When Steven Cryan opened his eyes on Christmas morning as a child, he wasn’t only interested in the presents under the tree, but also what went around it, an American Flyer toy train.

“So, to wake up on Christmas morning and have this magic going, it was my first inspiration,” said Cryan.

Cryan designs and installs the Connecticut River Museum’s (CRM) annual holiday train show, which is now in its 28th year. This year’s show opened on Nov. 23 and will run through Feb. 20, 2022.

The train show “is a major draw for the community,” said CRM Marketing Director Jane Raunikar. “It’s an annual holiday tradition and people have been coming for years. They came when they were younger and now, they’re bringing their grandchildren.

“So, it’s a lovely way to bring families together and to have a gorgeous view of the river. When you look out the window here, it’s an amazing place to be, to see the train show, see the river. It’s beautiful,” she continued.

Asked what’s new for this year’s 26-foot HO-scale model train exhibit, Cryan said, “It’s different every year. During COVID, I was in the basement building models of all kinds of different boats.”

A replica of the USS Hartford, a sailing warship that launched in 1858 and was named for Hartford, Connecticut is one example.

“I have different signs and the trains always change and move around,” added Cryan.

Another unique feature of the exhibit is a live feed from a camera that is mounted to the front of one of the trains. The footage is displayed on a television mounted to the back wall.

In addition to the American Flyer on Christmas mornings, Cryan’s passion for trains was inspired by a steam locomotive that he saw as a child, growing up on Long Island.

“I saw the steam train going through and the guy waved at me and pointed at me and was all dressed in white and he was in the steam engine, and he went whizzing through [the] station at about 90 miles an hour,” said Cryan.

“I said, ‘That’s it! I want to do that, Dad.’ I was like 6 or 7 years old. He said you better do it this week because it’s the last week of steam and that’s why we came…But boy did that make an impression on me,” he continued.

When Cryan was drafted for the Vietnam War, he matched his passion for trains and art with the Army’s railroad unit.

“I did portraits of the trains. I taught the colonel’s son and daughter. They gave me a jeep to go buy art supplies,” said Cryan.

“Basic training was not like that at all,” he added.

After serving in the Army, Cryan moved to Connecticut to attend Paier College of Art, graduating in the early ‘70s.

Cryan’s artwork and a collection of photographs are also on display on the third floor of the museum in conjunction with the train exhibit.

“See these paintings, they are original paintings here and there are railroad tugs as well,” said Cryan. “Railroad tugs played a big part in New York City, moving the freight all around the harbor, 1,300 vessels, people don’t even realize.”

Cryan plans to share his knowledge of steam locomotives and maritime history during a free talk at the Connecticut River Museum on Thursday, Dec. 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. To reserve a seat, visit CRM’s website ctrivermuseum.org.

“I’m really going to just talk about the crazy life that I’ve had so far, you know, look at the people I’ve met,” said Cryan. “I’ve met Duke Ellington’s grandson. We’ve become friends because he’s a train collector. I met Marshall Drew, Titanic survivor. You never know who is going to walk through the door here.”