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Date: 9/21/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – The Depot at Graham Central Station had a fun-filled weekend with the two-day grand opening of their new miniature railroad on the Redstone Rail Trail at 64 Maple St. Children and adults of all ages were thrilled with excitement as they rode around on the locomotive train.
The Depot building was formerly the East Longmeadow railroad station. It was built in 1876 as a stop on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Owners Steve and Jean Graham turned the building into an ice cream shop and opened in 2021.
“I’ve always liked these miniature trains ever since I saw one in 1999 at a trade show in Germany,” said Steve Graham. “I thought it would be really neat someday to have a train like that running through my backyard.”
He continued, “When my wife and I bought the Depot and opened it as an ice cream shop, I thought this would be better than my backyard because little kids could ride it very easily and that’s how the whole thing got started.”
The train runs in a big loop. The boarding platform is behind the Depot by the Red Stone Rail Trail. On the ride, you could see little gnomes and other creatures in the trees. The Depot will also have a second locomotive running, on loan from Scott Selker, who is a member of the Amherst Railway Society.
Architect Dwight Sturtevant, who led the construction, said, “We just want people to have a good time. The railroad was built in seven weeks, which is a milestone in itself. Even during the last week in July and the first weeks in August – which were the hottest weeks of summer – we were still able to accomplish this project.”
Graham added, “We want to make something that’s fun for the community that everyone can enjoy. The railroad will be open on the weekends from 12 to 4 p.m. We are hoping to add a tunnel for our Halloween celebration and there maybe a Polar Express ride for Whoville right before Christmas.”