Quantcast RochesterSubway.com : End of the Line
Rochester Subway
Subscribe for Email UpdatesBecome a Facebook FanFollow Us on TwitterRSS Feed Rochester History + New Ideas. Fresh from the Rochester Subway.

Topics


Rochester Subway Gift Shop


¤ Visit the Gift Shop


Modern Rochester Subway Map


Modern Rochester Subway Map

¤ View Details
¤ Buy at MetroPosters.com


City of Rochester, New York


City of Rochester, New York

¤ View Details
¤ Buy at MetroPosters.com


Rochester Neighborhoods Map

Rochester Neighborhoods Map

¤ View Details
¤ Buy at MetroPosters.com


Rochester Subway DVD

The End of the Line - Rochester’s Subway (DVD)

¤ View Details
¤ Buy at MetroPosters.com


Rochester Landmarks Poster

Rochester Landmarks Poster

¤ View Details

 | 

SOLD OUT


Work in Rochester

Work in Rochester

¤ View Details
¤ Buy from Amazon


Original Streetart by SPACEMAN

Original Streetart by SPACEMAN

¤ View All Spaceman Art


Old Rochester Photos<br>and Historical Views

Old Rochester Photos
and Historical Views

(Framed Reprints Available)

¤ View All Rochester Photos


Rochester Subway Cap

Embroidered Subway Cap

¤ View Details


Rochester Subway T-Shirt

Rochester Subway T-Shirt

¤ View Details


Rochester Subway Token T-Shirt

RTC Token T-Shirt

¤ View Details


Rochester RTC Token

RTC Token (1948)

¤ View Details

 | 

SOLD OUT


Roch. & Brighton Token

Roch. & Brighton Token
(1887-90)

¤ View Details

 | 

Add To Cart


Rochester Railway Co. Token

Rochester Railway Co. Token (1900-09)

¤ View Details

 | 

SOLD OUT


Rochester School Fare Token

School Fare Token (1948)

¤ View Details

 | 

Add To Cart


Rochester NYS Railways Token

NYS Railways Token (1909-38)

¤ View Details

 | 

Add To Cart


Rochester Subway Vintage Postcard

Vintage Postcard (1941),
Rochester Rail Equipment

¤ View Details

 | 

Order Reprint

¤ See All Vintage Postcards


Rochester Subway Vintage Postcard

Vintage Postcard (1938),
Subway & Broad Street

¤ View Details

 | 

Order Reprint

¤ See All Vintage Postcards


Rochester Subway Vintage Postcard

Vintage Postcard (1942),
Rochester City Hall & Subway

¤ View Details

 | 

Order Reprint

¤ See All Vintage Postcards


Rochester Subway Vintage Postcard

Vintage Postcard (c.1912),
Rochester’s Four Corners

¤ View Details

 | 

Order Reprint

¤ See All Vintage Postcards


Rochester Subway Vintage Postcard

Vintage Postcard (c.1905),
Erie Canal Aqueduct

¤ View Details

 | 

Order Reprint

¤ See All Vintage Postcards


Rochester Subway Vintage Postcard

Vintage Postcard (c.1928),
South Entrance to Subway

¤ View Details

 | 

Order Reprint

¤ See All Vintage Postcards


Rochester Subway + Trolley Transit Passes

Original Subway, Trolley,
and Bus Weekly Transit Passes

¤ View All Transit Passes





Archive: ‘Rochester Subway Stories’...

Rochester History Reflected in Collection of Bus Passes

Tuesday, August 15th, 2017

Gilbert Hunt was a trolley and bus operator with Rochester Transit Corporation for 40 years. His collection of transit passes is up for grabs. [IMAGE: From the collection of Gilbert Hunt]
By Mike Governale

Gilbert Hunt was a trolley and bus operator for Rochester Transit Corporation (the predecessor organization of RTS) from 1907 to 1948. When Gilbert retired in 1948 the Democrat & Chronicle published a story about him and his impressive collection of Rochester transit passes which he amassed over his long career. That collection is now up for grabs…

(more…)

Tuesday, August 15th, 2017
Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 3 Comments »

Special Weekend Events Mark 60th Anniversary of Rochester Subway Closing

Thursday, June 23rd, 2016

The Rochester subway station at Monroe Avenue (June 1956). The Rochester subway ended passenger service on June 30, 1956. [PHOTO: Rochester Municipal Archives]
By Mike Governale

The Rochester Subway stopped passenger service on June 30, 1956. To mark the 60th anniversary of the subway’s closing the New York Museum of Transportation external link will host a two-day weekend event filled with talks, trolley rides, demonstrations of the Subway’s fully restored “Casey Jones” speeder, food, and vendors…

(more…)

Thursday, June 23rd, 2016
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Events, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester News, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 6 Comments »

Save the Letchworth Park Rail Bridge

Tuesday, February 16th, 2016

Portageville rail bridge at Letchworth State Park, NY. [IMAGE: Richard H. Jordan III]
The following is a guest post submitted by Richard H. Jordan III.
Submit your story today.

Letchworth Bridge in southern Letchworth State Park celebrates its 141st birthday this year (built 1875) and will be replaced external link by a new steel arch bridge about 75 feet to the south. The new bridge will take approximately 3 years to complete. During that time efforts will be made to turn the original bridge into a pedestrian walkway similar to the hugely successful Poughkeepsie NY bridge crossing the Hudson River and gorge—now a New York State Park…

(more…)

Tuesday, February 16th, 2016
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Architecture, Opinion, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester Subway Stories, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 7 Comments »

“The Rochester Subway” Presentation Next Sunday, January 11

Saturday, January 3rd, 2015

The New York Museum of Transportation will present a 40-minute slide talk on the Rochester Subway at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, January 11, 2015.
By Mike Governale

The New York Museum of Transportation presents a 40-minute slide talk on the Rochester Subway. The show is at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, January 11, 2015 and is free with admission of $5 adults and $4 under age 12. Images from the museum’s vast photo archive portray the Rochester Subway from construction, through operation, to its abandonment almost 60 years ago. The presentation of B&W and color slides will be narrated by the museum trustee, Jim Dierks…

(more…)

Saturday, January 3rd, 2015
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Events, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | No Comments »

Broad St. Underground: ANOTHER Proposal for the Abandoned Subway!

Monday, September 23rd, 2013

Lewis Childs, co-founder of Broad Street Underground, explains how Rochester's abandoned subway tunnel could be converted into commercial and retail space. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]
Rochester’s old subway tunnel hasn’t seen a passenger car come through here in nearly sixty years. But lately, redevelopment ideas are arriving with unbelievable frequency. A few weeks ago we were talking about the ROC Low Line; an underground park designed by a team of RIT students. This week, another local group has come forward with a different plan. And these guys want to take theirs beyond just an academic study. Stand clear of the yellow line folks – here comes the “Broad Street Underground” concept…

(more…)

Monday, September 23rd, 2013
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester News, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development, Video | 44 Comments »

ROC Low Line: A (new) Proposal for Rochester’s Abandoned Subway

Monday, August 12th, 2013

Nine RIT students collaborated to design a subterranean urban park inside the old Rochester subway called the ROC Low Line. [RENDERING: RocLowLine.com]
Over the years there have been many proposals for the reuse of Rochester’s abandoned subway tunnel. Some would like to see the tunnel preserved and turned into a living museum external link open to the public. Others would like to turn back the hands of time even further, converting the tunnel back into a water canal external link – as it was part of the Erie Canal pre-1920s.

Even today as the City continues to take steps towards the latter option, new ideas continue to surface. The most recent concept comes from RIT’s architectural program, and a very interesting student project being called the ROC Low Line…

(more…)

Monday, August 12th, 2013
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 17 Comments »

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…

(more…)

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester News, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 2 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
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories | 6 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
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories | 36 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
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Art + Culture, Interviews, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Urban Exploration | 6 Comments »

Subway Confessions: Rochester’s Boys of Summer, 1952

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

In the 1950's Patrick Eagan played softball as a kid for the Cameos (above). Games were sponsored by the Kodak Park Athletic Association and played at various fields in Rochester's northwest quadrant.

Our recent article about the City’s initiative to fill the abandoned subway tunnel drew many interesting comments from our readers. I wanted to highlight one of those comments from Patrick Eagan—a native Rochesterian who has since relocated to south Florida (RochesterSubway.com receives almost as many emails from people now living outside Rochester as we get from current residents). When Patrick was a kid he used to play softball with the Kodak Park Athletic Association. And when you’re a kid what could go better with a game of softball than a ride on the Rochester Subway?

This is a more recent photo of Patrick Eagan from his blog. Think you can pick him out of the softball team photo? Answer is in the comments.Patrick agreed to let us post his subway story here—but do check out his great blogexternal link and original post.

(more…)

Sunday, November 1st, 2009
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories | 1 Comment »

A Ghastly Warning from the Abandoned Rochester Subway

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

This Rochester Streetcar and Subway weekly pass from October 1935 wishes riders a 'Happy Halloween'.

Okay so Halloween is fast approaching. I hate the stinking day myself for reasons I won’t get into. But I recognize that most people like a good ghost story so I thought I’d share this. I regularly ask people to send us personal stories and experiences from the Rochester Subway and last summer an individual named Jeffrey Smith sent us a rather blunt warning about the abandoned subway tunnel. Claiming it to be hallowed ground, Jeffrey warns, “Leave it alone, don’t mess with it. It is fine the way it is, we don’t want your stupid shops or anything like that in it. I refuse to go within 100 yards of any of the entrances because of the strong spiritual pressure I feel going there…”

(more…)

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories | 6 Comments »

Subway Confessions: Simply Good Times

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

This shot from inside the Rochester Subway tunnel's west end courtesy of Tyler's Urban Rochester Series... http://picasaweb.google.com/tyler.bazzi/UrbanRochesterSeriesRemember the movie Stand by MeExternal Link? As I recall there’s barely a plot… four young teenage boys search the countryside for the body of a reported missing person. Along the way they drink, they smoke, they nearly get run off of a railroad bridge by a speeding locomotive yada yada yada. Everyone who’s seen Stand By Me loves it for the same reason—it beckons to a time in our lives when we’re just drifting along in search of a good thrill. A few weeks ago I got an email from a guy named Russ and his story immediately brought back images of that Corey Feldman flick. Russ’ story may never be made into a Stephen King novel or a Hollywood movie, but it takes place inside the Rochester Subway tunnels—between 1965 and 1968—and it’s just plain fun.
Take it away Russ…

(more…)

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories | 1 Comment »

Subway Confessions: Pennies & Snowballs

Friday, February 20th, 2009

Fred from Webster NY tells about riding the Subway when he was a kid in the 1930’s.When I was growing up in the late 1930’s my family lived in the Winton Rd. Merchants Rd. area. One of my fonder memories is walking down Winton to East Avenue with my father and younger brother to catch the subway or trolley. The subway ran through the old Erie Canal bed (where I-490 is now), and would actually get going rather quickly. It would sway back and forth as the Conductor built up speed, and we’d hang on to the straps for dear life…

(more…)

Friday, February 20th, 2009
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester Images, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories | 1 Comment »

Subway Confessions: Mr. B’s Wild Ride

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Monroe Avenue looking north at the Subway entrance.The following Subway story was submitted to us by Mr. B from Rochester…

“When I was 7 or 8, I would go to the YMCA on Monroe Avenue or the library next door after school. The Subway used to pass under the Monroe Avenue overpass View Images heading downtown. It must have been in mid june in 1955 or 1956. We were looking out the window at the library and the Trolley was parked or stopped under the overpass…

(more…)

Monday, February 9th, 2009
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Rochester Images, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories | 1 Comment »

Earn 75,000 Bonus Points for travel with the Chase Sapphire card when you use this referral link.

  Most Popular...
  1. Inside Rochester’s Terrence Tower(views: 75.8k)
  2. The Old Barber House(views: 40.7k)
  3. University of Rochester’s Lost Swimming Pool(views: 39.8k)
  4. Pot Holds Bowie in Rochester(views: 39.6k)
  5. Inside Rochester’s Abandoned Walters Psychiatric Building(views: 38.7k)
  6. Inside Abandoned Medley Centre (a.k.a Irondequoit Mall)(views: 37.8k)
  7. History of Seabreeze Amusement Park(views: 32.6k)
  8. Deep Inside Rochester’s Big Old Sibley Building(views: 29.3k)
  9. Abandoned Glass House(views: 25.2k)
  10. Durand Eastman Park and the Lady In White(views: 23.9k)
  11. Rochester Mafia, the Banana King, and the Infamous “Barrel Murder”(views: 22.9k)
  12. Exploring the Caves of Rochester, NY(views: 20.4k)
  13. Abandoned Girl Scout Camp Beech-Wood(views: 20.1k)
  14. Inside the Abandoned Vacuum Oil Refinery(views: 18.7k)
  15. Inside 65-67 Chestnut St. – Old Hotel Richford(views: 17.7k)
  16. Inside the Abandoned Camp Haccamo, Penfield(views: 17.4k)
  17. The Best Holiday Light Displays in Rochester v1.0(views: 15.5k)
  18. Martha Matilda Harper – Innovator in Beauty and Business(views: 14.9k)
  19. Abandoned Theme Park: Frontier Town(views: 14.8k)
  20. Rochester’s Mercury Statue, Up Close and Personal(views: 14.4k)

Topics

  • Architecture (64)
  • Art + Culture (127)
  • Events (110)
  • Freebies (9)
  • Interviews (32)
  • Opinion (110)
  • Other (17)
  • Reader Submitted Stories (126)
  • Rochester Apartments (7)
  • Rochester Destinations (109)
  • Rochester Gifts (19)
  • Rochester History (203)
  • Rochester Homes for Sale (14)
  • Rochester Images (208)
  • Rochester News (379)
  • Rochester Subway (51)
  • Rochester Subway Stories (17)
  • Subways Around the Globe (11)
  • Train/Railroad Stuff (47)
  • Transit + Infrastructure (210)
  • Uncategorized (29)
  • Urban Development (263)
  • Urban Exploration (64)


  • Earn 75,000 Bonus Points for travel with the Chase Sapphire card when you use this referral link.

    Rochester Subway Information

    Get Email Updates...
    Stay up-to-date on Rochester-related stories, artifacts, and ideas that you won't find in the mainstream news. Totally free, never spammy, and you can unsubscribe at any time.


    ¤ See Past Issues
    ¤ Our Privacy Policy

    Links

    Get Involved...

    ¤ Reconnect Rochester

    Related Blogs...

    ¤ A Town Square
    ¤ Moderate Urban Champ
    ¤ Our Tiny Earth
    ¤ The Rochesterian
    ¤ RocVille
    ¤ Rust Wire

    Resources...

    ¤ RochesterDowntown.com
    ¤ Rochester's Public Library
    ¤ ROCwiki


    Earn 75,000 Bonus Points for travel with the Chase Sapphire card when you use this referral link.



    Want to Advertise
    on RocSubway?
    Drop us a line.


    Other ways to follow RochesterSubway.com...

    Subscribe for Email Updates

    Email

    Become a Facebook Fan

    Facebook

    Follow Us on Twitter

    Twitter

    RSS Feed

    RSS

    Questions + Comments

    For questions about the Rochester Subway Poster or about your order, please email [email protected].

    Want to SAVE Shipping Costs?
    Buy the Subway Posters at these local shops...

    About the Rochester Subway Poster...

    ¤ Parkleigh [ ...map it ]
    ¤ Poster Art [ ...map it ]
    ¤ Rochester Public Library Store [ ...map it ]

    ¤ Rochester Subway Poster Press Release
    ¤ Article by Otto M. Vondrak
    ¤ Design by Mike Governale

    More About The Rochester Subway

    Help Support...

    ¤ Rochester Subway (Wikipedia)
    ¤ The End of the Line - Rochester's Subway, DVD
    ¤ Abandoned Subway Photos (Opacity.us)
    ¤ Walking the Rails (YouTube Video)

    ¤ Friends of RochesterSubway.com




    RochesterSubway.com