TOYX, Inc., the nonprofit organization that over the past four years has attempted to establish a museum centered on the former Eire Railroad turntable in Port Jervis, N.Y., announced on December 3 that it was closing and withdrawing from the community. 

According to the non-profit, which includes a conglomerate of projects, most notably “Operation Toy Train,” the city informed leadership earlier this year that the museum site would be sold for redevelopment after an environmental cleanup. The city hopes to apply for grants from the State of New York to help cover the cost of that work. The decision to redevelop the site means TOYX needs to find a new place to store more than two dozen pieces of equipment, some of which are historic to Port Jervis. A boxcar museum operated by Tri-States Railway Preservation Society (also part of TOYX) will also have to move. TOYX President Rudy Garbely said the organization was disappointed by the city’s decision to sell the property. 

“This is where these artifacts belonged,” Garbely said. “The decisions of the City Council will result in these irreplaceable pieces of Port Jervis history being permanently removed. Unfortunately, it seems the history of the City of Port Jervis is best preserved outside the reach of City officials whose actions serve to erase the storied past of the community they represent.”

TOYX said it had until July 26, 2026, to remove its equipment and that it had found a place to temporarily store some equipment.

But after the December 3 announcement, Port Jervis Mayor Dominic Cicalese said the turntable site was not being sold or redeveloped. The mayor also said the environmental cleanup grant was for the turntable site as well as other sites around the city. Cicalese said during the public comment section of the December 8 meeting that he could not speak further about the issue, beyond his position that he wants the equipment to stay.

“The historic turntable is not being demolished, the land is not being sold and there is no development going on that land,” Cicalese said. “Those artifacts are staying here, and they need to stay here. This is their home and this is where their heritage and their history are.”

—Justin Franz 

The story was updated on December 11, with comments from the mayor.