On May 17th, 2024, the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Rush, NY was alive with the sound of two burbling ALCO 539 engines for the first time, both in matching Livonia, Avon, & Lakeville dress. LA&L S-2 #72 had been restored to operation and ran test runs in the early afternoon hours, turning its wheels for the first time on R&GV property since the locomotive was donated to the museum in November, 2023. In the late-afternoon hours, #72 joined sister RS-1 #20, which was donated by the LA&L in 2016, for a special photo charter event coordinated by Timeless Rail Expeditions featuring both units operating together and "side-by-side" for the first time since 2008, along with a photo freight consist and LA&L caboose #2603. #20 and #72 had been primary power in the 1970s and early 1980s on the LA&L before larger "century" series ALCOs took over the job of connecting Livonia and Lakeville to Avon, and eventually Rochester, NY.
Photographers were treated to several runbys and poses throughout the charter, beginning on the museum's incline linking the depot to the shop facility. A meet scene at "switch 6" at the top of the incline took place subsequently, followed by runbys at speed past a set of restored New York Central searchlight signals in the woods along the museum's line to Midway Station. As the rain began to set in, and the passengers consumed a pizza and salad dinner, the evening session began with LA&L #72 on a caboose hop, before LA&L #20 assumed control of the North end of the photo freight train in the fading light with runbys uphill on the incline, with plenty of ALCO smoke. The evening concluded with a special night photo shoot, with lighting provided by Steve Barry, Mike Burkhart, and John Reagan. Special thanks goes out to the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum for working to get #72 operational for the event, as well as each person who attended and helped to support the R&GV Museum's mission to preserve railroad history in New York. We would also like to thank Steve, John, and Mike for providing lighting for the night shoot and working against the rain to give everyone great results.
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7 сен 2024
