The New York Museum of Transportation

The New York Museum of Transportation, located near Rochester focuses on not only the State of New York’s rail history but also its transportation history in general as well. Its exhibits range from railroading equipment and trolley cars to historic vehicles and carriages. Whatever you may be interested in there’s a good chance you will find it at the museum. Along with train rides (including trolleys) they have available the museum also features a large operating HO layout, gift shop, and other events ongoing throughout the year. Below is a brief overview of the museum courtesy of the New York Transportation Museum:

Just 20 minutes south of Rochester is a combination of fun and history sure to please everyone in the family from youngsters to old-timers. With rolling hills and the Genesee River valley as a backdrop, two all-volunteer museums have joined to provide an interesting and educational experience featuring transportation history of this part of New York State. Members of the organizations believe their combination of two transportation museums and a rail ride is unique in the nation!

The New York Museum of Transportation houses eleven full size trolley cars, a caboose, steam locomotive, antique road vehicles, and the various associated items that illuminate our transportation history. An 11' x 21' HO-gauge model railroad operates five trains and two trolleys at one time. Pump-type handcars, track inspection velocipede, signs, baggage carts, diesel engine cutaways, cap badges, track tools and lots of other artifacts complement the many photo exhibits and interpretive displays. The Gallery features a rare color film of the Rochester Subway. A big hit with visitors is the trolley car from the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant, recently reopened for display. The visitor Center contains a display of "O" gauge models of trolley cars that once served the area, and a diorama depicting a 1930's gas station.

On Sundays from mid-May through October, starting at 11 a.m. and running until 5 p.m., track cars depart every half hour throughout the day on a scenic 15 minute journey on a full scale railroad to the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. Here, visitors enjoy a half-hour guided tour of the 1918 Erie Railroad country station owned by this museum. Inside, the stationmaster's office is preserved in its original condition, ready to sell a ticket or hand up orders to the next train. On display at the New York Museum of Transportation, in the railroad yard adjoining the station are early diesel locomotives, a steam locomotive, freight cars, and passenger cars, many open for inspection.

At the scheduled time, the visitor makes the return trip, again by track car, on the 1 3/4-mile rail line. This railroad track was constructed by volunteers of the two museums over a period of 15 years. The "gold spike" was driven in late 1992, marking the completion of a long held dream and the beginning of joint operations for the two separate organizations.

Unlimited half-hourly trolley rides are now offered as an exciting new attraction at the New York Museum of Transportation---the only historic trolley operation in New York State! Re-live the interurban era of long ago aboard 80-year-old Philadelphia & Western cars 161 and 168 as the traction gears rumble and the trolley wheel sings on the overhead wire. The museum electrified line is ¼-mile in length, and visitors are welcome to make as many trips as they like. Watch the conductor reverse the poles at the end of the line, and be amazed as the powerful electric motors accelerate the heavy car up the grade on the return trip!

While the joint museum/ride package and trolley rides are available Sundays only, mid-May through October, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the New York Museum of Transportation operating season is year round, Sundays only. Throughout the year, group visits are available any time by prior arrangement. Track car rides are open-air and operate weather permitting.

For more reading on perhaps New Yorks most famous railroads, the New York Central System, consider The Men Who Loved Trains from Rush Loving, Jr., which is one of my personal favorites, as Loving gives a detailed look (as he was in the middle of and lived through the disaster) at management and operations (and their fundamental problems and flaws) of the ill-fated Penn Central while also keeping things very interesting and not just a boring textbook filled with numbers and procedures (the book was also given high marks by the leading industry magazine, Trains from Kalmbach Publishing). The book will also give you a bit of understanding about how the current eastern road’s fate came about through failed mergers and other attempts that were unsuccessful. If you own one railroad book in your collection I would highly suggest it be this one, you won’t be disappointed!

You might also be interested in New York Central Railroad from Brian Solomon and Mike Schafer. While the book is just a brief history on the railroad it is very well done and will at least give you a general overview and history of the Central (and it is filled with many, excellent, historical and colorful photographs) at which point you can decide if you are interested in further books of study on the railroad (there are hundreds out there!). Even if you are a historian and/or fan of the NYC and have not seen this book I'm sure you will enjoy it! If you're interested in perhaps purchasing these books please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".