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This Sunday, July 19 2009, RochesterSubway.com will be in Rush NY at the New York Museum of Transportation . The only trolley operation in New York State will be celebrating the energy-efficient traction era with a day of special trolley activities. Slide shows, substation tours, the Chevy Equinox hydrogen fuel cell electric car, and exhibitors supporting rail transit will be featured, along with unlimited trolley rides—all included with museum admission.

Trolley cars stopped rolling in the Rochester area over 50 years ago, but they’re still clang-clanging on the museum’s newly lengthened one-mile rail line. “Trolley Time” brings trolley history up to date with a day of special features. A continuous slide show in one of the museum’s trolley cars will relate the history of the Rochester Subway; guided tours will explain how a trolley works, with a stop at the substation for a behind-the-scenes look at how the museum supplies the 600 volt direct current that trolley cars have used since Edison’s day; several exhibitors will be on hand to reveal opportunities for Rochester rail transit, and the Chevy Equinox hydrogen full cell electric car will be on display, to join the chorus for clean, smooth electric power.

The museum’s trolley car takes visitors on a scenic 1-mile trip recreating the interurban trolley era of a century ago. Then, transfer to diesel-electric powered trains completes the journey to the restored country station and railroad equipment collection of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. Visitors see diesel-electric locomotives, a caboose, and several exhibits of local railroad history. Both museums join together to operate the combined museum experience, an arrangement unique in the U.S.

While the rides are a highlight for visitors, numerous trolley cars, diesel and steam locomotives, antique trucks and cars, horse-drawn vehicles, and smaller artifacts populate the two museums in a hands-on experience that appeals to children and seniors alike. A special attraction is a large 11 ft by 21 ft operating model railroad running several trains at once.

Entrance to the combined museum facility is at 6393 East River Road (I-390 exit 11, NY Rt. 251 West, then 1 mile north on East River Road). Special Event admission for the entire experience is $8 adults, $7 seniors over 65, and $5 students 3 through 15.

For more information visit
New York Museum of Transportation
Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
or call (585) 533-1113.

Tags: Chevy Equinox hydrogen fuel cell electric car, New York Museum of Transportation, NY, rail transit, Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, Rush, substation tour, trolley, trolley rides

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 at 7:30 pm and is filed under Events, Rochester Destinations, Train/Railroad Stuff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.