The Oyster Bay Railroad Museum has named board member John Specce as their new president. It is a job Steve Torborg has held for many years. Mr. Torborg is a founding member of Locomotive #35 Restoration Committee which has grown into the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum. He first saw Engine #35 when it was located at Mitchel Field in need of TLC. He and Gary Farkash worked to create an organization, the Friends of Locomotive #35 Inc. dedicated to resurrecting the LIRR locomotive. They gathered like-minded individuals such as Ben Jankowski (OBRM chairman) and John Specce who put their minds and muscles to work in a project that has grown into the OBRM. Steve has served as either president or chairman since they first began the effort back in 1990.

If you ride the LIRR, you might see Mr. Torborg or Mr. Jankowski working as conductors. They are men whose vocation is their avocation.

Mr. Torborg said he decided to step down citing a desire for more free time to concentrate on other interests both within the organization and at home.

Mr. Torborg said he felt that the position had grown with the organization to a point where it now requires a person who is not only a well respected member of the community, but who also can devote the time and energy required of the president's position. Steve will continue to serve as a trustee for the OBR Museum.

Mr. Specce and his family have resided in Oyster Bay since 1977. During that time, he has involved himself in the community by volunteering and serving on many organizations. He was elected to the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School Board in 1986, and re-elected for two more terms, finally retiring in 1999. He was instrumental in directing the board as they addressed the needs of expanding the district facilities including the new Imhof gymnasium at the high school. He also served on the board of Raynham Hall Museum. Mr. Specce currently serves on the Board of the Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce and is Treasurer of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association.

Growing up in Kew Gardens, Queens, in an apartment house situated across the street from the LIRR Main Line was a genesis of Mr. Specce's lifelong love of trains. Being asked to serve on the board of the Friends of Locomotive #35 Inc. several years ago provided the opportunity to channel that passion into a more practical expression. He has enjoyed working with all the volunteers and the board members in the organization and is confident that the dream of a viable Oyster Bay Railroad Museum will be attained.

Mr. Torborg said that Mr. Specce joined the organization in May of 2001 and was almost immediately appointed to the board of directors. "John Specce demonstrated a passion and drive tempered by a sense of professionalism and patience that is a rarity in today's world. He has proven to be equally at home whether slinging seafood gumbo at the OBRM booth at the Oyster Festival or getting down and dirty at their work sessions. Whether he is hosting board meetings at his business (The John Specce Agency) or cooking burgers with his wife, Marcella, at the annual member's appreciation BBQ (hosted at his home), John remains one of the most dedicated members this organization has to offer. There is no doubt that he is the right person to bring us the rest of the way to realizing our dream," said Mr. Torborg.

Mr. Torborg said, "While on the surface, it may seem that things at the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum are somewhat dormant, nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, so much is happening behind the scenes that it is difficult to sum it all up. Over the past several months, much progress has been made toward bringing the dream of a railroad museum in Oyster Bay to a reality."

In May the Town of Oyster Bay awarded the OBRM a roughly two-year contract to manage and operate the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum. This contract included some funding that allows them to hire a director of development who will become the eyes, ears and face of the OBRM.

This individual will be responsible for establishing museum programs, seeking out and applying for appropriate grants and establishing fundraising efforts among other duties. This will help ease the burden upon the OBRM board members and officers as well as putting these tasks in the hands of someone who has experience in this field, said Mr. Torborg.

The board has already met with and interviewed eligible candidates and will be appointing a person to the position very shortly, he added.

Speaking of fundraising, the OBRM hosted its first major fundraiser in the form of a wine tasting event held on June 21 at the Sagamore Yacht Club in Oyster Bay. This event required a tremendous amount of planning and coordination on behalf of the board members, but the results proved well worth the effort, said Mr. Torborg.

The event brought in many new people to the event and also generated a substantial amount of revenue in donations. "We even brought in a few new members to the organization," said Mr. Torborg.

In the equipment department, work sessions have again resumed at their Mitchel Field location. Through the cooperation of Nassau County BOCES - Barry Tech., they have gained some young energetic and skilled individuals who are assisting in completing work on the interior of the Worlds Fair Cab Unit. These youngsters are learning trade skills such as various types of welding and the project provides the perfect setting for applying those skills in a varying and sometimes challenging setting that cannot be duplicated in a lab or shop. Mr. Torborg said, "Essentially, we provide the materials and they provide the skilled labor. It is our hope to be able to finish this project over the next few weeks / months (depending on available manpower, time and resources) and get the cab moved up to Oyster Bay. Once the cab unit is done, the kids will move on to the coaches and other rolling stock in Mitchel Field where their efforts will serve to stabilize these pieces until they can be moved to Oyster Bay for permanent display and subsequent restoration." Also, arrangements are currently being made to relocate Caboose #50 to Oyster Bay this fall. The caboose has been on loan to the Village of Mineola for their centennial celebration. It has been on display at the Mineola Memorial Park since last spring where hundreds of residents have toured the piece and enjoyed the results of many years of labor on the interior restoration. Once in Oyster Bay, it will join Caboose #12, the Worlds Fair Cab and of course, Locomotive #35 as the beginnings of the OBRM collection.

The OBRM is involved in several outreach events. On Aug. 25 and 26, the Railroad Museum of Long Island held their annual Riverhead Railroad Festival. OBRM volunteers were present to promote their efforts in Oyster Bay as well as to answer any questions anyone may have regarding their progress. On Oct. 13 and 14 the OBRM will participate in the annual Oyster Bay Oyster Festival. As in previous years, they will have the station open to visitors as well as their Food Court booth.

In December the OBRM will host the annual Holiday Express Weekend at the station that will again be open to visitors. All the while, much more work will take place in creating the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum.

For more information, to join the organization or to make a donation, please contact the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum via e-mail at LIRR35@aol.com.

You may also contact them via U.S. Mail at PO Box 335, Oyster Bay, New York 11771. Their website is www.OBRM.org.