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Archive: ‘Rochester Subway’...

Saving Car 60: The Last Passenger Car From Rochester’s Subway

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

The last remaining Rochester subway car... #60. [PHOTO: Christopher Hauf, Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum]
Hopefully you caught yesterday’s story, “Rochester’s Adventure in Optimism” about the defunct Rochester subway. If you missed it give it a read. Originally published in the City Newspaper in 1983, the article mentioned the sole surviving subway car, car #60, and the effort to bring it back to Rochester and restore it to working order. Yesterday I received a more detailed explanation of those restoration efforts from Otto M. Vondrak, one of the trustees of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Henrietta, NY. Here’s the story of subway car #60 from Otto…

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Tuesday, January 15th, 2013
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Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester News, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 2 Comments »

Cataract Brewery Architect Died 77 Years Ago Today

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

A new web site paying homage to the endangered Cataract Brewery building popped up this week. The site is a treasure trove of historical documents, articles, and images and invites those interested to help 'Save Cataract'.
A new web site, SaveCataract.com external link, and a mountain of information on Rochester’s endangered Cataract Brewery building has surfaced this week… The accomplished life (and death) of its architect… Original architectural drawings… And new documents submitted by North American Breweries to the Zoning Board (see the section called Offers to Buy Cataract). Ready? Let’s dive right in…
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Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
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Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester Subway | 19 Comments »

That Night in the Subway Tunnel: “We felt we were being followed”

Saturday, October 29th, 2011

Ever have that feeling someone, or something, is following you?
Last Halloween I posted a ghastly warning about the abandoned Rochester subway tunnel. That warning was sent to us by a reader who claimed he knew people who once lived and died in the tunnel, and that he now feels a strong “spiritual pressure” whenever he returns there.

Jeffrey’s not the only one who feels these strange vibes from the subway tunnel. RochesterSubway.com often receives stories like these from people who claim to have been followed, or chased, out of the defunct subway. Though rarely do we get to see physical evidence of the ghoulish bouncer.

Last week Aaron Killeen sent in this mysterious photo (shown below) and gave a spine-tingling account of a night inside the Rochester subway, which he says he and his friends will not soon forget…

(more…)

Saturday, October 29th, 2011
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Posted in Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories | 4 Comments »

St. Paul, South and Clinton Avenues Could Soon Go Two Ways

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

North Clinton Avenue looking toward Main Street. This could one day become two-way traffic.
The City of Rochester has contracted with Laberge Groupexternal link of Albany, New York to determine the feasibility of converting the one-way street couplets of St. Paul Street/South Avenue and North/South Clinton Avenue between Byron Street and Cumberland Street to two-way traffic to improve neighborhood accessibility and walkability. Key considerations are expected to include impacts to traffic congestion, safety, parking, bicyclists, pedestrians, transit, and service provision.

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Thursday, August 11th, 2011
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Posted in Rochester Subway, Transit + Infrastructure | 2 Comments »

New Images of Rochester’s Subway Tunnel Speak Volumes

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

Rochester subway tunnel. [PHOTO: Lizz Comstock]
“And the sign said, The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls.” If Simon & Garfunkel are right, these photos could be considered divine. They were taken over the past 2 years by local photographer Lizz Comstock and shared with us today via RocSubway’s Facebook pageexternal link.

It was abandoned by Rochester Transit Corporation over 55 years ago, but as debris piles up and messages are written on top of other messages, the walls of Rochester’s subway tunnel seem to echo with indelible voices. And these photos are wonderful illustrations of the life that can still be found beneath our streets.

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Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
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Posted in Rochester Images, Rochester Subway | 2 Comments »

55th Anniversary of Rochester’s Darkest Day

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

These notices were posted in anticipation of the end of passenger service in the Subway on June 30, 1956. [Image from Railroad.net]

As we look back on 55 years without our subway, the U.S. Highway System celebrates its 55th birthdayexternal link. Coincidence?

Some old photos of Rochester’s lost subway after the jump…

(more…)

Thursday, June 30th, 2011
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Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester Subway, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 7 Comments »

BBoy BBQ 2011

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

This Youtube video was posted to the RocSubway Facebook page yesterday. Something big may be in the cooker for BBoy BBQ 2011.

Every year the BBoy BBQexternal link showcases some of the best graffiti crews anywhere in the world—right here in Rochester NY. Live graffiti art, live music, DJs, breakdancing artists, food, etc etc… all free and open to the public. This year rumors are swirling around the Rochester Subway that something big may be brewing…

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Thursday, January 13th, 2011
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Posted in Art + Culture, Events, Rochester News, Rochester Subway | 5 Comments »

Crafty Rochester Subway Gifts

Saturday, November 20th, 2010

Rochester Subway fans sent in some real crafty gift ideas last year.Did you know when Santa Claus is in a pinch to get toys delivered to all the good little boys and girls on time he jumps on the Rochester Subway? No, of course not—that’s stupid. The Subway closed over 50 years ago.

But, when his crafty elves are looking for gift ideas they check the RochesterSubway.com gift shop. That part is true!

Here are a few nifty ideas shared with me by Rochester Subway fans last year…

(more…)

Saturday, November 20th, 2010
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Posted in Rochester Gifts, Rochester Subway | No Comments »

River Romance and the Subway. Saturday 10/9

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

The Canal Society of New York State will be hosting tours of the Broad Street Aqueduct and subway tunnel this weekend. [PHOTO: Dag Lindquist]Two weeks ago the World Canals Conference took Rochester by storm and offered the public a glimpse inside the Broad Street Aqueduct Bridge and abandoned subway tunnel. Thousands attended and many tour-goers shared their great photos on our Facebook page external link. Did you miss all the fun? Well I’ve got good news for you. This Saturday, October 9th, you’ll have another chance to explore Rochester’s historic underbelly…

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Wednesday, October 6th, 2010
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Posted in Events, Rochester News, Rochester Subway | 1 Comment »

Vote for Your Favorite Rochester Subway Photo…

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

external linkWord of our Rochester Subway Facebook photo contestexternal link has gotten out. At least 20 photos have been uploaded to our Facebook wallexternal link since Sunday night and the votes/Likes are piling up. The photo with the most “Likes” by midnight Friday will win a Rochester Subway Poster modern or old-style. All of these photos are outstanding—only one will be crowned. So if you haven’t voted for one (or all of them) yet… hop on over to the RocSubway Facebook pageexternal link and give that little “Like” button a workout. Or upload your own photo. Here’s a look at the front runners…

Like' this one? Go to Facebook.com/RocSubway and vote! [PHOTO: Brian Killmore]
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Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
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Posted in Events, Freebies, Rochester Subway | 1 Comment »

Rochester Subway Tour and Facebook Contest. A Win-Win.

Saturday, September 18th, 2010

You could win this Rochester Subway Map! All you have to do is upload your best Rochester Subway photo to the RocSubway Facebook page and grab the most votes.I’m raising the stakes on Sunday’s Subway/Aqueduct Tourexternal link. Bring your camera with you on the tour, upload your best photo to the RocSubway Facebook page, and campaign for the most votes. You could WIN a Free Rochester Subway map…

(more…)

Saturday, September 18th, 2010
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Posted in Events, Freebies, Rochester Subway | 7 Comments »

Random Subway Memories from Curlew Street

Saturday, September 11th, 2010

Subway tracks from Lexington Avenue bridge near Curlew Street (1940's). [PHOTO: Rochester Municipal Archives]
Jim Hall, age 62, of Farmington NY, recently stumbled upon RochesterSubway.com and was immediately taken for a ride down memory lane. So much so that he decided to share with us a few of his fondest memories of the Rochester Subway—his final ride on the very last day of service, and of his grandfather who was a streetcar conductor during the Great Blizzard of 1900! Jim says he and his two older sisters were brought up with a healthy fear of the subway because he was told of a tragic story where a ‘boy lost both legs’ being a bit too close to the tracks. As Jim points out, “it seems strange these days that memories stick with you.” But they certainly do. And the fun part is, we never know which ones will stand out in our mind a half century from now. Here’s Jim’s subway story…

(more…)

Saturday, September 11th, 2010
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Posted in Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories | 34 Comments »

Two Upcoming Subway Tours… and a Dinner Party??

Sunday, August 8th, 2010

The World Canals Conference will be hosting a cocktail/dinner party inside the abandoned Rochester subway tunnel and it's being billed as a 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity. That it is.
Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities don’t come along very often—that’s why they’re referred to as such. So clear your calendar, put the dog out, and grab your coat and hat… preferably a hard-hat.

After our subway excursion was squashed last Spring, many of our readers feared that they had missed their last chance to see the inside of the Rochester subway tunnel with their own eyes (and smell it with their own quivering noses). But this Summer the stars have aligned. Here come not one, not two, but THREE rare opportunities to go inside Rochester’s seldom seen subway… legally!

Oh, and did I mention, a lucky few* will get to enjoy cocktails and a catered dinner party INSIDE the tunnel? Yummy! Okay, here we go… these may be your final chances to experience the Rochester subway tunnel…

(more…)

Sunday, August 8th, 2010
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Posted in Events, Rochester News, Rochester Subway | 2 Comments »

Today, June 30, in Rochester History: Final Day of Subway Service.

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

On this day, June 30, 1956 in Rochester history…

The last car—the last run—midnight June 30, 1956. Car 68 is pictured at Rowlands ready to depart on the last trip to General Motors. The farewell trip was well attended by members of the Rochester Chapter, NRHS and subway employees (photo: John Wilkins, Shelden King Collection)

Service on the Rochester Industrial and Rapid Transit Railway (the “subway”) ended. According to several accounts, the public came out in force to bid farewell to the Rochester subway and an extra car had to be added to handle the crowds. Fifty members of the Metropolitan New York Railway Association held a chartered fantrip, and people crowded platforms and overhead bridges all along the subway route to get their last pictures…

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Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
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Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester Subway, Train/Railroad Stuff | 2 Comments »

Chris Luckhardt… Pro-Photographer. Canadian. Rochester Subway Explorer.

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Chris Luckhardt shooting inside an abandoned train yard warehouse in Manchester, NY. (photo: Chris Luckhardt)
Back in January I stumbled upon a Flickr photo collection external link full of urban exploration photos from all around the Great Lakes and several “rust belt” cities… with several shots from Rochester and the abandoned subway tunnel. Shot after shot revealed some pretty unique views of Rochester’s underground world plus other amazing abandoned structures. As it happens, the owner of these wonderfully gritty photo streams is Chris Luckhardt, organizer of the Toronto Exploration Society. Chris is also the creative force behind Motionblur Studios external link—a low budget, high quality studio located west of Toronto.

Inside the abandoned Lee Plaza in Detroit, Michigan. This was Chris's first attempt at an HDR composition that included a person. (photo: Chris Luckhardt)

Originally from Stratford, Ontario, Chris Luckhardt’s creative exploration has driven him from New Foundland to Pheonix in search of forgotten places—strangely spiritual, places we’re not ‘supposed’ to go. I contacted Chris to find out a little more about these photos and what enticed him to visit the bowels of downtown Rochester…

ROCHESTERSUBWAY.COM: Hi Chris, I noticed you have a couple of nice shots of the abandoned Rochester Subway. How often do you visit the subway tunnel? Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your photos?

Chris Luckhardt is the organizer for the Toronto Exploration Society. Chris says he lives a life of 'creative exploration.'CHRIS: Sure, thanks for the feedback! I’m the organizer for the Toronto Exploration Society external link. The group, founded in February 2005, specializes in urban exploration (mostly around the Great Lakes region) and photo walks (mostly in Toronto). I’m currently west of Toronto in Cambridge, Ontario. Rochester was the first US city I visited strictly for urban exploration. I have lots of photos and video from inside the [Rochester] subway. I’ve been down there 5 times in the past 4 years, the last time being a couple of months ago. I also have lots of SD and HD video, but I haven’t processed anything yet.

(more…)

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
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Posted in Art + Culture, Interviews, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories | 2 Comments »

RochesterSubway.com Quoted In Today’s Democrat & Chronicle

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

Construction crews rip a section of West Broad Street off the channel that once held the Erie Canal. (PHOTO: MAX SCHULTE, Democrat and Chronicle)
Today’s Easter Sunday edition of the Democrat and Chronicle featured fairly extensive coverage of the Broad Street Improvement Project and future plans for the subway tunnel. Three articles and a short video dominated the print and online versions of the Local section and gave RochesterSubway.com and ReconnectRochester.org some much appreciated press. The story below is from the D&C and includes comments from myself (Mike Governale of RochesterSubway.com) and Tom Grasso, who’s canal rewatering plan will likely wash away any chance of ever using the old subway tunnel as a rail corridor again…
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Sunday, April 4th, 2010
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Posted in Rochester News, Rochester Subway | No Comments »

Graffiti: Rising Up From Rochester’s Underground

Friday, March 26th, 2010

The story of the Rochester Subway is not complete without at least mentioning Rochester’s deep-rooted hip hop culture. If you’re less than familiar with Rochester, I assure you, this shizzle is fo’ real. The “Flower City” has street cred, and our abandoned subway tunnel has long been used as a canvas to show off some of our best underground talent…

(more…)

Friday, March 26th, 2010
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Posted in Art + Culture, Interviews, Rochester News, Rochester Subway, Video | 8 Comments »

City of Rochester Squashes Subway Tunnel Excursion

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Our subway excursion WOULD HAVE started at the east end of the tunnel... near the Dinosaur BBQ. Oh well. Guess I'll have to go to Disney this year instead.
A few months ago two of my readers (I’ll call them Tim and Jeff) contacted me to find out if RochesterSubway.com gave tours of the abandoned subway tunnel. I explained that while I wasn’t in the business of giving tours, I would be happy to go down there with them when the weather warmed up. Tim and Jeff were both on board and I soon posted an “event” on the RochesterSubway.com Facebook page external link to invite others to join us—cause “safety in numbers” is my credo. Anyway, I figured I’d get 3-6 people to come along and it’d be a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Soon enough that little Facebook event had attracted 43 Yes’s and 55 “Maybe’s”. Oh shit!

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Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
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Posted in Events, Rochester News, Rochester Subway | 14 Comments »

Rochester Subway Super Bowl Ad Featuring 50 Cent

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

It’s been widely reported that RochesterSubway.com is spending millions on a new Super Bowl TV spot this year featuring rapper and hip hop megastar 50 Cent. We’re not going to rain on the parade—maybe the ad will air during the Super Bowl, maybe it won’t. You’ll have to watch the game to find out. But you won’t have to wait to see it. Watch the spot… then read the rest of this post to find out how we got 50 to star in our Rochester Subway production…

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Sunday, February 7th, 2010
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Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Subway, Video | 4 Comments »


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