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
Rochester Railfans: Trains, Depots, Rail-Trails, Models, & Clubs
Rochester railfans are incredibly lucky that passionate preservationists before us saw the value in retaining structures we can still appreciate today.
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!
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When you walk into one of these old country stores, you feel like you are stepping back in time with aisles of old fashioned toys, knickknacks and candies.
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.
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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, President of the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, showed me some of the pieces the museum members and volunteers are most excited about.
Diners were modular–manufactured in one place and moved by rail to the final location. They were designed to look like a train’s fine dining car.
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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.
Other museum pieces & exhibits
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A 1957 bus on loan from Regional Transit Service for Father’s Day weekend
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More information about Rochester Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
Visit Rochester Train Rides for ticket information
Located in Rush, roughly 20 minutes / 18 miles from Rochester (get directions)
More information: rgvrrm.org
Are you a train enthusiast? Become a member or volunteer your time and talent!