maywood station museum

Never miss this place. One should have read about this museum in the American History. Value for your money for sure.

There was once passenger train service from the 125th street Manhattan ferry terminal in Edgewater, but that was 60 years ago. What is left is the station in Maywood, which was a resort town in the 1800's and now a bedroom community near NYC. Alas, the railroad is now only freight, but a team of railroad enthusiasts took over the station a few years ago and restored it. Inside is a collection of memorabilia from a bygone era, outside a lovingly restored caboose with an n-gauge layout inside, and a diesel engine in the process of being restored. The museum is open only one Sunday afternoon a month, so check before coming.

It is very easy not to notice the museum as any one who drives down regularly on Maywood Avenue would tell you. You would most probably be more focused on crossing the railway tracks than to pay any attention to the structure on the Western side. It would not be as easy to ignore if it happens to be one of the seven odd days a year that it is open to visitors. Being open for only about seven days a year has both sides to it. On the downside the museum does not get enough exposure and even the locals may not know of the exhibits inside. On the upside the museum is able to bring in enough volunteers who have been railwaymen in their lives (and some still are) who can talk about the equipment that you see inside. It definitely is a great treat for children and for the adults too. The railway and the stations are so much of the lore and childhood memories that it is difficult to evaluate the exhibits or hard metrics. The caboose permanently parked next to the museum has a small model of a train with tracks and all. Children are fascinated by the whole experience of climbing on board, looking around from the deck and the operating model inside.There are souvenirs you can buy. The gift shop on a table offers books, DVD and a model of the station that is the museum.If you would like to go, be sure to check out the museum operating schedule on their website. Plan the trip, save the date and be sure not to miss it. The next opportunity may be three months away.