There is one more Sunday to enjoy seeing the Polar Express miniature train exhibit at the Oyster Bay Railroad Station on Audrey Avenue in Oyster Bay. On Dec. 18 the ticket will be picked to find the winner of the Polar Express O gauge train set on display at the museum. The trains have been running on Sundays since Dec. 4.

The Friends of Locomotive #35/Oyster Bay Railroad Museum (FL#35/OBRRM) are hosting the Oyster Bay Station Holiday Open House. Steve Torborg, FL #35 president said, "This is not a rail fan event, nor is it a train show. Quite simply, we are opening the station building to the public on Sunday, Dec. 4, 11 and 18 from noon to 5 p.m. We will be serving hot apple cider and have candy canes for the kids. Additionally there will be a raffle for a Polar Express train set and other great prizes. The usual OBRM/Locomotive #35 merchandise will be available for sale (These make great gifts!) and several historic artifacts will be on display along with an operating train layout."

A suggested donation of $5 to the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum will enter families in a raffle for a Polar Express train set and other merchandise. The other raffle prizes include a Polar Express DVD basket created by Judy Wasilchuk, FL#35 secretary; a Polar Express book; a Polar Express board game; and for adults a selection of wines donated by member Gary Farkash.

The set up was created by members of the FL #35/OBRRM. Ben Jankowski, FL#35 board president said Willis Hobby in Mineola helped sponsor the event by working with them on the price they paid for the miniature train set which is valued at about $250. John Specce set up the tables for the train exhibit. Dave Morrison provided the Department # 56 lighted buildings for the set up. The men created the mountain in the layout from scratch.

The newest member of FL#35, Adam Phillips, is with the Navy. He is on tour here for three years and helped set up the train display. He said, "Usually wherever I go, I try to volunteer with a railroad museum organization till it's time to move on. I was working at the Steam Rail Road Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee, making minimum wage and realized I couldn't support a family on that and joined the Navy on Jan. 28, 20 years ago." Now with a wife and two children living in their home in Bremerton, Washington he looks around to continue to "play with trains" wherever he is stationed.

"I travel a lot with the Navy and get back home one week a month. It's better than when I had sea duty. After one week the kids are tired of me," said Mr. Phillips.

"This is a great bunch of folks. I introduced myself and they said 'come on down and work.' There's something for everyone to do," he added.

People taking the annual horse drawn carriage rides on Sundays from Gooseberry Grove on East Main Street get a glimpse of the train station decorated for the holidays as part of their tour of the town. The carriage rides are sponsored by HSBC Bank and are coordinated by the Oyster Bay Main Street Association. Riders are invited to return to visit the historic Oyster Bay Railroad Station after their ride. The Oyster Bay Railroad Station historic depot was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mr. Torborg said, "Please bring your family to Oyster Bay and share in the holiday spirit while simultaneously getting an updated look at our progress and supporting your museum. Happy Holidays to all and we hope to see you in Oyster Bay!"