Transportation Heritage Festival returns to Boonton

Travel full steam ahead to Boonton on Sun., Sept. 21 for the 3rd annual New Jersey Transportation Heritage Festival at the United Railroad Historical Society’s railroad car and locomotive restoration facility.

The facility, at 104 Morris Ave., is open to the public only one day each year. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the festival is $5 per person, or $10 per family.

“Our mission is to collect, restore, and maintain trains and equipment destined for a future museum, and while we do that, we decided to give people a chance to see all of these incredible things we’re doing and, hopefully, generate some interest and enthusiasm in our state’s transportation history,” said K.C. Smith, co-chairman of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Festival.

Visitors will have an opportunity to experience some of the largest electric and diesel locomotives that ever operated in the United States, including two of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s world-famous 1930’s classically-streamlined GG-1s. These trains were once considered the giants of the rails, and traveled over 100 miles-per-hour between New York City and Washington, DC.

The society’s recently-restored No. 4879 is the only GG-1 in the world to display the Pennsylvania Railroad’s classic keystone paint scheme, and it was the last to remain operational.

The society will also unveil the recently-restored New York Central E-8 locomotive No. 4083, and visitors will have an opportunity to tour one of the most famous passenger cars in the world: the Hickory Creek.

“These are trains you normally would never have an opportunity to see, and people get really excited to have this chance to check them out live and in person,” he said.

Attendees can peruse the car shop, where there will be exhibits, railroad memorabilia, and transportation antiques for sale.

There will also be presentations about New Jersey’s rich transportation history in the Air Force Strategic Air Command car, in addition to a special Operation Lifesaver presentation by NJ TRANSIT for kids and adults with coloring books and other giveaways.

“We get visitors of all ages, and we like to share the memories with those who might actually remember some of these trains while experiencing the wonderment of kids when they see them for the first time,” Smith said.

Visitors will be welcome to climb aboard the plush VIP railcar DeVico from the famous Central Railroad of New Jersey’s Blue Comet train, as well as view a variety of vintage diesel locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars, and a rare World War II railroad hospital car. Antique trucks, fire engines, buses, and other military vehicles will also be on display.

Refreshments will also be available.

Attendees are welcome to park at the Plane St. Public Lot No. 6 off Main St. in downtown Boonton and take the free shuttle bus, or park in the NJ TRANSIT Boonton station lot at 100 Frontage St. and walk to the festival.

TRANSPORTATION HERITAGE FESTIVAL

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 21

WHERE: United Railroad Historical Society, 104 Morris Ave., Boonton

COST: $5 per person, $10 per family

INFORMATION: www.urhs.org