Rail City was conceived in December, 1952 while Dr. Groman and his family were on
vacation in the Southwest. While driving through Gallup, N.M., Dr. Groman came upon a
narrow-gauge 0-4-0 Porter locomotive (No. 1) for sale by the side of the highway. The
locomotive not only hauled coal for the Defiance Coal Company but also had appeared in
two Hollywood movies in the 1940's - "Kit Carson" and "The Desert Song."

Bob and Stan pose with their father Dr. Groman and Bert Cresto on No. 1
in Gallup, N.M. in December, 1952. [RCHM Photo Collection]

History of Rail City

Dr. Groman purchased
the locomotive, renamed it
the "Kit Carson," and had it
shipped by rail from Gallup,
N.M. to Lacona, N.Y., 47
miles north of Syracuse
toward Watertown. It
traveled the remaining five
miles on a flatbed truck to a
160 parcel of farm land
owned by Dr. Groman. The
purchase of this 1921 Porter
locomotive was the catalyst
for the construction of the
first steam-operating railroad
museum in the U.S. - Rail
City Museum. Dr. Groman
spent the next 2 1/2 years
purchasing more equipment,
dismantling many railroad
structures and buildings, and
reassembling them at Rail
City.

"The first steam-operating railroad museum in the U.S.A."

Website owned and operated by the:

Rail City Historical Museum

162 Stanley Drive

Sandy Creek, NY 13145

Robert J Groman, Owner/Curator

Rail City opened on July 4, 1955 and hosted over 30,000 visitors in its first year of
operation. And even after its grand opening, Dr. Groman continued his quest for authentic
railroad equipment and structures. Rail City Museum located on "Scenic Route 3" was a
major tourist attraction not only in New York State but the northeast United States and
Canada as well.