About the Finger Lakes Scenic Railway
History
System Passenger MapThe Finger Lakes Railway Corporation began operation on July 23, 1995. The investors purchased 118 miles of mainline track previously known as the Geneva Cluster from Conrail. The main track from Syracuse to Canandaigua was the New York Central’s Auburn Road which dates back to 1835. Other portions of the Finger Lakes Railway were once the Lehigh Valley (Geneva to Kendaia) and the Pennsylvania Railroad (Penn Yan to Watkins Glen).
Growth
Since 1995, the Finger Lakes Railway has grown rapidly from 6 to 50 employees, from 3 to 12 locomotives, and from an initial car movement of 5,600 per year to nearly 18,000 car loads per year. In 2007, Finger Lakes Railway acquired 14 miles of track from the Ontario Central Railroad, bringing the total miles of trackage to 132. The freight lines serve a diverse customer base handling a wide range of commodities including plastics, canned foods, grain, lumber, paper products, scrap metal, finished steel, and minerals such as salt, sand, soda ash and fertilizer. Customized service has allowed for new companies to locate on the line while giving existing customers a way to increase their business.
Passenger Services
FGLK 2303 in GenevaPassenger Services along the Finger Lakes Railway began in 2000 with special excursions sponsored by local organizations. Today, excursions include many of the same annual holiday trips, as well as added weekday excursions for groups, private excursion opportunities, commuter runs to special events, and themed train rides like the Blues-n-Brews, Wine and Cheese, or Foliage Trains. In 2007, over 11,000 passengers boarded the train for a total of 61 days of excursions.
Passenger excursions generally operate from April through December on certain weekdays (Wednesday and occasionally Thursday for group outings & some general public) and weekends (General public trips & some group outings).
Historic passenger depots, while not used for their original purpose, are still located along the tracks in:
Martisco
Skaneateles Junction
Village of Cayuga
Seneca Falls
Clifton Springs
Shortsville
Canandaigua
Watkins Glen
Contact
Phone
Manager of Passenger Services
315-374-4994 (Mobile Ticket Phone)
315-781-1234 x301 (Office)
Freight Sales
315-781-1234
Mail
Finger Lakes Railway Corp.
PO Box 1099
Geneva, NY 14456
Corporate Headquarters / Freight Yard
68 Border City Road
Geneva, NY 14456
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