August 17, 2001, Friday

Welcome Locomotive Steam Engine 35

Steam Engine Arrives in Oyster Bay!
Next Step Restoration

By Dagmar Fors Karppi

The Friends of Locomotive 35 start the move. Pictured l-r are: volunteer, Alexandra Torres of Glen Cove; volunteer Joseph Straggie of East Rockaway; Director Locomotive Restoration, Roger Hahn of Cold Spring Harbor; Board Member James Muhr of Melville; volunteer Philip Martin of South Merrick; Chairman of Board Ben Jankowski of Oyster Bay; Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta; President of the Friends of Locomotive 35, Steven Torborg of East Rockaway; Volunteer George Mutari of Carl Place; Chief Mechanical Officer, Michael Epthymiou of East Rockaway; Volunteer Peter Taormini of Bethpage; Assistant Chief Mechanical Officer, Wayne Beers of Franklin Square; Vice-President Oyster Bay Historical Society, Dr. Susan Peterson; and Treasurer of Locomotive Restoration, Cathy Manning Torborg of East Rockaway.

With Locomotive 35 in Oyster Bay, the next step is to complete the restoration process. "We are applying for Tranportation Equity grants to rebuild the engine," said Ben Jankowski, chairman of the Friends of Locomotive 35 board of directors.

Oyster Bay has been getting a great deal of attention as Steam Engine 35 relocated in Oyster Bay on Thursday, Aug. 2. The Public Access TV program, The Train Show, by Rich Einhorn, ran a half-hour report on the move. The fun started on Aug. 1 with a barbecue for the volunteers. It was capped off with a firework show in the sky from the Jets camp at Hofstra University!

When Thursday morning arrived, the 55-ton engine, in several parts, was loaded onto flatbed trucks by Bay Crane of Hicksville.

The motorcade, decked out with American flags, traveled across Long Island to the LIRR yard in Oyster Bay.

East Norwich resident, Mel Warren, who chairs the Oyster Bay Festival Arts and Crafts show, was there to greet the train. In his TV interview he showed a picture of himself and his father, Frederick, who was an LIRR engineer for 44 years. He drove No. 35. Mel remembers riding around the yard in the locomotive, driven by his dad.

The move became official after Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta signed legislation authorizing the relocation of historic Steam Engine 35 from its home at Mitchel Field to property owned by the LIRR in Oyster Bay for display at a future Oyster Bay railroad museum. Legislator Brian Muellers proposed the emergency legislation when the project seemed delayed by "red tape."

Kathy Wilson, communication director for New York State Senator Carl Marcellino said it was he who implemented the plan that allowed them to move the locomotive onto LIRR property while it still belongs to the LIRR and not the Town of Oyster Bay. "We got that in motion and we are very happy that the senator could have been helpful to them," she said.

Historical Value

The steam engine, one of only three of its kind still in existence. "At no cost to Nassau County taxpayers, this historic locomotive is being restored by the enthusiastic volunteers of Friends of Locomotive 35, Inc., and will now be relocated to Oyster Bay to be part of an exciting railroad history museum. This exhibit is sure to be a great point of interest and educational resource for county residents and visitors alike," said County Executive Tom Gulotta.

He proclaimed Aug. 2 as "Steam Locomotive 35 Day," said Mr. Jankowski.

Locomotive 35 was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1928. It was one of 31 steam engines of its type, "G-5 Ten Wheelers," acquired by the LIRR. Though capable of pulling just about any type of train, the G-5's were designed for the frequent stops and starts involved in pulling long passenger trains, specifically the commuter trains. Steam Engine 35 was retired after a 27-year tenure with the railroad on October 17, 1955, having traveled a total of 925,133 miles.

That date was verified, said Mr. Jankowski. It was used at the "Hicksville protect." He explained, "There was a spur track and an engine was positioned there on morning and evening rush hours. On the morning of Oct. 17, it was there, and it was the last time it ran," he said.

After spending approximately 18 years on display in Eisenhower Park, the locomotive was transported to Mitchel Field where it has since been on display. Until 1987, the train had been maintained by the Long Island Sunrise Trail Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. In 1990, the Locomotive 35 Restoration Committee was started by a group of enthusiastic volunteers who wanted permission to paint the steam engine.

Then, in 1994, out of this group of volunteers the not-for-profit organization, The Friends of Locomotive 35, Inc was born. It is because of the generous efforts of their volunteers that the Locomotive is on its way to becoming fully restored.

Steven Torborg, President of The Friends of Locomotive 35, Inc. said, "We are extremely grateful to NYS Senator Carl Marcellino, County Executive Thomas Gulotta and NC Historian Ed Smitts for their support and leadership in preserving this unique locomotive which represents a cherished part of Long Island's heritage."

If you would like more information about the engine, the railroad museum or would like to volunteer or offer financial support to the cause, please call President Torborg at 887-4294.

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