F.A.Q.

What is the Erie Turntable’s relationship with the Port Jervis Transportation History center?

The “Port Jervis Transportation History Center” was the original name for Operation Toy Train of New York’s preservation and historic display project at the turntable site. A separate non-profit organization with this name was formed by local residents to support the project in September of 2021 (over a year after Operation Toy Train’s project began). That separate organization announced its intent to dissolve in June of 2023. At that time, Operation Toy Train elected to change the name of its project to “Erie Turntable” to avoid ongoing confusion with the other group. The Erie Turntable name has now been carried over to TOYX, Inc., the result of an early 2024 merger of Operation Toy Train of New York and the Dining Car Society.

What is the Erie Turntable’s relationship with the Tri-States Railway Preservation Society?

In early 2022, Operation Toy Train of New York volunteers sourced the donation of three boxcars to renovate and display local railroad history at the Erie Turntable site. Two of these boxcars were then donated by Operation Toy Train of New York to the Tri-States Railway Preservation Society. TOYX continues to provide several support functions for these cars related to their ongoing maintenance and upkeep, but Tri-States operates its museum independently of the Erie Turntable’s other exhibits.

IS the Erie Turntable OPEN TO PARTNERING WITH OTHER HISTORIC GROUPS?

Absolutely. We actively solicit and welcome the participation of other preservation groups that wish to display their historically relevant vehicles and/or rail equipment as part of the Erie Turntable. Several non-profit groups have partnered to bring the Erie Turntable to fruition, and we are interested in adding to this conglomerate in the future! If you are a director or officer of an organization that is interested in partnering with us, please email us at info@erieturntable.org.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RAIL EQUIPMENT PREVIOUSLY STORED ON THE PROPERTY IN PORT JERVIS (prior to 2021)?

Starting in 2007, the tracks at the railyard in Port Jervis were occupied by seven pieces of rail equipment that were privately owned. As the owner did not wish to participate in the Erie Turntable project, six of these pieces of equipment were removed from the property by the owner on April 29, 2021 and moved to another location. Several of these six pieces have since been sold by the owner to other parties, while the rest remain stored and available for sale. One locomotive (RS3 No. 935) remains on the property and is now owned by the City of Port Jervis, but it is not on display in the publicly accessible area of the Erie Turntable.