Rail Cars Visit Finger Lakes RailwayThe North American Rail Car Operators Association will bring 40 rail car operators to travel along the Finger Lakes Railway track system. These small track vehicles were once used for track inspection and repair, but now are only collectors items. Enthusiasts rehabilitate the vehicles for hobby use and travel the country to get the chance to ride on a variety of private rail systems.

Travel is relatively slow, generally averaging less than 20 miles per hour. Every culvert, bridge, road crossing, tunnel, and building along the rails is seen from an uncommon vantage point. Because motorcars are so uncommon, they attract much attention from people along the track."

The parade of rail cars, known as Speeders, will be lead by FGLK manager, Bruce Habberfield in the FGLK modern hi-rail truck beginning Saturday, August 16 at 8am in Geneva, NY. They will first head south down the FGLK Kendaia line (former LVR mainline) to the old Seneca Army Depot. They will return to Geneva Yard approximately 11am and then continue their run east to Auburn, passing through Waterloo, Seneca Falls, over Cayuga Lake and ending in Auburn on the Auburn Rd (NYC). There they will turn around and return with a stop at the Village of Cayuga Harris Park for lunch around 3:30pm. Spectators and questions are welcome.

An evening ride is planned for a return down the Kendaia line starting at dusk.

Fun on the Blues n BrewsFormerly known as the Miss E Band, our August 30th Blues n Brews Trip from Camillus will feature the same artists now known as Dovetail Joint. Miss E is a Sammy Award Winner of 1994. This band has opened for Lynyrd Synyrd and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Vocal ability has been compared to Janis Joplin, Melissa Etheridge and Bonnie Raitt, and she admits that she plays "a mean guitar."

For more info on this ride and Dovetail Joint, click here.

The Village of Victor, New York was once served by the Lehigh Valley Railroad over 100 years ago. Its premier passenger train, the Black Diamond, rumbled through town on a regular basis. Freight trains hauling coal and other goods, passed through. Today, those same tracks, while still in use, lay in wait for the next opportunity to haul passengers. 2201 Lehigh Valley: © David Halderman

It has been ten years, or more, since the Ontario Central Railroad, which operated on the 12 miles of track from Victor to Manchester / Shortsville, has run any passenger trains. This August 9 & 10, the Finger Lakes Railway will bring passenger coaches and a few locomotives to revisit the thriving village, and reintroduce its legacy.

While it won't be the Black Diamond, it will be a chance to relive the history. For more information on the trains rides in Victor, click here.

We have so many film-savvy fans, it is hard to keep track (no pun intended). They are dedicated rail fans, and we wanted to share some of the video work that has been done. For example, here is a piece done by a good friend and local reporter, Jim Kerins. Click Here. But you can search YouTube for Finger Lakes Railway and get a whole new perspective on us. Many thanks to those of you who have posted videos.

After you watch the Kerins video, you may be curious when the next Blues n Brews Train trip takes off.

On July 26, we will be loading out of Watkins Glen at Seneca Harbor Park 7pm - 10pm. You won't want to miss this, and you may want to consider bringing a friend and staying over. You could even be creative and bring the boat to the Marina and then board the train. The experts say the "close to home trips" are in this year.

Plus there are lots of great lodging locations close by. Try visiting Schuyler County Lodging and Tourism Association. They have lots to offer and will lead you to us, too. Hope to see you in Watkins Glen soon.

The Finger Lakes Railway is offering a weekday commuter service through Ontario County as a new type of passenger service in addition to the many weekend passenger excursions.

What makes commuter service different? It gives passengers a unique way to visit the local communities to do some shopping, visit friends, run some errands, or just explore the region.

How does it work? --- Each Wednesday the train will leave Geneva and head to Canandaigua. There will be whistle stops in Phelps, Clifton Springs, and Shortsville, along the way. You can get on or off the train at any of the whistle stop locations along the route.Commuter-Style Excursions

Or you can choose to stay onboard until the train arrives in Canandaigua for a 2-hour layover. With a 2pm departure from Canandaigua, the train will return passengers to their original boaring location. But be aware, there is NO return service to points west of Geneva for those beginning the trip on the afternoon eastbound run.

"We think it will be fun for people to plan their own trip,' states Deb Najarro, Manager of Passenger Services. "The service is somewhat flexible and we know the villages would be happy to suggest things to do during the layover."

Summer Commuter Trips start July 2 and continue through August, with the exception of August 6. Look for the Wednesday Commuter Runs in September and October for groups as well. All trips are listed on our Excursion List!