12/26/2007 - A proper coach yard...
The R&GVRRM's restoration building north yard can be seen with all of the museum's ex-New York Central Budd built 'Empire State Express' cars. This yard was built through the museum's "Building Tracks to the Future" capital fundraising campaign in May of 2007. It has given the museum a place to relocate its cars to. In 2008, the museum will be expanding the restoration building's south yard to better house all of the museum's railroad collections.

12/26/2007 - A panoramic view...
The restoration building and the cars can be seen in this stitched panoramic image.

12/26/2007 - A different view...
Here the museum's cars are seen on this day after Christmas. This view is looking north.

12/26/2007 - A wider view...
Here we see the cars again looking south at the restoration building. The museum plans to further excavate the hill on the left hand side to give additional area to the east and northeast of the restoration building.

12/26/2007 - Out to the main...
Looking north, the yard throat can be seen leading to the R&GVRRM's museum mainline.

12/26/2007 - At track level...
At track level, the all stainless steel Empire State Express cars can be seen on this sunny day after Christmas.

12/26/2007 - RPO in the yard...
Here we see where NYC 5021 landed after being delivered. This is one of two RPOs the museum owns. The R&GVRRM also rosters a PRR BM70nb railway post office car. Sadly both cars had their RPO interiors removed prior to coming to the R&GVRRM.

12/26/2007 - The south side...
A view of the south side of the museum's restoration shop. With tracks already coming out of the large door on the left hand side, tracks will be extended out of the right hand side large door in 2008. The shop is 60' by 140' long.

12/26/2007 - Waiting for shop space...
The museum's fireless Heisler 0-4-0 waits outside of the restoration building for space to be freed up through the completion of projects already inside of the building. The museum hopes to be able to restore this engine to operating condition in the coming few years.

12/26/2007 - Inside the building...
Inside the shop, we find Plymouth BL #1 with its replica front grill installed. Its replica side frames were off of the engine to allow them to have their steel skins installed.

12/26/2007 - From F-M to GE
With the passenger cars delivered, the museum shutdown its Fairbanks-Morse H21-44 for the winter. In its shop space, former Eastman Kodak Company GE 80-tonner #6 was brought into the shop for air brake and other work over the winter. The #1 still looks small next to the #6.

12/26/2007 - Another GE...
Another GE "tonner" was also continuing to receive attention inside the museum's restoration shop. Here we see #1941 which has received a successful prime mover rebuild along with other cosmetic and mechanical repairs and improvements. The locomotive's cosmetic restoration will be completed in 2008 thanks in part to a grant from the Amherst Railway Society. The R&GVRRM has also started a Locomotive Preservation Fund to help finance some improvements to the museum's motive power collection. The first will be new starting batteries for Lehigh Valley #211. Would you consider a donation today? You can donate online!

12/26/2007- And down below...
Down below in Industry yard, we find one of the museum's two Merchants Despatch Transportation ice bunker refrigerator car. MDT14053 serves as a display car for the museum and has an in-depth exhibit on MDT and the East Rochester Despatch Car Shops in it.

12/15/2007 - Out of the house...
Today marked the day that the R&GVRRM was taking delivery of its seven ex-New York Central Railroad 'Empire State Express' cars which had spent many years operating on the Ontario Midland Railroad. Here we see R&GVRR #1654 pulling a warm and pre-lubed #1843 from the restoration building to get the #1843 started as both engines would be needed in the car delivery. With a puff of white smoke, #1843 roared to life and both engines set out for the day's work.

12/15/2007 - Its empty now...
To handle the incoming passenger cars, the R&GVRRM moved all of the cars stored in its new restoration building north yard into storage on the museum mainline leaving the yard ready to accept the passenger cars.

12/15/2007 - RPO delivered...
Along with six coaches, the R&GVRRM owns one of the two Railway Post Office (RPO) cars from the original 'Empire State Express'. Here we see NYC 5021, the 'Alonzo B. Cornell' as it comes in and then heads up the hill to storage in the upper yard. Tied on to the north end of the #1843 was the museum's restored Erie caboose, #C254. This was used to give the crews a place to warm up in between car moves.

12/15/2007 - Last car comes in...
The last of the seven cars heads for track #4 in Industry yard with R&GVRR #1654 leading the way. The car will soon head to storage in the upper yard.

12/9/2007 - Little and a lot BIGGER!
Inside the museum's restoration building on this day, we find Plymouth BL #1 and Fairbanks-Morse H12-44 #1843 on track #8. These pictures give you an idea of the size difference between the two locomotives. While #1843 looks huge compared to the #1, the #1843 would be considered a small locomotive when compared to the road locomotives in use today.

12/9/2007 - More BL progress...
The BL now has its replica side covers frames installed on both sides of the engine. These will eventually be covered with steel. In the background is the museum's 45-tonner, #1941, which was receiving prime mover and other work.

12/1/2007 - Out of the barn for Holly Trolley Rides...
In December 2007, the NYMT ran Holley Trolley Rides in conjunction with Remelt's Evergreen Acres Christmas Tree Farm that sits adjacent to the railroad at NYMT. Here we see NYMT's Car #161 exiting the car barn in preparation for the day's runs. #161 is an ex-Philadelphia & Western 'Strafford' car and shares the car barn with sister #168.

12/1/2007 - Out on the line...
#161 accelerates northbound on its way back to the Remelt's boarding area on the first run of the day. Mother Nature added a nice coat of snow for the first day's operations.

12/1/2007 - Startup...
While the trolley was running at the NYMT, museum volunteer, Joe Scanlon, was busy prepping and starting his restored Caterpillar D2 bulldozer. Like so many older Cats, this one starts the diesel engine with a gasoline pony motor. Here we see Joe prepping the Pony motor, working to start the diesel, and then with a successful diesel start, exiting the restoration building.

12/1/2007 - BL cosmetic restoration continues...
The cosmetic portion of the Plymouth BL's restoration continued. Here we see one of the replica engine side cover frames along with the replica metal covers that run along the deck installed on the engine.

11/3/2007 - Signals...
The R&GVRRM has an ongoing project to signal a portion of its demonstration railroad with real working railroad signals from a variety of different railroads that served Rochester. Here we see the Erie Railroad Semaphore along with a close-up of the signal head that controls movements in the "Hill" block which is the first block out of the museum's Industry yard.

11/3/2007 - Deck removal continues...
On this sunny day, we find the R&GVRRM's ex-New York Central Railroad Pullman PS-4 flatcar #506102. The museum continues to remove the rotted deck with the goal of restoring the car to its NYC paint scheme and replacing the deck.

11/3/2007 - Close up...
A closer view showing the deck removed from the south end of the car.

11/3/2007 - Clear, graded & ready for stone...
To continue to finish areas around the R&GVRRM's Restoration Building, the east side of the building was graded with plans to install crusher run to provide a solid surface next to the building as both a road and a place to park our volunteer's vehicles.

11/3/2007 - More dirt to go!
Although the R&GVRRM has moved thousands of cubic yards of dirt to allow it to install the restoration building north yard seen to the left in this image, there is still lots more dirt to be moved to further level the area north and east of the building.

10/27/2007 - Another Scout visit...Railroad Merit Badge time...
The R&GVRRM hosted another troop of scouts today to help them with their pursuit of their railroading merit badges. The Scouts were given a tour of the museum, instructions on different parts of railroading and a train ride. Here are the Scouts gathered up on R&GVRR #1654 prior to departure.

10/27/2007 - Another Scout visit...
Here we see the Scouts switching between the locomotive and caboose prior to returning to the R&GVRRM so all of them could ride both the engine and the caboose. Do you have a troop interested in obtaining their railroad merit badge? We can help. Please contact us.

10/27/2007 - Rebuild continues...
The rebuild of Rochester Gas & Electric GE 45-tonner #1941's #1 primer mover took further steps today with more components reinstalled. The oil pan and manifolds have been cleaned, painted, and reinstalled amongst other engine accessories including the air cleaners.

10/27/2007 - 1941 muffler repair...
In the process of rebuilding the #1 prime mover, it was discovered the bottom of the engine's muffler had rusted away. Here volunteer, Kevin Klees, brazes a patch on to the bottom of the muffler to repair it and prepare it for reinstallation.

10/27/2007 - BL restoration progress...
Our Plymouth Model BL gas-mechanical #1 continues to see work. Additional cab and hood sheet metal has been installed along with the hinges to hold the engine side covers.

10/27/2007 - BL restoration progress...
More wiring has been done and the instrument panel inside of the cab is nearing completion. The small wheel at the bottom center of the image moves the drive flywheel to the left or right to adjust the locomotive's direction, speed, and starting torque.

10/27/2007 - And off with the deck...
The R&GVRRM has begun the restoration process on its ex-New York Central Pullman PS-4 flat car #506102. The first step is the removal of the rotted wood deck. Here we see the car with a portion of the deck removed showing the car's superstructure. The rest of the deck will be removed in the coming weeks.

10/27/2007 - Waiting for shop time...
The museum's Heisler fireless steam locomotive is seen through one of the door's of the museum's restoration building. The engine is waiting some shop time to continue its progress toward operation. To date, the cylinders and valve gear have been rebuilt amongst other components.

10/27/2007 - Seeing double...
Along with its collection of locomotives, the R&GVRRM rosters two operating Whiting TM-5 Trackmobiles. Capable of running on the road or the rail, the Trackmobiles provide the museum great flexibility in moving its equipment since they can drive themselves to where they are needed and then lower themselves on to the rail to act as a small locomotive.

10/8/2007 - New deck... New paint...
The R&GVRRM owns several former military 6x6 trucks. Two are setup as dump trucks and this truck has recently been setup by volunteer, Dan Waterstraat, with a new flat bed deck for moving items around the museum. Along with the new deck, the truck has received all new paint and new museum logos.

10/8/2007 - Clean-up continues...
The R&GVRRM has been working hard to tidy up around the museum. Part of this project has been sorting through our holdings of track parts and scrapping out those parts that are no longer usable. Volunteer, Jeremy Tuke, hauls one of the filled scrap bins by the restoration building using the museum's Ford forklift to position it for pick-up.

10/8/2007 - Grading...
With the rail yard installed north of the R&GVRRM's restoration building, it is time to start grading south of the building for additional track installation. Volunteer, Joe Scanlon, is at the controls of the Huber-Warco road grader as he works the dirt south of the building.

10/8/2007 - Time to sleep...
With freezing weather looming, it was time to put the R&GVRRM's larger, water cooled locomotives to bed for the winter. Here Eastman Kodak Company #9 is having its coolant water drained into its winter storage tank. With a few other small items to do, the locomotive will be set to weather the cold Rochester winter.

10/8/2007 - Engine side cover fabrication...
As part of the continued restoration of Plymouth Model BL #1, new engine side covers are being fabricated to match the what the engine would have had originally. Here is one of the new panel frames made of pressure treated wood set into place on the engine for final fitting and hinge installation.

10/8/2007 - Switching...
To reposition some of the museum's cars closer to the restoration building to work on them, a switch crew was assigned to work the restoration building north yard with USA #1843. Here they are moving over to track #8 to drop off the museum's N-5C caboose, PRR #477822, prior to making some additional moves.

9/22/2007 - Scouts visit...
A large troop of Boy Scouts visited the NYMT and the R&GVRRM today. They were treated to tours of both museums, a track car ride and a diesel powered caboose ride. Here we see R&GVRR 1654 and Penn Central caboose 18526 getting ready to off load the Scouts to transfer them to the track car.

9/22/2007 - Scouts visit... And away they go! The last group of Scouts boards one of the museums' track cars to head back to NYMT to have lunch and then head home.

9/22/2007 - Rebuilt...
As part of the R&GVRRM's yearly track maintenance program, one of the curves, Scanlon's Curve, on the museum's demonstration railroad recently received some work including the installation of some new ties, the addition of some ballast, jacking and finish tamping. Here the rebuilt curve is seen from the rear platform of Penn Central 18526.

9/22/2007 - Rebuilt and in service...
After dropping of the last load of Scouts, R&GVRR #1654 and PC #18526 stop at Scanlon's Curve to check out the recent track work and to pick up some materials left over from the project.

9/8/2007 - RCNRHS/R&GVRRM picnic a success!
Every year, the Rochester Chapter NRHS holds an annual picnic for members and friends the Saturday after Labor Day at its Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. This year was no exception with over 50 guests enjoying an afternoon of food, friends, and train rides. Here we see Lehigh Valley Railroad ALCO RS-3m #211 pulling Erie C254 north near Scanlon's Curve on the R&GVRRM's demonstration railroad during the picnic.

9/8/2007 - Headed back...
#211 with a platform full on Erie C254 heads back south to the R&GVRRM.

9/8/2007 - First trip to Industry yard...
As part of the picnic festivities, the R&GVRRM's Plymouth BL gas-mechanical #1 made its maiden voyage under its own power out of the R&GVRRM's restoration building and upper yard and down the HILL block into Industry yard under the control of lead restorer, Kevin Klees.

9/8/2007 - In comparison...
Plymouth BL #1 sits in Industry yard just in front of ALCO RS-1 Eastman Kodak Company #9. The size difference between the 7-ton #1 and the 125+ ton #9 is obvious.

9/8/2007 - Checking things over...
Picnic participants were quick to come to see the #1 up close and personal.

9/8/2007 - Departing Industry...
#1 departs Industry yard with a passenger for a quick round trip so others could get their turn. The view is seen from both the ground and a later run with a full house of three passengers is seen from the engineer's seat of Eastman Kodak Company #9.

9/8/2007 - Back along the railroad...
After the BL demonstration runs were over and #1 had headed to the restoration building, #9 was out for a couple of runs along with LV#211. #9 heads south back to the R&GVRRM...

9/8/2007 - Time for a little grease...
To reduce wheel wear, grease is applied to Scanlon's Curve by R&GVRRM volunteer, Mike Dow.

9/8/2007 - Headed for the barn...
With the runs over, #9 heads into the restoration building yard past USA #1843 which was just being started to help do some switching. Soon both engines will be shut down for the night and another successful picnic will draw to a close thanks to the many dedicated volunteers of the R&GVRRM.

9/1/2007 - Switching out the upper yard...
With Diesel Days over, it was time to switch out the upper yard to setup some of the R&GVRRM's equipment for a final nice weather maintenance and restoration push through the rest of the summer and fall. Here we see the museum's ALCO RS-1 #9 and ALCO RS-3m #211 on track #8 with the museum's PRR N-5C caboose on track #7. #9 was running and ready to switch. #211 was being pulled off our track 8 and headed for track #7 to prep it for operation during the museum's upcoming picnic on 9/8.

9/1/2007 - 80-tonners...
R&GVRR #1654 backs out of siding #8 to head over to track #7 to pick up 80-tonner, Eastman Kodak Company #6, which was going to be switched next to the museum's restoration building for some running repairs.

9/1/2007 - ALCO road switchers...
Only three years apart in age, Lehigh Valley Railroad #211 waits to be switched while Eastman Kodak Company #9 idles in the background. Visible just inside the museum's restoration building is Plymouth Model BL #1.

9/1/2007 - On to track #7...
Under the watchful eye of brakeman, Luther Brefo, #211 is shoved on to track #7 past Nickel Plate Road ALCO S-4 #79 by #1654 which has EK#6 in tow as well.

9/1/2007 - Waiting to go...
#9 waits on track #8 for its switching assignment while #1654 works the upper yard and US Army #1843 heads toward the upper yard from the Industry yard.

9/1/2007 - PRR lineup...
The R&GVRRM's PRR N-5C caboose, #477822, is shoved further south on track #7. On track #6 next to the caboose is the museum's former PRR RPO car. Both cars are slated for restoration back to their PRR colors as shop time allows.

9/1/2007 - Three abreast...
With #9 having pulling NKP #79 from siding #6 and placed it on track #8 for some repairs, #1843 has now taken the lead on switching as it prepares to pull five cars from siding #6 to allow Eastman Kodak Company #6 to be placed on siding #6 next to the restoration building.

8/20/2007 - Diesel Days a success!
The 9th annual edition of Diesel Days was a real success with nice weather, nearly 600 visitors over two days, and operations of several locomotives from the collection of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum including the first public demonstrations of #1, the R&GVRRM's Plymouth Model BL gas mechanical locomotive. This engine was also the subject of the R&GVRRM's traditional yellow train crew t-shirts. View more photos from Diesel Days 2007.

8/20/2007 - Diesel Days is all about volunteers!
The success of Diesel Days is all about the volunteers of the R&GVRRM and its partner museum, the New York Museum of Transportation. Here we see the volunteers undergoing their morning safety briefing held every morning of Diesel Days to make sure everyone knows what they are doing, everyone is on the same page, and everyone know SAFETY FIRST! Thanks to everyone for their help! View more photos from Diesel Days 2007.

8/20/2007 - Departing...
R&GVRR #1654 departs with Penn Central transfer caboose #18526 full of Diesel Days passengers. View more photos from Diesel Days 2007.

8/20/2007 - On display...
Operating for the public passing by on the Diesel Days trains, Plymouth BL #1 operates along siding #6 pushing a small side dump car which is part of the R&GVRRM MOW collection. View more photos from Diesel Days 2007.

8/20/2007 - Lineside nostalgia...
To add a little nostalgic flavor to the trip along the R&GVRRM's demonstration railroad, the museum has placed a set of replica BurmaShave signs with the the slogan, "Drive with care. Be alive when you arrive. BurmaShave". View more photos from Diesel Days 2007.

8/11/2007 - Prepping for Diesel Days...
To get ready for Diesel Days, the operating department of the R&GVRRM switched out the new restoration building yard to get the necessary equipment lined up for Diesel Days. The first moves of the day utilized the R&GVRRM's Fairbanks-Morse H12-44 #1843 to drill out cars on siding #6. Here #1843 starts its day on track #8 coupled to ALCO S-4 Nickel Plate Road #79.

8/11/2007 - Prepping for Diesel Days...
Fired up, #1843 pulls out of siding #8 past Eastman Kodak Company #6, one of the museum's two GE 80-tonners.

8/11/2007 - Prepping for Diesel Days...
Back into siding #6, #1843 is coupled to the first cut of cars to be moved.

8/11/2007 - Prepping for Diesel Days...
Having pulled out siding #6, the F-M shoves hard up into siding #8 to drop off the R&GVRRM ex-Conrail nee-New York Central Pullman PS-4 flatcar #506102 before heading back to siding #6 for the next move.

8/11/2007 - Prepping for Diesel Days...
One of the main reasons for drilling out the upper yard was to get out the R&GVRRM's ALCO RS-1, Eastman Kodak Company #9. The RS-1 had been stranded on a disconnected portion of siding #6 for nearly three years. Its return to operation on the museum's railroad was made possible by the construction of the new year earlier this year. Here #9 is seen at the end of the morning's switching parked over on track #8 and ready to go for Diesel Days.

7/24/2007 - Building our restoration building yard
Check out this collection of photos taken during the construction of our new restoration building yard..

7/17/2007 - Test load...
With our Plymouth BL locomotive's mechanical restoration nearing completion, a test load is needed to see how well the engine works under load. The R&GVRRM owns this small side dump car which was originally a narrow gauge mine car that the museum mounted on a set of standard gauge axles. This car will be an ideal test load for the BL, but needed to be moved from Industry yard to the restoration building. To do this, the museum's Jackson tamper was put into service to deliver the car. Here the tamper pushes the car over the newly reconstructed switch in the museum's Industry yard and toward the hill that climbs out of the yard.

7/17/2007 - Speaking of the Plymouth...
The Model BL continues to see mostly cosmetic restoration work. The cab sheet metal on the fireman's side of the cab has been completed and installed along with the replica engine hood. The sheet metal for the engineer's side is nearly complete as well.

7/17/2007 - More replica parts...
To add to the 200+ new parts that have been machined for the BL, custom bolts to match the originals that held that cab sheet metal needed to be created. One of the original bolts with its domed head is shown here, but many of the others were too badly rusted to re-use. Therefore, new bolts were machined, installed and painted as part of the finishing of the cab work.

7/17/2007 - On the other side of that new sheet metal...
On the other side of the new fireman's sheet metal, the custom chain oiling system is shown. This oiling system provides lubrication to the various heavy drive chains; one of which can been seen in the photo.

7/12/2007 - A second track In the building!
With the R&GVRRM's restoration building yard complete, track #8 was partially installed into the building. This area will eventually hold the building's inspection pit, however, the museum is still working on raising the funds to make this happen through its "Building Tracks to the Future" capital campaign so this temporary track install gave the museum two things. It finally gave the Plymouth BL gas-mechanical locomotive access to the museum's railroad, and it increases the usable track inside of the building. To that end, ex-Rochester Gas & Electric GE 45-tonner #1941 was moved from Industry yard to the shop to allow the cosmetic and mechanical restoration to be completed quicker and easier.

6/21/2007 - RCNRHS summer meeting time...
For June, July & August, the Rochester Chapter NRHS holds its general membership meeting at its Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. The evenings usually feature a variety of operations of the museum's equipment on the museum's demonstration railroad. June was no exception as the R&GVRRM operated several trains. Here the first train of the night climbs out of Industry yard past the operating semaphore signal with R&GVRR #1654 and Erie C254.

6/21/2007 - Out of the new yard...
The second train of the night originated from a different and new location. USA #1843 departs from track #8 in the R&GVRRM's new restoration building yard which had been completed only a few weeks earlier.

6/21/2007 - Out of the new yard...
#1843 passes ex-Eastman Kodak Company #6 which sits at the head of track #7 in the new yard.

6/21/2007 - Up the grade...
The R&GVRRM has some unique operating challenges which include short grades of greater than 4% in some places. In this telephoto view, we see #1843 pulling up the hill out of Industry yard with NKP #79 in tow on one of the many rides offered during the June Rochester Chapter NRHS meeting.

6/21/2007 - Time for a tour and something new!
Instead of going by foot or rubber tired vehicle, the R&GVRRM's restoration building is new accessible by rail! One of the evening's trains has backed up track #8 for a tour of the building and a little operation of the museum's restored Plymouth BL gas-mechanical locomotive. As part of the yard construction, the panel track that has held the Plymouth captive in the building for greater than 7 years was connected to the new yard trackage finally allowing the BL full access to the museum's railroad.

6/21/2007 - Thanks Kevin!
After a successful run of the BL, Kevin Klees, Lead Restorer and BL Project Manager, poses with #1 inside the R&GVRRM's restoration building.

6/21/2007 - Out on the line...
After touring the restoration building, both trains headed north on the museum's demonstration railroad for a longer ride. Here R&GVRR #1654 waits for passengers to change from locomotive to caboose or visa versa if they wanted.

6/21/2007 - Out on the line...
To save a switching move, USA #1843 has picked up NKP #79 from Industry yard and will deliver it to the new restoration building yard at the end of the meeting. Here #79 waits at milepost 0.8 on the museum's railroad. These nice milepost signs were installed as part of one of several Eagle Scout projects the R&GVRRM has sponsored. We always welcome new Eagle project proposals. Have one? Please drop us an email.

6/21/2007 - Fun for young and old...
One of the best parts of the summer Rochester Chapter NRHS meeting is that Chapter members and guests can share the R&GVRRM and its operations with their families as we see this young man awaiting departure and a ride in the cupola of Erie C254.

5/12/2007 - Loading stone
Museum volunteer Scott Gleason uses the museum's Trojan loader to pick up a load of ballast for track 8 in the restoration building yard.

5/12/2007 - Dumping stone
Scott Gleason dumps a load of ballast for track 8 which will enter the restoration building via the open rollup door on the left.

5/12/2007 - Cutting rail
Museum volunteer Jeremy Tuke cuts the last new rail for switch 4. This switch has been rehabilitated with new ties and a new frog.

4/28/2007 - Panoramic progress
Looking north out of the east door of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum's restoration building, these two panoramic views show the progress that has been made from November 12, 2005 (top) until April 28, 2007 (bottom) with more to come very soon. To help better see the changes, note the yellow Allis Chalmers bulldozer in the upper right of each picture.

4/28/2007 - Trackmobile on the go...
One of the museum's Trackmobiles heads off to move the museum's PRR N5C caboose #477822 back toward the restoration building. The caboose is located on the stub of track #7 laid out of the west bay of the restoration building. Part of that track has been completed and the caboose needs to be pulled on to that completed section so the rest can be completed and hooked up.

4/28/2007 - Split personality...
With its railroad wheels perpendicular to its road wheels, volunteer, Norm Shaddick, works to center the Trackmobile over the rails under the watchful eye of Bob Mader.

4/28/2007 - On to the rails...
Centered, the Trackmobile lowers itself on to the rails. The tires will rise up into the wheel wells placing all of the weight on the railroad wheels.

4/28/2007 - Ready to roll...
The Trackmobile's tires are up and it is ready to head down track #7. Inside the building is the museum's Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh caboose #280 that is under restoration along with the museum's ALCO RS-1, Eastman Kodak Company #9, poking its nose out from alongside the building.

4/28/2007 - Hooked up and heading south...
With the 477822 hooked up, the Trackmobile heads south on track #7 toward the restoration building to allow this portion of track #7 to be connected up, jacked, ballasted, leveled and tamped.

4/28/2007 - Prep for inspection...
While others were out working on track, our Vulcan 0-4-0T, ex-Brooklyn Navy Yard #12, was receiving some attention in the restoration building. Volunteer, Pete Gores systematically cleans up small patches on the inside of #12's firebox so the thickness can be checked with an ultrasonic thickness checker.

4/28/2007 - Checking thickness...
Ron Amberger checks the thickness of the #12's firebox from the outside based on spots already cleaned up to insure a good reading. These readings will allow the R&GV Railroad Museum to better understand what boiler work will be necessary to eventually return #12 to steam.

4/27/2007 - Spread and ready for track!
Thanks to the efforts of a few of the R&GV Railroad Museum's volunteers, the sub-ballast has been spread and is ready for track to be installed; hopefully during the first week of May.

4/25/2007 - Time for stone!
With grading complete, it was time to spread some 100+ tons of railroad ballast to provide a stable base on which to build the yard trackage. Here we see the start of the work.

4/25/2007 - More stone!
The R&GV Railroad Museum's ex-Army 6x6 dump trucks go to work delivering stone to the work site.

4/25/2007 - New timber!
To make this project take place, some additional new railroad ties
and timber had to be purchased. Here we see the delivery truck waiting to unload at the R&GVRRM. Each new 6"x8"x8' tie is $32.00! Can you help us by adopting one or more of these new ties? Please consider a donation to our "Building Tracks to the Future..." capital campaign.

4/25/2007 - More new timber...
Down in Industry yard, the switch project rebuild is continuing nicely with some of the new timber laid out for the switch.

4/24/2007 - Finish grading!
With another nice day, the finish grading needed to ready the restoration building yard switch installation was undertaken and completed. Joe Scanlon has the Huber-Warco grader underway as he takes another pass with the museum's Bay City Model 65 dragline in the background.

4/24/2007 - Getting to the bottom...
Having made several passes, grade has been achieved to the right of the grade stakes. Further work will now be done west of the stakes to get the area ready for sub-ballast and track.

4/24/2007 - A steady hand...
Joe Scanlon has the controls of the grader as he makes a finishing pass. It is quite an art to work the many levers needed to control the grader's blade while guiding the grader with the steering wheel, and Joe really makes it look easy!

4/24/2007 - Cleaning up...
To keep the area clean for grading, the R&GV Railroad Museum's Trojan loader scoops up the extra dirt the grader left behind.

4/24/2007 - Hauling it away...
After scooping it up, the spoiled is hauled away in one of the museum's dump trucks to the fill area south of the building.

4/24/2007 - And down below...
In Industry yard, the R&GV Railroad Museum's track gang was hard at work on the other switch project, the reconstruction of one of the switches in Industry yard. With all of the old ties and ballast/mud removed, the area was ready to accept new sub-ballast.

4/24/2007 - Loading up...
To help make the ballasting process a little easier, Jeremy Tuke has a Bobcat bucketful of ballast ready to be taken into Industry yard for the switch project.

4/24/2007 - Dumping it in...
Another bucket load of stone is placed into the switch area where it was worked level by hand by the museum's Bobcat 610.

4/21/2007 - Inches to go!
The stakes are set for the last of the grading needed prior to the installation of the two switches for the restoration building yard. The switch work is to begin in just over one week so the dirt around these stakes should be approximately eight inches lower in the next week.

4/21/2007 - The calm before the storm...
In just over one week, construction of the two new restoration building yard tracks will begin and will connect the R&GV Railroad Museum's Restoration Building to the museum's demonstration railroad via the stub of the track seen in the distance.

4/21/2007 - Looking the other way
Looking back at the Restoration Building, one can get the feeling where the switches will go to connect tracks (from right to left) #6, #7 & #8. More dirt still needs to be removed from the west to further widen the area north of the building, however, there is room to install most of the yard and all of the switches.

4/21/2007 - More stone... And more stone...
More stone taken from a recently delivered one hundred and twenty tons was added to road crossing on siding #6 and #7 to make it easy to get cars and trucks up to the building in preparation for the switch install. The museum is going to need SIX HUNDRED or more tons to complete the yard. That is approximately $7500.00 in stone alone! Care to help us reach our goal? Consider a tax-deductible donation to the R&GVRR Museum's Building Tracks to the Future... Capital Fundraising campaign.

4/21/2007 - Another new part...
When the R&GV Railroad Museum acquired its Plymouth BL gas-mechanical locomotive it had three of its four original sandbox covers. As his first project, new volunteer, Tom Anderson had a new covered machined and the finish product is shown here on the engine. Thanks Tom!

4/21/2007 - Flipped over
Flipped over, one can see the machining necessary to make the cover fit on to the sandbox. The cover was machined from the same metal the cast originals were made from.

4/21/2007 - And up on the roof!
Continuing with his sheet metal work, Kevin Klees has the engine cab roof sheet metal nearly finalized and with a nice coat of paint to protect it.

4/21/2007 - In other Motive Power news...
On the other side of the Restoration Building, the oil pan from the #1 prime mover for RG&E 1941, the museum's GE 45-tonner, awaits re-installation having been completely cleaned and painted. The primer mover is coming to an end of a complete rebuild, and we hope to have it running again in 2007!

4/21/2007 - Spring has sprung!
Thanks to our Building & Grounds team of Dave Luca and Janet Dittmer, signs of spring are popping up all over the museum.

3/30/07 - Trackwork time!
With some better spring weather and drying ground, it was time to get back to constructing the railroad yard to support the R&GV Railroad Museum's restoration building. With 60 tons of ballast delivered to the parking lot of the Industry depot, it was time to load up the ballast for use at the building site. Here the museum's Trojan front loader fills one of the museum's ex-military 5-ton 6x6 dump trucks which will transport the ballast to the work site.

3/30/07 - Ready to load...
Museum volunteer, Dan Waterstraat, has a bucketful of stone ready to load into the truck.

3/30/07 - Loading up!
The 3A railroad ballast is loaded into the truck!

3/30/07 - At the work site...
The dump truck pulls into the restoration building work site under the control of volunteer, Jeremy Tuke. He will soon back the truck between sidings #6 & #7 to dump the stone for later spreading. Ballast is being added between the tracks to provide a stable surface and to protect a french drain installed last year to provide drainage for the yard.

3/30/07 - Three loads down!
Pulling away, the dump truck has just left its third load of stone to be spread.

3/30/07 - Spread!
With a little help from the front loader, the stone has been spread to give a nice solid base between the rails. Additional ballast was added to track #7, the track on the left, to bring it up to the proper height.

3/30/07 - Moving out of the way...
With ballast being spread into its storage location, the R&GV Railroad Museum's Lorain crawler crane had to be moved out of the way. Here the crane is seen crawling south toward the museum's restoration building.

3/30/07 - Sighting in...
With stone being brought up, it was time to jack and level track #7 which leads into the western bay of the museum's restoration building. Here museum volunteer, Charlie Harshbarger, checks by eye to see if the level of the track after jacking & blocking in preparation for stone. Stakes set by transit by our survey crew also aided the track gang in leveling the track.

3/3/07 - Sheet metal work continues...
BL Restoration Manager Kevin Klees prepares another portion of the
raw sheet metal for installation on the engine hood for on the
BL. This image also shows the scale of the BL and its compact size
albeit weighing in at around 7 tons!

3/3/07 - Already installed...
Some portions of the engine hood sheet metal have been completed and
formed around the wooden frame as shown here.

3/3/07 - Already installed...
Some portions of the engine hood sheet metal have been completed and
formed around the wooden frame as shown here

3/3/07 - Work in progress...
While on the other side of the BL, the new sheet metal is still in
the process of being formed.

3/3/07 - Clutch work...
At the other end of the R&GVRRM's Restoration Building from the BL,
the museum's Ford 4000 forklift was having its engine removed to have
its clutch replaced. Here the engine with clutch removed can be seen
sitting on the rear frame of the forklift. The 4000 is a critical
piece of equipment to the R&GVRRM. To supplement it, we are seeking
the donation of an additional outdoor, all terrain forklift to
increase our lifting capability. Have something in working order
that might work for us? Please let us know.

3/3/07 - Out from under the snow...
With a quick spell of warmer weather, the lead switch in Industry
Yard had the remaining snow removed and saw some continued
excavation. With better weather, this switch will see a complete rebuild.

3/3/07 - Engine repair
Again a warmer day allowed our Motive Power Department to tend to
some engine repairs on the #1 prime mover of R&GVRR
#1654. Volunteer Dave Peet works inside the engine compartment to
loosen the belt tensioner so the three fan belts could be replaced
with a matched set of new belts. The R&GVRRM's Motive Power
Department meets the first Saturday of each month at 9:30AM in the
Industry depot and then after the meeting works on motive power
related work, steam and diesel, around the
museum. Interested? Please come on out. We always welcome visitors.

3/3/07 - Prep for primer...
Museum volunteer Joe Nugent wipes down the ceiling of GE 45-tonner
RG&E 1941 in preparation for primer and new paint. Joe and
volunteer Luther Brefo have been working together on the cosmetic
restoration of 1941's cab.

1/31/07 - Plymouth BL finishing touches begin
With the mechanical restoration pretty much complete, attention on the Plymouth BL locomotive has turned to its cosmetic restoration and specifically, the fabrication of all of the cab and hood sheet metal. With the metal already purchased, the first installed panel is shown installed on the cab here (middle of the picture) with the next panel on the ground (rear of the engine) awaiting fitting and installation on the other side of the cab. The BL's new instrument gauge panel can also be seen installed along with a temporary numbering sign. The R&GVRRM has decided to number the Plymouth as its #1.

1/24/07 - Back under power
On November 4, 2006, the R&GVRR Museum saw a major milestone.  After 7+ years of mechanical restoration followed by a few days of fine tuning on the Buda FRH engine, the Plymouth Model BL gas mechanical locomotive moved under its own power inside the R&GVRR Museum's restoration building for the first time in over 40 years.   Currently residing on a 33 foot piece of panel track, the trips back and forth were short, but very exciting.    Watch this milestone in the videos below.

High Quality (Windows Media)		Under the control of Motive Power Superintendent John Redden, with BL Restoration Manager Kevin Klees looking on, the BL moves forward on one of its first runs.
High Quality (Windows Media)		John Redden positions and locks the friction drive wheel for a back-up move, releases the brake (red handle) and then engages the flywheel which comes out to meet the friction drive wheel causing the engine to move backward.
High Quality (Windows Media)		We have switched engineers and BL Restoration Manager and primary restorer Kevin Klees gets to take his first trip in the BL after seven years of hard work including the machining of over 300 new parts for the locomotive.
High Quality (Windows Media)		Kevin pulls the BL forward and then backs it up.   The wood frame on the cab roof and over the engine will be wrapped in sheet metal along with sheet metal installed on the cab and engine sides.  The sheet metal has since been purchased for this task and some of it has already been installed.
High Quality (Windows Media)		Kevin pulls the BL forward, looks out to check the Buda's oil pressure from a gauge located on the side of the engine and then backs the engine up.  With some of the cab sheet metal completed since this video was shot, some of the final wiring has begun including the installation of an engineer's instrument panel which will include a remote oil pressure gauge, water temp gauge and volt meter.

1/25/07 - 2007 track car training schedule
Training for train enthusiasts who wish to be Track Car Operators at the local railroad museums will commence in March 24 and continue through May 19, 2007.

1/10/07 - LAL rail train at Industry
As part of a $40 million state-funded program to modernize New York’s rail system, the LAL received $1 million for track rehabilitation, including upgrading their entire mainline with welded rail, to increase track speeds from 25 MPH to 50 MPH and handle heavier railcars. LAL 420 and 425 lead a rail train dropping rail just south of the museum.

1/9/07 - LAL road train outlaws at Industry
Due to a change in traffic patterns at CSX, the railroad's class I interchange partner, the LAL has found itself with more work and more cars than usual. These changes caught up with them when the crew ran out of time to get back to Lakeville with a huge road train this day.

1/6/07 - New pickup trucks
The museum recently purchased a few new pickup trucks for utility use on museum property.

1/6/07 - New tool car stairs
Volunteers have built a new stairway into the tool car at Industry Yard.

1/6/07 - New frog and ties for switch 4
Work is well underway on installing a new frog and switch timbers on switch 4 in Industry Yard.

1/6/07 - Engine work continues on RG&E 1941
Volunteers Joe Nugent, Luther Brefo, and Mike Roqué (photographer) prepare to reinstall the cylinder heads on the #1 prime mover on 45-ton locomotive RG&E 1941.