NEWSLETTER
Museum also announces installation of a historic marker at Industry Depot, recognizing its role in New York’s railroading history
Rush, N.Y. – The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum will reopen to the public on Saturday, September 20, following extensive flood damage repairs earlier this summer. To mark the occasion, the museum will host Welcome Back Train Rides for visitors eager to once again experience Rochester rail history.
“This reopening is the result of months of hard work by our volunteers and support from the community,” said Jeremy Tuke, volunteer at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. “We’re thrilled to get our trains rolling again and invite everyone to join us on September 20.”
Alongside the reopening, the museum is proud to share that the Industry Depot, its historic 1909 station, has been recognized with the installation of an official historic marker. The marker highlights the depot’s unique story as the only surviving Erie Railroad station in Monroe County and the foundation upon which the museum was built.
The Industry Depot has been a community fixture since 1853, first connecting rural Scottsville and Rush to Rochester and later serving the New York State Agricultural & Industrial School. When passenger service ended in 1941, the station eventually closed, only to be revived decades later by local volunteers who transformed it into the main building of today’s museum.
The museum temporarily closed in June after severe storms dropped more than seven inches of rain on Monroe County, washing out portions of track and making train operations unsafe. Thanks to dedicated repair efforts, the museum is ready to reopen safely for visitors.
To give media an early look, the museum will host a special media event on Tuesday, September 9. Members of the press are invited to tour the historic depot and view the new historic marker before the museum officially reopens to the public. All media are welcome to attend. For questions or additional information, please reach out to the media contact listed above.
Visitors can purchase tickets and explore the museum’s upcoming events at www.rochestertrainrides.com.
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About the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum:
Located at the historic Industry Depot on Route 251 in Rush, N.Y., the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum was established in 1971. Over the last 54 years, museum volunteers have preserved more than 40 pieces of historic railroad equipment and built their own demonstration railroad to bring Rochester’s rich railroading heritage to life. Each year, thousands of guests climb aboard for a mile-and-a-half round-trip train ride connecting two ends of the museum. Visitors tour indoor and outdoor exhibits related to the history and technology of the railroad industry in Rochester and enjoy a peek behind the scenes inside the museum's Restoration Shop. (NOTE: The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is NOT the New York Museum of Transportation). For more information, visit www.rochestertrainrides.com.