As we continue in our mission to acquire, restore, and display historical examples of railroad equipment, we must expand our storage capacity and improve access to our restoration shop. In order for the tracks to reach the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum's restoration shop, several thousand cubic yards of dirt must be moved from the north end of the shop and placed on a fill to the south of the building. Over this weekend, our "Big Dig" was begun using a hydraulic excavator that was loaned to the museum for the weekend and other equipment from the R&GVRRM's historical construction equipment collection including our Cat D-8 tractor and tractor pan. Take a look at some of the progress made during this weekend.
Saturday morning loading out. 
Monday evening... Lots of dirt moved!
Taking its first bite! Our Cat D-8 and its Cat tractor pan takes it first bite of earth on top of the fill. This was the first time the pan had been used and many of our guys said the first time they had seen one of these in use since the mid-60's. Operating a little piece of construction history. 
Loading out...
Cat D-8 operator John McDonald pauses as he passes the restoration building on his was to spread his load of dirt.
And loading out again....
Museum volunteer, Scott Gleason, handles the excavator with ease.
For the third weekend in a row, the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum continued its excavation north of its Restoration Building to bring the ground in front of the building to the level of the building. This week saw mostly work being done by the museum's 1968 Cat D7E bulldozer freeing up dirt to be loaded by the front loader and dragline the following weekend.
A view of the north end of the R&GV RR Museum's restoration building. All of the excavation work is taking place on the hill to the front left of the building. 
The D7 gets to work!
Pushing dirt over the bank!
And another blade full...
Time for a little maintenance check. With grease gun tucked under his arm, the museum's Master Mechanic Art Mummery, for whom the dozer is named (as he brought it back to life), checks over the tracks to make sure all is well. 
The old and the newer. The museum's two Cat D7's are parked next to each other for lunch. The older Cat has done A LOT of work around the museum and it still sees use. With its cable blade, it is not as capable as its hydraulic equipped newer sibling.
