OYSTER BAY, N.Y. — The Oyster Bay Railroad Museum of Long Island, N.Y., has hired Next Generation Rail Solutions to cosmetically restore its former Long Island Rail Road class G5s 4-6-0 No. 35, the oldest surviving LIRR steam locomotive and the last to operate on Long Island, in 1955.
The museum announced on March 12 that the work will, when complete, give the museum a locomotive returned to its operating appearance and with operating running gear, allowing it to be towed over trackage on the museum grounds or elsewhere. The work leaves open the possibility of future restoration to operating condition should resources and opportunities permit.
Next Generation Rail Solutions, of Irvine, Ky., is an offshoot of, and leases space from, the nonprofit Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp., which was formed to return former Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 No. 2716 to operation. It has also been involved in the Kentucky Railroad Museum’s project to restore L&N 4-6-2 No. 152.
The LIRR donated No. 35 to Nassau County in 1955, which exhibited it in a park until 1978, when it was adopted by members of the Long Island Sunrise Trail NRHS Chapter. A group later incorporated as Friends of Locomotive No. 35 took over in 1990; it eventually became today’s Oyster Bay Railroad Museum.
Two other Class G5s Ten-Wheelers still exist, both in Strasburg, Pa. Strasburg Rail Road is restoring former Long Island Rail Road No. 39 to operation, and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania exhibits former Pennsylvania Railroad No. 5741.
More information about the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum is available at its website. See the Next Generation Rail Solutions website for more information on that organization.
I vaguely recall visiting my uncle sometime in the mid-late 50s or maybe early 60s (?) looking out the back window of his apartment at the LIRR RoW, to see a steam locomotive whiz by. Now some ~65 years later, I realize what it was that I probably saw. lol