7/17/2008 - Available light...
In twilight, we find the NYMT's two former P&W Strafford cars nose out of the NYMT car barn as they prepare to be the subject of a night photo session which was held as part of the events for the July Rochester Chapter NRHS membership meeting.

7/17/2008 - Headin' south...
LV211 departs south into the setting sun on a return trip to the R&GVRRM as part of the July Rochester Chapter NRHS membership meeting.

7/17/2008 - At the controls...
On this evening, we find museum engineer, Mike Roqué, at the controls of LV211 as the train prepares to head south.

7/17/2008 - Meeting time!
On this evening, the monthly meeting of the Rochester Chapter NRHS was held. As part of the evening's events was the operation of LV211 with Erie C254 and Penn Central 18526. Members and guests were treated to several runs with LV211. The train was also posed for pictures near milepost 0.8 on the museum's demonstration railroad.

7/17/2008 - Fighting back the weeds!
With a rather wet summer, both the R&GVRRM and NYMT have been fighting back the weed population around the museums. Here we see the weed spray "train" keeping up the good fight as it departs Industry yard on its return trip to the NYMT.

7/17/2008 - Even shinier!
The buffing out of LV211's paint continued through July, and here we see the results shining in the summer sun.

7/17/2008 - Prepping for Caboose Day
With special event, Caboose Day, rapidly approaching, museum volunteer, Dave Scheiderich, power washes the museum's Penn Central transfer caboose #18526.

7/10/2008 - A nice evening for a ride!
To allow for some crew training as part of the museum's monthly Railroad Operations Department meeting, we find Lehigh Valley Railroad #211 up near milepost 0.8 on the museum's demonstration railroad. The recently installed bracket arms on the poles for the electrification project being undertaken by the R&GVRRM's partner museum, the NYMT, can be seen overhead along with the moon rising in the distance.

7/10/2008 - New switch!
And here we see the new switch the LA&L track department had just completed installing that day. The switch had been built as a panel back in January. This switch is located approximately 1700' north of Route 251 where the Industry depot is located. Now the hard work for the museum starts as it constructs the 1400' siding this switch connects to. Help is needed. New volunteers are always welcome and donations to the museum's 'Building Tracks to the Future' Capital Fundraising Campaign which has been providing the funds to install this switch and siding.

7/10/2008 - Headed south...
Another LA&L road train pulled by their signature ALCO Centuries heads south. The train had just passed over the R&GVRRM's newly installed switch which will lead to a new siding the museum is building to the west of the LA&L.

7/1/2008 - And even better!
With the Hammerhead hood and long hood complete, #211 is looking really good. You can see the difference in the picture since the frame paint had yet to be buffed out.

6/30/2008 - And looking much better!
After a fair amount of elbow grease by museum volunteer, Chris Hauf, the #211 is looking much shinier with a lot of more of the engine to go.

6/30/2008 - A little faded...
Painted over sixteen years ago, the "Hammerhead" #211 is looking a little faded as it sits on display in Industry yard.

6/30/2008 - Out on the main...
On the west side of R&GVRRM's Industry depot is the former Erie Railroad Rochester Division which is now operated by the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad. Here we see a northbound LA&L road train approaching the museum and passing the depot.

7/20/08 - Conductor Hands-on Training
Brakeman Rick Israelson poses in front of his train led by the museum's former Lehigh Valley RS-3m 211.

7/20/08 - Engineer Hands-on Training
Fireman Ron Amberger operates the museum's former Lehigh Valley RS-3m 211.

7/17/08 - Night Photo Session at the New York Museum of Transportation
As part of the Rochester Chapter's July membership meeting, a night photo session was held for all interested participants at the New York Museum of Transportation featuring their former Philadelphia & Western 'Strafford' cars. Several setups were done both at the NYMT's carbarn and along the electrified portion of the joint NYMT/Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum demonstration railroad. Another night photo session featuring both the trolleys and diesels from the R&GVRRM's collection is planned for the August Rochester Chapter NRHS membership meeting. All interested photographers are welcome. Please see our Events section for more details. Photos & lighting by Christopher R. Hauf.

7/17/08 - Night Photo Session at the New York Museum of Transportation
For the second location at "Giles Crossing", a little extra was added with the inclusion of a Rochester Chapter member's 1940 Buick Eight nicknamed "Modene". Thanks JT! A nice addition to an already fun evening. Photos & lighting by Christopher R. Hauf.

7/17/08 - Night Photo Session at the New York Museum of Transportation
The last two shots of the night featured Car 161 alone at the crossing. #161 has seen extensive restoration by the NYMT including an all new canvas roof, new windows, and a lot of interior work as well. Thanks to the NYMT crews for a great night of photography! Photos & lighting by: Christopher R. Hauf.

6/28/2008 - Loading up...a different way...
With more excavation still to take place northeast of the museum's restoration building, more dirt is moved using the museum's Trojan front loader and one of the museum's ex-US Military 6x6 dump trucks.

6/28/2008 - Steady at the controls...
Museum volunteer, Scott Gleason, has steady control of the Trojan loader as he loads another bucket full of dirt into the dump truck.

6/28/2008 - A new tool...
The R&GVRRM was recently offered the opportunity to purchase a new-to-us flat bed boom truck for a very reasonable price to aid in projects around the museum. The museum made the purchase, and here we see the truck just after delivery being moved. Several donations to the museum made this purchase possible. Can you help us be ready for future opportunities with a donation today?

6/26/2008 - Loading up...
R&GVRRM Track Foreman, Luther Brefo, moves a rail in place after loading on to the museum's ex-New York Central Pullman PS-4 flat car #506102. The material being loaded is the rail which will be used for the new siding the museum is building west of the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad. Instead of trucking it down, the museum is shipping the rail by rail!

6/19/2008 - A first during the June Chapter meeting...
For the June Rochester Chapter NRHS membership meeting held at the R&GVRRM, the museum's Fairbanks-Morse H12-44 #1843 was called to service to pull a museum first, pulling two of the museum's ex-New York Central 'Empire State Express' passenger cars in "revenue service" hauling meeting participants on the museum's demonstration railroad. Here we see #1843 up the line at MP 0.8.

6/19/2008 - Awaiting departure...
The meeting special waits to depart Industry yard with #1843 in the lead followed by the 'Alonzo B. Cornell', one of the two 'Empire State Express' railway post office cars followed by NYC2571, one of the six ESE coaches the museum owns.

6/19/2008 - One of the main things to see...
The R&GVRRM works very hard to offer unique exhibits for its visitors to see. In this case, you are inside of Merchants Despatch Transportation (MDT) ice bunker refrigerator car #14053 which features an exhibit highlighting the history of East Rochester Despatch Car Shops where MDT was headquartered and which built most of MDT's car fleet. Ironically, #14053 was not East Rochester built, but built by Pacific Car & Foundry.

June 7, 2008 - Chris Hauf works on the BE 22B Truck Crane
After draining many gallons of varnish-like gasoline and several hours of preparation work the upper motor hummed to life. The lower drive motor was also run after some tinkering with the fuel system.

June 3, 2008 - RGE 1941 spots NYC flatcar on track 8
June 3 saw the first movement through the restoration shop building on Track 8. It was also RG&E 1941’s first time operating with both prime movers in many years. Many volunteers contributed their efforts to make this happen!

May 17, 2008 - More track construction progress...
With the last piece of track completed inside of the building, the track construction has begun on track #8 south of the restoration building. With this track, both bays of the building finally have tracks all the way through them.

May 17, 2008 - Details...
Using the museum's vinyl cutting system, adding lettering or cutting stencils to the museum's equipment is make easy. Here we see the recently rebuilt emergency fuel shutoff on Eastman Kodak Company #6 with its new lettering.

May 15, 2008 - Freight in the building...
With EK6 back on the road, the museum's ex-New York Central Pullman PS-4 flat car #506102 was brought into the restoration building for a little work prior to a being used for some museum MOW work. The car will eventually be restored back to its New York Central paint and have a new deck installed. The car was donated to the museum by Conrail.

May 15, 2008 - Ready for track and stone...
Thanks to the museum's construction crew, the area immediately south of the restoration building was prepped for track install along with crusher run install in the middle of the building to provide a solid road surface for vehicle access into the center of the building. More earthwork needs to be done further out on the fill prior to extending tracks #7 & #8. The grade stakes are already set, and the construction crew has already started work to address the need.

May 10, 2008 - Engineer Hands-on Training
Fireman Ron Amberger poses with EK6 and his train on the way to relocate a few freight cars to the north end of the line.

May 10, 2008 - ESE Window Replacement
Museum volunteer Dale Hartnett smiles for the camera while working to replace old windows on the museum's Empire State Express train.

May 10, 2008 - Finish Grading
Museum volunteer Dan Waterstraat uses the museum's D7 bulldozer to prepare the roadway between tracks #7 and #8 on the south end of the restoration building.

May 6, 2008 - "Building" Track
Chapter volunteers Luther Brefo and Mike Roqué measure, gauge, and spike an additional track panel on track 8 to extend it towards the south end of the restoration building.

May 6, 2008 - Bulldozin' for Track
Construction department volunteer Dan Waterstraat works to box out the location of the track extension at the south end of the restoration building.

May 6, 2008 - Bulldozin' for Track
Volunteer Dan Waterstraat operates the museum's Caterpillar D7 bulldozer in preparation for the southward extension of track 8 from the restoration building.

May 6, 2008 - EK6 Electrical Work
Volunteer Jim Johnson works on wiring beneath GE 80-tonner EK6's deck with brake shoes installed earlier in the week visible to the right.

May 3, 2008 - Back together...
After a lot of work, EK6's brake cylinders have all been re-assembled and its rehabilitated hand brake mechanism reconnected.

May 3, 2008 - New shoes...
Along with the cylinder and hand brake work, several new cast iron brake shoes were purchased and installed on the engine. One of the new shoes is shown here.

May 3, 2008 - Another step...
The third switching step for RG&E #1941, the museum's GE 45-tonner, has been cleaned, primed and reinstalled. Finish painting will take place later in the summer when all of the mechanical work is complete on the engine.

May 3, 2008 - Back together...
At the other end of the building, the Oliver Cletrac engine in our Fairmont A4 track car TC-2 is back together after receiving new rings and a valve job. The R&GVRRM relies heavily on its two A4 track cars for its Sunday public operations. The museum is also seeking to add a third car of similar size to its fleet. Do you have a car we might be interested in?

May 3, 2008 - Prepping for more track...
Volunteer, Dave Luca, navigates the R&GVRRM's Bobcat 610 out of the restoration building after doing some leveling work on the grade inside of the building to allow for track #8 to be further extended south out of the shop. The museum is currently seeking a donation of new or good RTO rims for our 610 since the current rims are starting to show wear around the lug nuts from years of service. Please let us know if you can help.

May 3, 2008 - Track...
After the grading was completed, another section of track was laid out in the building; ending just a few feet shy of the south door. Once some grading outside of the building is completed, the track will be extended out of the door. This track is temporary to allow addition use of the building. Through its 'Building Tracks to the Future' capital fundraising campaign, the museum hopes to raise all of the necessary funds to install a concrete floor and inspection pit in the building. Can you help with a donation?

4/22/2008 - Reassembled...
To allow for some work to take place on the R&GVRRM's seven ex-New York Central 'Empire State Express' passenger cars, the entire train was re-assembled into a single train.  Here we see the cars stretched north through the restoration building yard and out on to the museum's mainline.

4/22/2008 - Looking south...
Here we see some of the train stretched back toward the museum's restoration building both from the hill alongside the building and down at ground level.

4/22/2008 - Out on the main at the other end...
We find the museum's Fairbanks-Morse H12-44 #1843 along with Lehigh Valley #211 at the head of the train out on the mainline.  The 1843 was used to put the train together having been recently woken back up from its winter slumber.

4/22/2008 - Window replacement...
The R&GVRRM has an program in place to replace much of the glazing on its six Budd-built coaches.   Here we see one of the cars with plywood replacing many of the windows that are in the process of being rebuilt.  We also see the one of the new windows already installed.  At over $100.00 per window for glazing alone, the museum could use your help.   Would you adopt-a-window with an online donation to the museum?

4/19/2008 - From the top...
Looking down from the walkway of the R&GVRRM's GE 80-tonner #6, we see the top of Plymouth BL #1 and all of the new roof sheet metal along with the new replica front grill.   We recently confirmed that our #1 was Plymouth serial #969 built in September 1920 for the Merchants Despatch Transportation Despatch Car Shops and then sold to the Odenbach Shipyards where the museum acquired the engine in derelict condition many years after it was last used.

4/19/2008 - Going back together...
Here we see the piston and return spring for ex-RG&E #1941's 12-inch brake cylinder.   A new rubber packing ring has been secured in place on the head of the piston, and both will seen be put back into the cylinder.

4/19/2008 - Going back together...
Back on the engine, the rebuilt non-pressure brake cylinder has been remounted and is waiting for the piston to be inserted from the rear end of the cylinder since the rear cover remains off.

4/19/2008 - Done!
Here we see the newly rebuilt brake cylinder complete including some newly machined pins and all new cotter pins.

4/19/2008 - Still waiting...
At the other end of the shop, 80-tonner #6's brake cylinders are still waiting to receive their COTS (Clean, Oil, Test, Stencil.) and to have their rebuilt pistons reinserted.

4/19/2008 - While up in the cab...
A new water temperature gauge (top left) has been installed amongst all of the other air and engine gauges.  A custom voltage converter board was created by an R&GVRRM volunteer to allow 12-volt auto gauges to be used with the locomotive's 64-volt electrical system.

4/19/2008 - Straightened!
Back down on the ground, we find EK6's switching steps back together after being straightened the week before.

4/19/2008 - Back outside...
Outside we have a shot of the north end of the R&GVRRM's restoration building.   To aid in clearing the land south of the building to allow for track construction, two of the museum's storage trailers were moved next to the building to leave them easy to access, but out of the way.

4/19/2008 - A clear view...
With the storage trailers moved, a clear view of the museum's ex-Wellsville, Addison & Galeton snow plow could be seen again including new primer applied to the plow.

4/19/2008 - Snow's over...
But when it returns, the R&GVRRM has this snow sweeper which could be sent out to remove the snow.   This unit is part of the museum's maintenance-of-way collection.

4/19/2008 - A clearer view...
With the storage trailers moved, we get a better view of the south end of the restoration building, and the land that will soon hold new yard tracks to store the museum's railroad collection.

4/19/2008 - More MOW...
To aid in the trimming of the museum's grassy areas and right-of-way, the R&GVRRM rosters this Farmall Cub with attached mover deck.  The unit runs great and provides a lot of use to the museum.

4/19/2008 - Big digger...
The museum rosters this Bucyrus-Erie 20-H hydraulic excavator as part of its construction equipment collection. The unit is a good runner and will see a lot of use in 2008 in the ongoing excavation around the museum's restoration building.

4/12/2008 - Repaired...
Here we see the non-pressure brake cylinder head from the museum's GE 45-tonner RG&E #1941. The two brazed patches can be see here prior to final machining.

4/12/2008 - Painted...
With the final machining done, the non-pressure head along with the rear portion of the brake cylinder can be seen here in new black paint in preparation for cylinder re-assembly.

4/12/2008 - More paint prep...
Along with all of its mechanical work, the #1941 is also receiving a complete cosmetic restoration. Here we see Project Foreman, Joe Nugent, cleaning up one of the switching steps prior to priming, finish paint, and installation.

4/12/2008 - Bent!
Back on Eastman Kodak Company GE 80-tonner #6, we find another set of switching steps in need of help. In this case, the steps tangled at one point in their life with a track bumper and lost being bent up. As part of the work on EK6, it was time to repair these steps and bend them back into shape.

4/12/2008 - Heating them up...
Museum volunteer, Pete Gores, heats up one of the verticals on the switching steps. Once hot, a large wrench was used to apply enough pressure to reshape the step.

4/12/2008 - Straightened...
On the engineer's side, the grating had to be removed to make the repairs. Here we see the straightened step supports. By the end of the day, the grating was bolted back on completing the repair.

3/29/2008 - Changes out on the mainline...
For the past several years, the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum's partner museum, the New York Museum of Transportation, has been installing overhead trolley wire over the portion of the museum railroad which they own. The R&GVRRM owns up to approximately milepost 0.5 and the NYMT owns from there on although the museums share the maintenance and usage of the railroad. This winter with help from R&GVRRM volunteers and using R&GVRRM's equipment the NYMT has nearly completed the install of all of the poles along their portion of the railroad. Here we see a view looking north from Scanlon's Curve where you can see all of the newly installed poles to the right of the railroad.

3/29/2008 - Changes...
In these views, the newly installed poles can be seen at Scanlon's Curve and looking south toward the R&GVRRM. In this heavily wooded area of the railroad, it is sometimes hard to tell what are the poles and what are the trees.

3/29/2008 - Changes...
In this view of the pole install, we see a view looking south toward Scanlon's Curve from Reid's Crossing.

3/29/2008 - Changes...
In this view, we are north of Reid's Crossing looking south...

3/29/2008 - Changes...
Spinning around, we are now looking north toward milepost 0.8. This is the area traditionally used for the R&GVRRM's Diesel Days special event. It hoped that for 2008, the R&GVRRM's will actually meet NYMT's trolleys! Stay tuned...

3/29/2008 - Changes...
A telephoto view looking north of milepost 0.8 with BOCES crossing in the background as the tracks curve to the left.

3/29/2008 - Setting poles...
In this set of pictures, we find the combined R&GVRRM and NYMT pole crew digging the hole for the second to last pole using the R&GVRRM's auger truck. This hole was a fighter with steam rising from the hole when the drill bit was removed, but it finally relented and the pole was eventually installed.

3/26/2008 - Back in the shop...
We find Machine Shop Foreman, Kevin Klees, braising up the 1941's non-pressure brake head to build up enough new metal prior to machining back to round which should give this old part many more years of reliable service.

3/22/2008 - Rebuilt!
Again we find ourselves under the deck of ex-Eastman Kodak Company #6. This time, however, we find the same hand brake pulley all rebuilt with two new pins, a new chain, and brand new spring hangers to hold the chain up when there is slack. Nice work!

3/22/2008 - And at the other end of the chain...
At the end of the chain from the pulley above, a second pulley is found. This pulley also had its pin drilled out, the pulley cleaned and a brand new pin installed. We also see a second of the new spring hangers, and the new chain connected back up to the truck.

3/22/2008 - A little engine work...
The R&GVRRM's Fairmont A-series gang cars are the backbone of its Sunday operating fleet. Here we see one of the museum's cars, TC-2, in the restoration shop for some engine work. In order to remove the oil pan, the car, shown here, had to be blocked up and the front axle split in half to allow access to the oil pan. The museum is seeking another A series gang car to add to its collection. Do you have a car we might be interested in? Please let us know.

2/16/2008 - Time for some improvements...
With the engine shutdown for the winter, it was a great time to start looking at what repairs and improvements could be made to our ALCO RS-1 #9. Here we see one of the traction motor blower ducts that channel air from the frame mounted blowers down into the trucks and traction motors. From many years of use, the ducts have torn reducing the effectiveness of the blowers. So it was time to get new ducts made up.

2/16/2008 - Awaiting replacement...
Here we see the rigid ductwork after the flexible canvas duct was removed. The engine has four of these, and they all will be replaced before spring startup.

2/16/2008 - More locomotive parts in need of repair...
Inside of our restoration building, the museum's ex-Rochester Gas & Electric GE 45-tonner #1941 has been receiving both mechanical and cosmetic restoration work. As part of the mechanical work, it was time to COTS (Clean, Oil, Test, Stencil) the brake cylinder. Once removed, it became obvious the non-pressure brake cylinder head would need some work to rebuild one piece which cracked off and rebuild the hole in the center showing heavy wear from the hollow push rod.

2/16/2008 - And more parts...
Also in the restoration shop is the museum's ex-Eastman Kodak Company GE 80-tonner #6. The loco is receiving brake work including a full cylinder COTS on all of the truck mounted cylinders and a rebuild of the hand brake. Here we see one of the pulleys in the hand brake system. After attempts to knock the pins out holding in the pulleys, it was decided it would be easier to drill them out and machine new pins. Here we see a pilot hole drilled into the pin at the start of the removal process.

2/16/2008 - Cleaning up window frames...
As part of the work on the museum's passenger cars, all of the windows are receiving new glazing. This is a very complex and tedious process with the need to remove, retap, and replace MANY screws along with many pieces that make up the window frames to clean and rework. Here we see museum volunteer, Bill Blaesi, wire wheeling one of the pieces of one of the window frames. Necessity is certainly the mother of invention...

2/16/2008 - And back up in the window shop...
Once he completed wire wheeling the window frame, Bill headed back up into the museum's window shop where we see him re-assembling one of the window modules including re-tapping the many screw holes that hold the module together. Each module takes a $100 piece of polycarbonate. Want to help us and adopt a window? Make a tax-deductible donation online.

2/16/2008 - Snow now... Rail soon!
In this view looking north from the south end of the museum's property toward the restoration building, we see snow now, however, the museum plans to install both tracks leading out of the building out to this point to give the museum more track storage space. Interesting is that this area is now 20+ feet higher than it used to be as the museum has filled this area using the soil excavated from the north end of the building. That is a lot of dirt moved!

1/26/2008 - New siding progress!
As part of its "Building Tracks to the Future" capital fund drive, the R&GVRRM is working to raise the funds to build a 1400 foot siding west of the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad. This siding will eventually hold the museum's ex-New York Central 'Empire State Express' passenger car set once the work on the cars, currently stored up by the museum's restoration building, is completed. To get the process started, the museum has contracted with and paid for the installation of the switch that will feed the siding. To get the process started, the LA&L Track Department seized on some decent weather this January to build up the switch as a panel for a spring install in the mainline. In this view looking south toward the museum, you can see the new switch waiting install.

1/26/2008 - New siding progress!
In this view looking north, you can see the new switch and the LA&L mainline.