Community Corner

NJ Railroad History Comes Alive in Boonton

First annual Railroad and Transportation Festival takes place Sept. 16.

If you like trains, organizers say you will love the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey's first-ever Railroad and Transportation Festival, which takes place in nearby Boonton Sept. 16.

Society President Frank Reilly said the event is all about celebrating New Jersey’s rich transportation history.

Among the exhibited items will be the Pennsylvania Railroad's famous 1930s vintage streamlined GG-1s, which Reilly said are the largest electric locomotives that ever operated in New Jersey.

Find out what's happening in Parsippanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"They were the giants of the rails," he said. "Every day they traveled over 100 mph between New York City and Washington, D.C., on some of the world’s most famous trains."

Festival visitors also can see a variety of vintage diesel locomotives, passenger cars and freight cars. Some have been beautifully restored while others await restoration in the future, said Reilly.

Find out what's happening in Parsippanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In the massive restored and air conditioned railroad freight house (originally built in 1906) that stands next to the railroad exhibits will be other displays, including railroad memorabilia sales tables, free newsletters, and multimedia presentations on New Jersey’s railroads.

Living representatives of the Garden State's railroad history will be on hand as well. Reilly said former railroad employees will share what it was like working on the railroad more than half a century ago. And shows featuring local railroad historians will be held in the air-conditioned old freight house.

Each hour of the festival will feature 20-minute presentations by NJ Transit on its Operation Lifesaver program for kids and adults. Reilly said children will receive free coloring books and listen to an exciting presentation.

Reilly said this peek into the state's railroading past is a rare treat for area residents.

"This railroad equipment restoration facility is normally closed to the public," he said. "The last time it was open for a public event was three years ago."

The event is free to the public. 

The festival will take place in and around the society’s restoration facility Sunday, Sept. 16 at 100 Morris Ave in Boonton from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call Reilly from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. at 908-647-3622.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here