The Oyster Bay Railroad Museum closes for the winter after Sunday, November 22, 2026, which leaves two weekends to see Theodore Roosevelt's home train station, ride the only operating locomotive turntable on Long Island, and stand next to the last steam engine that ran here. That same weekend the museum holds its annual model train show fundraiser a few miles south in Hicksville, and on December 12 the Santa Express pulls out of the Oyster Bay station.

Closing weekends at the station

The museum is in two places a short walk apart through Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park. The historic station building at 1 Railroad Avenue was built by the Long Island Rail Road in 1889 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside are interactive exhibits, railroad artifacts and an operating O gauge model train layout. The rail display yard, at Bay and Bayview Avenues, holds full-size vintage rail cars and the turntable, which gives rides on Saturdays in season, weather permitting.

The yard is also home to Locomotive 35, the last steam locomotive to operate on Long Island. Volunteers began cleaning and painting it in October 1990 after it had been vandalized while sitting at Mitchel Field. That restoration committee eventually became the museum, which took its current name in 2006.

Both locations are open Saturdays and Sundays, 12 to 4 p.m. through November 22.

Roosevelt at the station

The current exhibit, Theodore Roosevelt: The Man in the Arena, sits at the center of the station building, which was Roosevelt's home station while he was president. Twelve panels of photographs follow him through the station and onto the rear platforms of observation cars, where he spoke to crowds. They cover his 1903 train trip through the West, his 1906 visit to the Panama Canal construction site, and his link to Roxey, the Long Island Rail Road's mascot. The museum's free augmented reality app, TRAR, adds a version of Roosevelt who appears on screen as visitors explore.

The model train show, November 21 and 22

The museum's annual Model Train Show fundraiser runs Saturday and Sunday, November 21 and 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hicksville Community Center, 28 West Carl Street, with operating layouts, toys and railroad displays. It is presented by Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino and Councilwoman Laura Maier and coordinated by Trainville Entertainment, and it is part of the museum's Choo Choos for Charity series for 2026 and 2027. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 4 to 11, cash only, and every dollar goes to the museum.

Santa Express, December 12

The museum has also set the date for its Santa Express, which leaves the Oyster Bay Long Island Rail Road station on the morning of Saturday, December 12. The museum says more details are coming, so check its site for tickets and times.

Plan your visit

Museum hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 12 to 4 p.m., through November 22, 2026
Admission (station and rail yard): ages 18 to 61 $9, ages 62 and up $8, ages 6 to 17 $7, ages 5 and under free, members free
Station building: 1 Railroad Avenue, Oyster Bay
Rail yard: Bay Avenue at Bayview Avenue
Model Train Show: November 21 and 22, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hicksville Community Center, 28 West Carl Street
Phone: 516-558-7036

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