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Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum plans subway celebration
The Rochester Transit Corp. Car 60 at General Motors loop in 1956. (Photo Credit: Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum)
The Rochester Transit Corp. Car 60 at General Motors loop in 1956. (Photo Credit: Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum)
Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum plans subway celebration
Listen to this articleThe Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is inviting the community to step back in time this June with a pair of events honoring a unique piece of local transit history: the legacy of the Rochester Subway and the preservation of its last surviving railcar.
The celebration begins June 21 with the Rochester Subway Gala, a 1950s-themed evening hosted at George Eastman Museum. The event blends nostalgia and storytelling, featuring classic cocktails, vintage cinema and a private screening of End of the Line 2.0 inside the museum’s Dryden Theatre. Guests will also take part in a moderated Q&A with the film’s producers.
Proceeds from the gala will directly support the restoration of Rochester Subway Car 60, a rare artifact marking its 110th birthday this year. The railcar is currently undergoing a multi-year restoration at the museum’s facility in Rush, where volunteers are working to preserve it for future generations.
The celebration continues June 27 with Rochester Subway Day at the museum’s campus in Industry, New York. This family-friendly event will showcase exhibits tracing the subway’s evolution, from its construction in the old Erie Canal bed to its final passenger run on June 30, 1956. Visitors can also tour the Restoration Shop to see preservation efforts up close and step inside Car 60 as work progresses.
Throughout the day, guests can ride vintage diesel trains departing from the museum’s historic 1909 Erie Railroad station. The scenic mile-and-a-half journey offers a chance to experience one of New York State’s largest collections of historic railroad equipment in motion.
“Rochester’s Subway played a vital role in shaping our city,” said museum president Charles Rothbart. “These events give the community an opportunity not only to remember that history, but to actively support the preservation of the last surviving subway car for future generations.”
Tickets for the June 21 gala are $125 per person, with all proceeds benefiting the Car 60 restoration project. Admission to Rochester Subway Day on June 27 is included with regular museum entry.
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