"Trolleys at Twilight" a success... Diesel Days is next!

We want to thank everyone who came out in support of our new special event, "Trolleys at Twilight".   We plan to do this event next year and possibly more than once.   For those who missed it, here is our latest YouTube video that covers the event.

Next up on the special event calendar is Diesel Days.   We hope you will pay us a visit and remember we will be open longer hours and open for both Saturday and Sunday for Diesel Days.  Here are some photos from past Diesel Days to check out while we wait for the event to arrive in just a few short weeks.
 

Ballasting & tamping the new siding - 7.13.2010

Progress has continued in earnest on the ballasting, leveling, and tamping of the new siding west of the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville.   During the museum's Tuesday work session, the north end of the siding was being ballasted and tamped using the museum's ex-Kodak Park Railroad Jackson tamper.   Over 200 tons of stone has been used so far with more needed as there is more work to do toward the middle of the siding.

Here is a new YouTube video of the museum's tamper in action on the siding.

Additionally, here is an album of photos on the R&GVRRM's Flickr site of the work.

The progress made has been in part supported through generous donations to our Donate-A-Ton fundraiser.  To date, 70 of the 300 tons needed has been donated while the museum has already purchased 200 of the 300 tons to allow the progress to continue to be made.   The museum needs to complete the work by late summer 2010, and we could use your help to Donate-A-Ton.   Just $20.00 buys the museum a ton of stone.    For more information or to donate, please check out the Support page on our website.

"Looking back" - Restoration of Penn Central #18526

Recently some of our newer museum members were asking about the restoration the museum did on ex-Penn Central Railroad transfer caboose #18526.   Donated in 1996 by Conrail, the caboose was restored both inside and out between 1998 and 2002.   At the time of the donation, the #18526 was complete, but had been in a roll over accident where it rolled on to its side on an adjacent track causing a large crease in the side of the car and jarring loose many interior fixtures.

Here is a Flickr album of the caboose as it was delivered, during the restoration process and completely restored inside and out including interior photos taken just recently.

Ballasting continues...

The ballasting of the new siding west of the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad has continued in earnest.   Two new developments have taken place.   A new access road constructed from road millings from a local highway paving project has been constructed next to a portion of the east side of the siding.   This will give a solid surface for vehicles to access the cars to eventually be parked on the siding.

 The new road to the east of the siding.   Some finishing work still needs to be done on the road, but it is nearly complete here.

The museum has also moved its ex-Kodak Park Railroad Jackson tamper over to the siding to help in the tamping and leveling.   In the past two weeks, a little under one hundred additional feet of siding were being ballasted and leveled.    The crew has been working from the south to the north toward the switch in the LA&L main.

  The museum's Jackson tamper sits on a recently ballasted and leveled portion of the siding.  A new road has been installed to the east of the siding using road millings from a paving project on a local highway.

A view from the tamper (left) of the newly ballasted portion of the siding along with a close-up of the work (right).

 Looking south to where the recent progress has ended.   There is much more work to do!

To that end, we still need more help to purchase more ballast for our siding.   We still have several hundred feet to the north to ballast and level along with a little over a hundred feet to the south to ballast and leveled.   So would you please Donate-A-Ton?   A $20 donation buys a ton of stone.   We have had 61 tons of our 300 ton goal donated so far.   Information on donating online and by mail is available on the museum Support page on our website.

 

 

RG&E 1941 - New cab glass install underway

The new cab glass install was started today on ex-Rochester Gas & Electric #1941.   A little over half of the glass was installed on the 90+ degree day.   Luckily #1941 is located inside the museum's restoration shop so at least it was out of the direct sun.   The rest of the glass will be done on another day soon.   The glass is being professionally installed by Flower City Glass, and the work is sponsored by a grant from the Amherst Railway Society.    Once the glass install is completed, the interior and exterior paint work will continue until the locomotive is complete.

 Looking at the new engineer's window installed.

Looking the windows behind the brakeman's seat.

Cab side windows on the fireman's side.

Happy 4th of July!

The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum would like to wish everyone a very happy & safe Independence Day!   While we don't have any trains with fireworks pictures to share, we thought we would share a few night photographs created last August from some slightly different fireworks, i.e. old fashioned flashbulbs.   Keep an eye on this blog for an upcoming chance to participate in another summer night photo session at the R&GVRRM. 

Erie C254 & R&GVRR #1654 waits at a rural interurban waiting room.
Photo & lighting by: Christopher R. Hauf

Lehigh Valley Railroad #211 and Penn Central caboose #18526 takes its turn in front of the museum's ex-Rochester, Lockport & Buffalo Railway rural interurban waiting room.
Photo & lighting by: Christopher R. Hauf

Lehigh Valley Railroad #211 and Penn Central caboose #18526 has its front brakeman on board and is ready to depart.
Photo & lighting by: Christopher R. Hauf

Lehigh Valley Railroad #211 passes the Rochester, Lockport & Buffalo Railway rural interurban waiting room.
Photo & lighting by: Christopher R. Hauf

Restoration progress - RG&E #1941

On Tuesday evening, June 29th, ex-Rochester Gas & Electric GE 45-tonner #1941 took another step in its restoration.   With new cab window glass being professionally installed in just under two weeks, the raw window openings needed to be finish painted.   Additionally, the radiator grill openings also needed to be finish painted to allow the radiator grills to be reinstalled prior to finish painting.    Both the paint work and the window work are being supported in part or in whole by grants from the Amherst Railway Society.  The R&GVRRM would like to thank them for their continued support of railroad preservation!

#1941 waits for paint south of the museum's restoration shop.

 #1941 late in the evening after the window openings and radiator shutter openings have been finish painted.

 Close-up of the completed radiator shutter opening along with the freshly painted radiator.

In addition to the work on the engine, the the headlights were also finish painted as part of their rehabilitation for eventual reinstall into the engine.

Headlights before (left) and after (right) painting with Brewster Green.