New events coordinator joins railroad museum with expanded list of activities

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Renee Hemby of Albion, new events coordinator at the Medina Railroad Museum, points to one of her favorite exhibits.

MEDINA – Railroad buffs can look forward to a varied schedule of events at the Medina Railroad Museum, with the hiring of Renee Hemby of Albion as the new events coordinator.

Hemby has a background as a wedding planner and a passion for big events.

Hemby studied criminal justice at Genesee Community College, and after her own wedding, she started selling wedding décor, signs, floral arrangements and arbors, then went to work at Vizcarra Vineyards. When she saw the position at Medina Railroad Museum advertised on the Internet, she thought it sounded interesting.

She is excited to be planning some new events at the museum, including a music series outside, featuring blues and country and food trucks. She is also looking into story hours for children on Saturday afternoons.

These new events will complement the old favorites, such as the return of Day Out With Thomas, wine trains, fall foliage rides and the ever-popular Polar Express.

After a two-year absence, Day Out With Thomas will return for two weekends on Sept. 17, 18, 20 and 21.

Fall foliage train rides will be scheduled every weekend in October, with several wine trains on Oct. 12.

Hemby is hopeful the museum can restore a café car it owns in order to rent it for private parties and showers.

The museum owns three first-class dining cars, which always sell out first. Ticket information is available on Medina Railroad Museum’s website.