GENEVA, N.Y. — The Finger Lakes Railway will host a series of family-friendly excursions and adults-only wine-tasting trains this summer. The Finger Lakes Rail Experience is a new collaboration between the short line, FMW Solutions, United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey, Operation Toy Train, Seneca Lakes Wine Train, more than a dozen local wineries and breweries, and additional local groups.
Despite selling its small coach fleet in December 2024 due to a shift in business priorities, the railroad “remained committed to fostering regional tourism and sought new ways to leverage its 167-mile network to continue supporting economic and cultural development across the Finger Lakes,” according to a press release announcing the operation. FMW Solutions has been recruited by the railway to lead the initiative through its Rail Operations division.
“The key success of our freight railroad has been ensuring that the farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses in our region receive reliable freight service, but we acknowledge how important tourist rail operations are to attracting visitors to the Finger Lakes region,” said Finger Lakes Railway President Eric Betke.
“We were honored to be approached by Finger Lakes Railway, a respected local freight carrier, about establishing a new tourist rail operation in the region,” said Kevin W. Sweat, excursion manager of the Finger Lake Rail Experience. “By collaborating with the community, we’re thrilled to prototype this experience for the summer season, with our sights set on expansion in the future.”
The Finger Lakes Rail Experience is scheduled to operate every weekend, from the 4th of July to the end of August. The diesel-powered excursions will offer family trains, wine trains, evening club trains, and brunch trains. Canandaigua, Geneva, and Seneca Falls, N.Y., will serve as departure points.
Operation Toy Train will provide a head-end power car for five passenger cars from the URHS. Those cars include former 20th Century Limited observation car Hickory Creek, available with Hudson River Rail Excursions suspended as a result of Amtrak’s East River Tunnel project [See “East River tunnel work to sideline …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 27, 2025].
“Not only will the FLX Rail Experience introduce heritage rail to a new audience, but it will also support URHS’s efforts to expand our operational fleet of historic railroad cars,” said URHS Executive Director Kevin Phalon. “We’re proud to be working with partners who understand the value of tourism and support our nonprofit mission of preservation and education.”
Tickets go on sale June 6, and will be available with the complete schedule on the Finger Lakes Rail Experience website.
1) I need Himrod’s to Penn Yan. Back in 2009 Bart Jennings did a series of trips on the Finger Lakes but didn’t get to do that even tho the track looked in excellent shape.
2) This equipment alone is worth the trip, I expect to do it. Line is beautiful to chase too. A hotel in East Aurora I want to hit again is 60 miles west or so. Go there! Buy some local wines as it isn’t shipped.
3) Solvay has a lit semaphore at a fixed 45 degree position. It was there last June.
It is a very pretty railroad, I was out there early in my career inspecting bridges. I recall the line down to Watkins Glen had a couple spectacular bridges and dramatic gorges. Doesn’t look like this train will go that direction, but the route shown has plenty of scenic highlights of its own.
A charming journey through the jewels of New York State… All aboard!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
The region also has a long history, nurturing the anti-slavery, temperance, women’s sufferage, & transendentalist movements, etc. Adjacent to the “burnt-over” region, a humorous reference to the repeated visitations of the Holy Spirit’s inspired revivals with tongues of fire,
Great post, Curtis. Upstate New York is a wonderful place.