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  • Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum Discussion

  • Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in New York State.
Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in New York State.

Moderator: Otto Vondrak

 #1228340  by Otto Vondrak
 
Ride the Evergreen Express!
(122.71 KiB) Downloaded 6944 times
RIDE THE EVERGREEN EXPRESS ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21

ALL ABOARD for a special treat for boys and girls of all ages!Arrive at our Industry depot, all decked out for the season. Enjoy hot chocolate while you wait to board your train. Climb aboard vintage cabooses lit by kerosene lamps for a magical trip to the “North Pole”to visit with Santa! After the children are greeted by Santa, you will board the train for the return trip to Industry Depot. Join us and create a special memory for your family this holiday season.

Trains depart 5:30 and 7:30 pm.
Tickets Available by Pre-Sale Only - Only 30 Seats per Trip
TICKETS ARE $15.00 EACH

Please visit http://rgvrrm.org/evergreenexpress/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for more information and to purchase tickets. Pick up your tickets at the depot just prior to boarding. Please arrive a half-hour prior to boarding time.

https://www.facebook.com/events/3561916 ... 0027579215" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 #1236871  by Otto Vondrak
 
DECEMBER MEETING - THU DEC 19
The museum store opens at 7:00pm, a brief business meeting takes place at 7:30pm, and the program begins around 8:15pm. Peter Gores will be presenting his slides from various Canadian steam fan trips of the 1970s. This is a FREE event. We meet at the 40 & 8 Club, 933 University Avenue, in Rochester, NY.

Evergreen Express for this Saturday is sold out!
 #1248174  by Otto Vondrak
 
Monthly Meeting: Thursday, February 20

RGVRRM member Dale Hartnett presents "Railroad Palaces From a Century Ago." Dale's program will feature New York's Grand Central Terminal and Pennsylvania Station as well as Washington's Union Station. The program will include some construction photos as well as when the facilities were new.

The museum store opens at 7:00pm, a brief business meeting takes place at 7:30pm, and the program begins around 8:15pm. This is a FREE event open to everyone. We meet at the 40 & 8 VFW Club located at 933 University Avenue, Rochester, New York. You can RSVP on our Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/events/139275006243166/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


R&GVRRM Annual Banquet: Saturday, March 8

We will be holding the banquet at the recently refurbished River’s Edge Party House, located near the airport at 31 Paul Road, Rochester, New York. Doors will open at 6:30, and guests will enjoy a cash bar and social hour prior to seating for our buffet dinner. Following dinner will be some brief awards presentations before we introduce our keynote speaker, Eugene H. Blabey II, President and CEO of the Livonia, Avon &Lakeville Railroad Corp. Please join us for this wonderful opportunity to celebrate our organizations achievements over the last year as well as congratulate the LA&L Railroad on fifty years of excellent service.

Tickets are $25.00 per person, and are payable by check or money order to R&GV BANQUET, P.O. Box 23326, Rochester, NY 14692-3326. You can also purchase tickets in person at our February 20 meeting (7:00pm at 933 University Ave., Rochester, NY) Please R.S.V.P. no later than February 28 if you are planning on attending. We cannot accept ticket orders after February 28, so please reserve your spot early! You can RSVP on our Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/events/473665879404662/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

-otto-
rgvrrm
 #1252093  by Otto Vondrak
 
Deadline for banquet tickets is February 28. This event is open to the public and we invite you to join us for a fun evening! Tickets can be purchased from our web site:

http://rgvrrm.org/banquet/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

-otto-
 #1263034  by Otto Vondrak
 
Fan Trip to the Arcade & Attica Railroad - $75.00 per ticket
Saturday, June 7, 2014 - Departs Industry 10:00 a.m.

You are invited to join us for a fun day trip to the only regularly-scheduled steam excursion in New York State when we visit the famous Arcade & Attica Railroad! Incorporated in 1917, the original railroad was chartered as a narrow gauge line in the 1850s. The A&A has been offering regular steam excursions since 1962 with 2-8-0 No. 18, purchased from the Boyne City Railroad in Michigan. Passengers ride in refurbished open platform "Boonton" commuter coaches purchased second-hand from the Erie Lackawanna.

Our private motorcoach departs from R&GVRRM's Industry Depot at 10:00 a.m. At Arcade, we will ride in a reserved coach behind steam on the Arcade & Attica Railroad. Bring your own lunch, or charbroiled hot dogs and cold pop can be purchased extra during the stop at Curriers station. Upon our return to Arcade, we'll get a special behind the scenes shop tour following the train ride. We once again board our private motorcoach and travel to the Lumberyard Restaurant in Perry to enjoy a special prime rib dinner. Our private motorcoach will return us to Industry at about 7:00 p.m.

All-Inclusive Tickets are $75.00 per person, and can be purchased instantly through PayPal at http://rgvrrm.org/fantrip/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can also purchase tickets by mail payable by check or money order to R&GV RAILROAD MUSEUM, P.O. Box 23326, Rochester, NY 14692-3326.

Please R.S.V.P. no later than May 8.

http://rgvrrm.org/fantrip/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 #1268135  by Otto Vondrak
 
Saturday, May 10 - National Train Day at Rochester Amtrak Station

Celebrate Amtrak’s National Train Day with us at Rochester’s Amtrak Station! Join representatives from the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum and the New York Museum of Transportation for National Train Day and to learn all about trains past and present!

We will have on display a vintage wooden velocipede, track tools, and kerosene lanterns used by railroad workers a hundred years ago. Enjoy a live telegraph demonstration and see scale models of trolleys that once served the city of Rochester. Learn what our volunteers are doing to preserve Rochester’s rich railroading heritage, and join us for special trolley and train rides the following day on Sunday, May 11.

This event takes place on Saturday, May 10, from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Rochester Amtrak Station, located at 320 Central Avenue, Rochester, NY 14605.

http://rochestertrainrides.com/event/na ... rochester/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.nationaltrainday.com/s/#!/ev ... ter-ny-roc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


-otto-
 #1268137  by Otto Vondrak
 
Sunday, May 11 - Opening Day Trolley and Train Rides at NYMT and RGV

In coordination with Amtrak’s National Train Day weekend of special events nationwide, please join us for the beginning of our 2014 train ride operating season! Enjoy a 2-mile round trip trolley excursion that connects to a diesel train, linking the New York Museum of Transportation (NYMT) with the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum‘s country depot and railroad equipment collection. The trolley portion of the ride is the only such operation in New York State, and the diesel train ride adds a special thrill for railfans young and old. Operation Lifesaver will be attending to remind visitors about railroad safety. Ticket includes admission to both museums. No reservations needed. Adults $10.00, Youth (3-17), Seniors (65+) $8.00. All tours begin at the New York Museum of Transportation, 6393 East River Road, West Henrietta, NY. We are only a few miles from Exit 11 on I-390, and just 20 minutes from downtown Rochester.

http://rochestertrainrides.com/event/opening-day/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

-otto-
 #1278426  by Otto Vondrak
 
Local museums launch campaign to restore Rochester Subway Car 60

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Otto Vondrak, Trustee, R&GVRRM
Phone: (585) 820-2341


On Friday, June 27, Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum (R&GVRRM) and the New York Museum of Transportation (NYMT) will be hosting a special press event to announce the kick-off of the campaign to restore Rochester Subway Car 60, and to generate pledges of support from the public. On Sunday, June 29, the two local railroad museums will host the public event “Subway Sunday” to highlight the history of the Rochester Subway and encourage the community to participate in the restoration of Car 60. When the Rochester Subway was shut down for passenger service on June 30, 1956, it seemed like trolleys had turned their last wheel in Rochester for good. Operator Rochester Transit Corp. (predecessor to RGRTA’s Regional Transit Service) donated Car 60 the Rochester Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, upon the end of regular service in 1956. Having no means to store or display the car in Rochester, Car 60 was loaned to the Rail City Museum in Sandy Creek, N.Y. In 1968, the car was acquired by the New York State Museum in Albany for use in a proposed new exhibit. Those plans never materialized, and the car languished outdoors partially covered by a shed for nearly 30 years.

In the intervening years, the R&GVRRM was established at Industry Depot in Rush, providing a permanent and stable home for many historic railcars and artifacts representing Rochester’s rich railroading heritage. In 1998, Car 60 was returned to the museum, and was the subject of an intense inspection by museum volunteers. The majority of the old trolley car was disassembled only to discover major structural components had been damaged or had rotted away during its years of outdoor storage and display. A combination of overwhelming restoration tasks combined with a shifting focus in the museum’s mission had led to the Subway car being placed on the back burner (but this time under cover and safely inside the museum’s Restoration Building).

Built in 1916, Car 60 was constructed by the Cincinnati Car Co. for service on the streetcar lines in Utica. In 1938, the Utica fleet was moved to Rochester and put into service on the Subway. The year 2016 will mark Car 60’s 100th birthday, as well as the 60th anniversary of the end of Rochester Subway passenger service. It is R&GVRRM’s goal to make Car 60 presentable for public display once again, helping to answer one of the most persistent questions of our generation, “Whatever happened to the old Rochester Subway?” Fortunately, Car 60 is not the only piece saved from the Rochester Subway. The neighboring New York Museum of Transportation has in their collection a fully restored gasoline-powered inspection vehicle used on the Subway, nicknamed the “Casey Jones” which is operated on special occasions. They have also rescued locomotive L-2, which was used by the Rochester Subway to switch freight sidings along the line. Locomotive L-2 is currently stored at NYMT awaiting a future restoration.

Working together over the last 30 years, R&GVRRM and NYMT have created the only operating railroad museum in New York State, offering trolley and train rides every Sunday from May through October. Each organization has acquired significant artifacts representing Rochester’s railroad and transit history, preserving many vintage trains for future generations to learn from and enjoy. Since 2008, NYMT has offered the only electric trolley ride in New York State on the electrified portion of the museum railroad.

Car 60 will require significant reconstruction to reverse nearly sixty years of deterioration, yet it remains an excellent candidate for restoration. Because of the daunting restoration tasks ahead, the museums are seeking considerable community support to attempt a cosmetic or possibly fully operational restoration. The public is invited to visit the museums on June 29 for “Subway Sunday” to learn more about Rochester’s transportation history and the future of Rochester Subway Car 60. For more details, please visit http://www.rochestertrainrides.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

ABOUT ROCHESTER & GENESEE VALLEY RAILROAD MUSEUM: The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is a non-profit educational organization with roots going back to 1937. We bring Rochester’s rich railroading history to life through the active preservation and restoration of railroad equipment and artifacts. Join us for tours and train rides every Sunday from May-October! http://www.rgvrrm.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ABOUT NEW YORK MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION: Established in 1973, the New York Museum of Transportation houses eleven full size trolley cars, a caboose, a steam locomotive, antique highway and horse-drawn vehicles, a huge model railroad display, and the various associated smaller items that illuminate Rochester's transportation history. http://www.nymtmuseum.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ABOUT THE ROCHESTER SUBWAY: The Rochester Subway was constructed by the City of Rochester to improve trolley passenger traffic and rail freight interchange through the city by building a new route in the bed of the abandoned Erie Canal. In operation from 1926 to 1956, the eastern portion was closed and converted to highway use. The western portion continued to be used for freight until 1976 when the route was abandoned and filled in. The tunnel under Broad Street continued to be used for freight delivery until 1996. In 2010, the Broad Street tunnel was filled from Exchange Street to Oak Street.


FRIDAY PRESS EVENT: 10:00am to 12:00pm

SUNDAY PUBLIC EVENT: 11:00am to 4:30pm - http://www.rochestertrainrides.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


# #
 #1279181  by Otto Vondrak
 
Thanks, everyone. The first step in the project is to evaluate the interest level. The next step will be to determine the scope of the project and see if any small items can be taken care of, first. Then, after a full evaluation, a plan and a budget will be developed so we can begin fundraising and identifying partners who can help us complete this project.

Here's a sample of my interview with Beth Adams on WXXI-FM (NPR network):

http://wxxinews.org/post/museum-wants-r ... ter-subway" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


WHAM 13 did a great story that appeared on the 5:00 news on Friday:

http://www.13wham.com/news/features/top ... 3353.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Time Warner News (YNN) did a great story Friday that also highlights NYMT's contributions to preservation:

http://rochester.twcnews.com/content/ne ... d-running/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



(If you're not a Time Warner video customer, Seth Voorhees was kind enough to post the video to his personal YouTube account)

http://youtu.be/1gy4thlbOPY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Come out to the museum and visit us for Subway Sunday!

http://rochestertrainrides.com/event/su ... sel-rides/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


-otto-
R&GVRRM
 #1286224  by Otto Vondrak
 
Museum Book Sale - Saturday, August 16
We’re clearing out hundreds of books, magazines, tapes, and DVDs from our library collection! Lanterns and other pieces of railroad hardware too! Help us find new homes for these treasures. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Industry Depot. All proceeds to benefit the re-establishment of our museum library in a permanent location. Dealer inquiries welcome.

Museum Picnic - Saturday, August 16
Join us for our Annual Museum Members’ Picnic! Enjoy hots, hamburgs, and cold pop. Bring your favorite dish or dessert to pass. $5.00 donation per person. Bring your friends, bring your family! Picnic from 2:00pm to 6:00pm. Train rides at 4:00pm. Please RSVP to Otto Vondrak.
Diesel Day 2013 transfer from diesel to trolley
Diesel Day 2013 transfer from diesel to trolley
DieselDay2013.jpg (121.02 KiB) Viewed 5724 times
2014 DIESEL DAY - August 17
Railroads have been a vital part of our nation’s success for more than 150 years, thanks to continuous expansion and innovation. One of those innovations is the diesel locomotive, which has been the backbone of the industry since the 1940s. From the earliest switch engines to today’s high-horsepower thoroughbreds, the diesel locomotive has been essential to the growth of American railroads. These kings of the rails come in all sizes, and the collection of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum gives visitors a close-up look. Learn what makes a diesel go, and how they are able to generate so much power. See several different types of diesel locomotives under power, and take a ride in a real caboose! Enjoy a 2-mile round trip trolley excursion that connects to a diesel train, linking the New York Museum of Transportation (NYMT) with the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum’s country depot and railroad equipment collection. Enjoy the only combined trolley and diesel operation in New York State! Ticket includes admission to both museums. No reservations needed. Adults $10.00, Youth (3-17), Seniors (65+) $8.00 – EXTENDED HOURS 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

SEE TRAINS MAGAZINE STORY: http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20New ... 0York.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Museum Meeting at Industry Depot - August 21
Please join us for our August museum meeting at Industry Depot, our third and final warm weather meeting of the season! We meet at 7:00 p.m., hold a brief business meeting, and then enjoy train rides on our museum railroad! This event is FREE, and is open to anyone interested in learning more about our museum activities.

Check out http://www.rochestertrainrides.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for full schedule of train rides throughout the season. Museum member events are listed at http://www.rgvrrm.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. I look forward to seeing you all there!

-otto vondrak
r&gvrrm trustee
 #1286918  by Otto Vondrak
 
Update: The Livonia, Avon & Lakeville will be providing a diesel locomotive for display on Sunday, August 17. Join us for Diesel Day!

http://rochestertrainrides.com/event/di ... sel-rides/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

-otto-
rgvrrm
 #1288699  by Otto Vondrak
 
August Museum Meeting at Depot
Thursday, August 21st, 2014


R&GVRRM Industry Depot, 282 Rush-Scottsville Road, Rush, NY 14546
Please join us for our August museum meeting at Industry Depot, our final warm weather meeting of the season! We meet at 7:00 p.m., hold a brief business meeting, and then enjoy train rides on our museum railroad! This event is FREE, and is open to anyone interested in learning more about our museum activities.

LA&L Fall Foliage Express
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Departing at 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, and 4:00pm


The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum will be operating a series of Fall Foliage Excursions with the cooperation of the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad between Lakeville and Industry, New York. Ride in the museum's reconditioned Budd streamlined coaches built in 1941 for the New York Central's "Empire State Express" hauled by Alco Century diesel locomotives provided by the LA&L. This is your opportunity to take a "rare mileage" trip over the rails of the freight-only LA&L.

Trains will depart from the Conesus Lake Sportsman's Club in Lakeville at 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, and 4:00pm. Plenty of free parking. All trains run as round trip with no intermediate stops. Refreshments available at Lakeville and on board the train. Tickets available by pre-sale only from participating Wegmans service counters. Adults (18+) are $25.00 each, Seniors (65+) and Youth (Ages 3-17) are $20.00. Children 2 and under occupying a lap ride free.

Tickets available by PRE-SALE ONLY at participating Wegmans service counters starting Aug. 22
Adults (18+) $25.00, Seniors (65+) and Youth (3-17) $20.00


http://rgvrrm.org/fallfoliage/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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