NYMT takes a big step on Rochester 437

The New York Museum of Transportation took a large step in the restoration of Rochester streetcar #437. The car body was recently craned off its storage cribbing on to cribbing above a new set of trolley trucks on live rail!

Rochester 437 sits on one of its new trucks while the other end sits on cribbing until some modifications can be made to fit the new trucks which are representative of what 437 had in service, but not exact replacements.

Here we can see the truck behind the cribbing. The trucks are complete with traction motors and brake rigging.

This was 437 just after delivery to the NYMT in 1997.

Hosting the Niagara Frontier Chapter NRHS

It was our pleasure on this day to host over fifteen members of the Niagara Frontier Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. They came from their home base of North Tonawanda, NY to visit both the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum and the New York Museum of Transportation. As part of the afternoon's activities, R&GV1654 and Erie caboose #C254 shuttled passengers over our two-mile demonstration railroad.

R&GV #1654 on a photo run-by along the museum's demonstration railroad.

Members of the Niagara Frontier Chapter NRHS along with Conductor Norm Shaddick ride the rear platform of Erie caboose #C254.

Back in the cab of R&GV #1654, we find Rochester Chapter NRHS President Jeremy Tuke at the controls.

Test run with RGV 1654

With Switch #5 back in service after another day of tamping and leveling, it was time to take out our former U.S. Military 80-tonner R&GV #1654 for a test run. This loco was heavily damaged when it was shipped to us and a settlement was never reached that would allow repairs to be made. Thus, museum volunteers figured out how to make the engine function on one traction motor per truck; the other two traction motors and gear boxes were destroyed in shipping. The hope is someday the museum will be able to repair the damage, however, this modification gives us an engine that can move on its own The test run was successful and the plan is to operate the loco for the Rochester Chapter NRHS's monthly membership meeting on Thursday, June 19. Visitors are welcome.

R&GV #1654 at Reid's Crossing along the museum's demonstration railroad.

R&GV #1654 meets U.S. Army #1843.

Finishing touches to Switch 5

Track work was the order of the day at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. After the rebuild of the Switch #5 frog between the museum's Track #4 and Track #5 in our Industry yard, it was time to bring out our Jackson tamper and give that new ballast a good tamping.

Museum volunteer Norm Shaddick takes the controls of the R&GV Railroad Museum's Jackson tamper. Norm has taken care of the majority of the maintenance on this piece for many years and the machine really runs great.

Jackson tamper at work! The museum would like to eventually add more MOW equipment to our collection like a ballast regulator, tie inserter, and a spiker.

Tamper sits on top of the newly rebuilt Switch #5 frog. The R&GV RR Museum's main line climbs the hill and curves to the right. The track in the distant left is that of the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad. It was once the Erie Railroad's Rochester Division.