Greenport Postcard c.1909

The thrifty traveler will opt for a trip on the LIRR main line from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma - (on an electric train) - then transfer to diesel service to Greenport - (this train will have the double decker cars). Once at Greenport you can easily walk to EVERYTHING you are looking for. No taxis!

To get the most out of your visit, come out on a Saturday or Sunday. You will leave Penn Station at 9:16 AM, change in Ronkonkoma at 10:40 and arrive at Greenport at 12:05. Returning, leave Greenport at 6:11 PM, change at Ronkonkoma at 7:40 and arrive back at Penn Station at 8:59 PM. Weekday trains are not as convenient for sight seeing, the weekend trains give you a great ride with six hours to explore the historic port of Greenport.

What to do and see: First and foremost, visit the Railroad Museum of Long Island  It's just off the train platform to the west and is open only on weekends from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.  7/31/08 Photo: Don Fisher 

Also view the locomotive turntable still in the pit alongside 4th Street.

The East End Seaport and Maritime Museum is housed in the old Greenport passenger station at the east end of the platform. Many nautical exhibits dealing with Greenport's maritime history are within. 7/31/08 Photo: Don Fisher         
       

Just beyond the Seaport Museum is the terminal for the Shelter Island North Ferry. For $4.00 round trip you get an 8 minute ride through the harbor to Shelter Island Heights, a historic district. A short 5 minute walk up the hill puts you in the center of "The Heights" with some of the most beautiful Victorian architecture you will find in America.

Back in Greenport you can visit Mitchell Park with its boardwalk and sheltered carousel.  The town is full of shops and excellent restaurants. All within WALKING distance of the train station.

On Sundays from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM the Peconic County Miniature Railroad operates. It's a brisk 15 minute walk up Third Street from the train station but if you love trains it's well worth it. Weather permitting, the 16" gauge trainset takes riders of all ages through a large (really big!) backyard layout. The equipment is beautiful and sometimes, if enough volunteers are working, two complete trainsets are run at the same time. All operations are by block signals, run like the real thing!

The history of Greenport, the Long Island Railroad and marine operations is long and deep. I could go on for hours. It's best to come to town and experience it.

As for food, GOOD, reasonable food is available at many fine restaurants. A favorite of mine is the "Chowder Pot Pub" overlooking the train station and the harbor (most excellent chowders in town). For salad and sandwich fair, my two favorites are the "Sterlington Deli" near the train station and the "Harborfront" on Front Street. And while you are in town try some of our local wines, they are excellent - the North Fork is Long Island Wine Country! Have a great vacation day.   Don Fisher  5/14/10

Yard Roundhouse view East c.1906


LIRR passenger cars #376, 149 and ? on Railroad Dock   07/22/53
Shelter Island ferry ramp in foreground
Photo: George E. Votava  Archive: Dave Keller 

Yard View East 3/1949
Photo: Art Huneke

Greenport Fan Trip c.1950's

 Greenport Fan Trip c.1950's

LIRR C61, LIRR SW1001 #102 and #104 
(Harold Protect Engines) Greenport Fan Trip 10/1992

LIRR SW1001 #102 and #104 
(Harold Protect Engines) Greenport Fan Trip 10/1992

Railfan Extra on "Setauket" 
turntable  4/68
Archive: Dave Keller

North Dock Track View East 
 PNC #1702 in 1975 
Photo: Tim Darnell

 
Photos: 05/07/1978 CSX Mike
Composite: Steve Lynch

LIRR RS3 #1552 coach #2959 "Scoot" Greenport 4/1977 Archive: Dave Keller 

Freight House 04-88 view NW
Archive: William Galligan

LIRR #W83  11-2003

LIRR TC80 Track Geometry Vehicle 
 Greenport 1976
Photo/Archive: Dave Keller

 It was housed in the ex-GT1 and GT2 sheet-metal shelter at the end of the wye at Ronkonkoma and was never left outdoors for photographing.

I believe it was nicknamed the “moon rover” or “lunar rover” or some such moniker due to its modernistic “look” at the time. Info: Dave Keller

LIRR #607 National Railway Historical Society Special Greenport 07/28/1988
Collection: R. McEnery

Greenport Freight House: Dashing Dan Logo Vignette, see below.

The View from Greenport 
by Don Fisher written August 2003 for the Winter Edition of the RMLI PostBoy

Once in awhile lightning will strike twice in the same place! 

Last August, while I was working around your Greenport Museum, a young man approached me and asked if the Museum was open. It wasn’t, being a Monday, but I was ready for a soda break and you never know when you can make a friend for the Museum. I offered to let him have a look around while I went in for a cold drink. 

Once inside, Mark, from Delaware, spoke about the Dashing Dan sign we have displayed on the north wall. He told me a story about his dad being the model for the now famous LIRR logo. I found it interesting that the railroad used their employees as models. After viewing the Museum, Mark left a donation and told me he’d tell his dad about our Museum and Dashing Dan on the wall.

This year on May 19th, I had the opportunity to chaperone my daughter Evelyn’s fourth grade class on a field trip to the Museum. Dressed as a railroad engineer, I walked from the school to the Southold train station with the class and rode to Greenport on the “Scoot”, telling them stories and answering their questions about the railroad. Once in Greenport, the class went first aboard a “tall ship” tour and I repaired to the Museum to open up and get ready for their return. 

While setting out the signs alongside JAWS and the #14 Caboose, a man and woman approached me and asked if the Museum was open. I explained that we were preparing for a closed tour, “but come on in and look around if you like.” As soon as they entered the building, the gentleman, Eugene, headed for the Dashing Dan logo hanging on the north wall! Sure enough, he is THE “Dashing Dan!” We talked of his son Mark’s visit and how he and his wife were up to Long Island from Florida and had to stop by and see the display. We spent time looking at the Parlor Car exhibit, Gene identified many of the men and women seated in the public relations photo shown within the display. All of the models were LIRR employees! Using employees of the railroad was a cost effective way to populate the photos.

Gene began his career as a Ticket Agent for the Long Island. He reminisced about his relief work at the Greenport passenger station, covering vacation and sick days for the regular Agent. He was working in marketing and public relations when he was selected from the office staff to pose for the “new” Dashing Dan logo. He had no idea how ubiquitous Dashing Dan would become, morphing into the “Weekend Chief” for the Montauk bound “Cannonball” train-set and leading to the creation of the Dashing Dottie logo. 

As I said, lightning does, (and remarkable meetings do), strike twice. What are the odds of one Museum volunteer, being in the same place twice, almost a year apart, meeting two men, on days when your Museum is normally closed, to learn the historic story of Dashing Dan and then meet the “Real McCoy?” You, gentle reader, be the judge of that question!