Rochester Genesee Valley Railroad Museum

Volunteers at the Rochester Genesee Valley Railroad Museum actively acquire, restore and preserve New York’s largest collection of historic railroad equipment. Spend a day riding the train and checking out their Rochester-centric collection!

2018 Themed Events

Each month features a different theme and combination of equipment so it’s a slightly different experience every time:

June 20-21 – Father’s Day Train Rides
July 21-22 – Craft Show Caboose Rides
August 18-19, 25-26 – Steam Train Rides
September 15-16 – Diesel Days
October 13-14, 20-21 – Pumpkin Patch Train Rides
October 27 – Trick or Treat Train Rides
Dec. 1, 8, 15 – Santa Train Rides to the North Pole

Erie Railroad Industry Depot

Enter through the restored 1930’s depot to purchase your timed train ticket, with departures every half-hour. Once on board you can ride up to the restoration shop and back to the depot as many times as you’d like. For an additional $5.00 donation, patrons ages 4 and up can ride round-trip with the engineer in the locomotive!

Rochester Genesee Valley Railroad Museum map — Rochester Genesee Valley Railroad Museum campus map – tap to enlarge

Enjoy a 1.5 mile train ride

To fully experience the train museum, give yourself at least an hour for riding the train, wandering the yard, and exploring the exhibits. You can sit and relax, or stand at the back of the caboose for an open-air view.

The museum has 40+ pieces of historic railroad equipment in its collection

Everything is authentically restored by a passionate group of 200+ volunteers. Admission to the museum goes directly to the historic preservation of trains on site, and the procurement of new equipment. There are diesel-electric and steam locomotives, cabooses, snowplows, trolleys, signs, switches, signals, and other machines around the property currently undergoing restoration, or patiently awaiting their turn.

Otto Vondrak–designer, editor, photographer, train enthusiast, and connoisseur of craft beer–showed me some of the pieces the museum members and volunteers are most excited about.

Rochester Subway Car 60

Rochester Genesee Valley Train Museum is home to the only remaining trolley car from the Rochester Subway, which ceased operation in 1956. It was recently re-acquired and volunteers are currently restoring it to its original 1916 condition. The ultimate goal is to have it fully operational to transport passengers through the museum campus.