observation passenger car from the famed 20th Century Limited, has been lovingly restored to its former glory and will be open for tours during the day.
 
The Tonawanda Valley is the sole survivor of the "Valley" series of observation cars built by the Pullman Car Company for the New York Central Railroad in 1928. This car was used as the last car on the 20th Century Limited, the finest train of the New York Central, and perhaps "the most famous train in the world."  The 20th Century Limited ran between New York City and Chicago overnight in 16 hours and coined the term "red carpet service."  The Tonawanda Valley was configured as a sleeper-buffet-lounge-observation car with one drawing room, one single bedroom, and a six foot deep observation platform. The car remained in service on the 20th Century until 1938,

The “Railyard Local” – a short train ride in a 1920's passenger coach or a vintage caboose pulled by a vintage, first-generation diesel-electric locomotive – will take visitors through the historic rail yard and past over 70 vintage railroad cars and locomotives, including a Boston & Maine steam locomotive built in 1907.  Riders will have an opportunity see the renovation work progressing on the historic turntable and to visit the steam-era water tower pump house and water pump originally situated near the Danbury Fair Mall; a tour guide will describe its important purpose.

The fascinating exhibits inside the restored 1903 Danbury station will be open, along with a fully-stocked gift shop.  The model train layouts inside will also be operating. Outside in the historic railyard, guests will find walk-through exhibits, the New Haven RR Cedar Hill forge, and a vast assortment of train cars and locomotives, many that ran in Danbury during its railroading heyday.

The Danbury Railway Museum is a non-profit organization, staffed solely by volunteers, and is dedicated to the preservation of, and education about, railroad history.  The museum is located in the restored 1903 Danbury Station and rail yard at 120 White Street, Danbury, CT.  For further information, visit the Web site at http://www.danburyrailwaymuseum.org, email to info@danburyrail.org, or call the museum at 203-778-8337.