Nonprofit to Remove 27 Railcars as Port Jervis Redevelopment Looms

TOYX, Inc. said it intends to suspend operations in Port Jervis and begin removing its collection of 27 historic railcars and associated exhibits from the Erie Turntable site over the months ahead. The nonprofit cited the city’s redevelopment plans and notification that existing leases on the roughly 8.67-acre property will be terminated as the reasons for the action.

The Erie Turntable property has long been a focal point of Port Jervis’ railroad heritage, drawing history-minded visitors and anchoring a local identity tied to the region’s rail and waterfront past. The planned removals and suspension of on-site activities mark an abrupt change for residents and preservation advocates, who view the rail yard and turntable as culturally significant assets.

City officials have notified stakeholders that the parcel will be marketed for sale and redevelopment, a move consistent with broader ambitions to repurpose waterfront and rail yard acreage for new uses. Redevelopment of such parcels often aims to broaden the tax base and attract private investment, but it can also displace cultural assets and reduce public access to historic sites. The termination of leases on the Erie Turntable site means TOYX and other occupants have limited time to relocate equipment and artifacts or to find alternative stewarding arrangements.

For Orange County and Port Jervis, the immediate consequences include the logistical challenge of moving heavyweight rail cars and exhibits, the potential loss of an established tourist draw, and uncertainty about whether the historical elements of the site will be preserved or integrated into future development. Local preservationists and railroad-history supporters have expressed concern about the future of the collection and the integrity of the site’s historical fabric.

The episode illustrates a common tension in postindustrial communities: balancing economic redevelopment and fiscal objectives against preservation of heritage assets that contribute to community identity and tourism. City leaders will face policy choices such as negotiating relocation assistance, requiring preservation covenants in sale agreements, or seeking ways to incorporate interpretation and public access into redevelopment plans.

TOYX’s planned removals and the city’s push toward sale and redevelopment set a narrow timeframe for decisions. Over the coming months, the fate of 27 historic railcars and the Erie Turntable parcel will hinge on negotiations among the nonprofit, city officials, potential buyers, and preservation advocates — a process that could reshape a key piece of Port Jervis’ waterfront and its economic and cultural future.