Page 1 - Galveston RR Museum Newsletter - April 2023

VOLUME 20, ISSUE 1 April 2023

LIFE IS GOOD AT THE RAILROAD MUSEUM
By David Robertson, Executive Director

back drop. This will take place April 19-April 22, and will
be reported in more detail in the next newsletter.
The Museum is excited to have the opening of our
latest exhibit “The Orphan Train”. A members only were
hosted at a reception on April 14, with author Sandra
McKay doing a reading from her book about the life of a
young girl on the Orphan Train. Light refreshments were
served, and the guests were given a sneak peek at the
exhibit. On Saturday, April 15, the wonderful exhibit was
unveiled to the general public. Sandra McKay returned,
along with Dorothy Lund Nelson who reenacted life on the
trains. The Museum would like to thank the Orphan Train
Museum in Concordia, Kansas, for the loan of materials
for the exhibit.
The Museum will welcome its annual Rail Fest during
the weekend of April 29 . Model rail clubs from around
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the state will converge on our little slice of heaven with
Spring is in the air and with it an entirely new season huge model railroad displays, including the Lego™ layout.
of activities. We have spruced up the gardens with new There will be several vendors along with vintage items for
trees and plants to replace ones to which our recent sale in the Museum’s gift shop. There will be live
freezes were not kind. Our Memory Trees are available entertainment on both April 29 and 30 . Please be sure
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for sponsorship. For a $2500 donation you will not only to book one of the Museum’s B&B’s on VRBO for the full
receive a Switchman’s membership but also a brass experience in the Museum for this spectacular weekend.
plaque bearing the name of a charity, or you can honor Go to VRBO typing in either 2329692 for the infamous
the person of your choice. The tree will be cared for in Bonnie Brook or 3111818 for the luxurious Silver Foot.
perpetuity. Don’t forget they come with 24-hour Porter service.
April is a very busy month. We have already had great The Museum’s fourth Oral History interview was with
success with our newest event, The Steampunk Fest. Patrick Henry, lifetime Museum member, member of the
Johnny Steverson is credited with creating a magical, board of directors, and railroad historian. His testimony,
whimsical time consisting of folks in Victorian costume and those recorded earlier - Velida Breakfield, George
and wonderful oddities. We had live entertainment, a real Lewis, and Frank Perez - are available for viewing at
time machine, a blacksmith creating one of a kind items www.GalvestonRRMuseum.com.
out of railroad spikes, aerial dancing along with more than

fifty vendors. We look forward to its return in 2024. 28 Street Repairs
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The Museum has partnered with FeatherFest, the
Birding and Nature Photography Festival, this year. On one of the final Polar Express rides of 2022, as
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Galveston earned the designation as a Bird City Texas in the train was crossing 28 Street, returning to the rail
2021, one of only 3 cities in the State to earn this hallmark. yard, the pavement suddenly gave way and the engine
This local group attracts hundreds from around the dropped about 8 inches. Fearing a derailment, further
country. Participants plan one evening hosting a train rides were canceled. Since then the Harborside
photography class in the Museum using the trains as a Express rides have also been canceled.