New York Museum of Transportation in West Henrietta, New York

Written By Kelsey Cecil

West Henrietta, New York · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Trolley and streetcar museumTrain ridesSundays mid-May through October, plus select December days

The New York Museum of Transportation is a volunteer-run museum south of Rochester where 1920s interurban trolleys carry visitors on the only electric trolley ride in New York State, alongside a barn full of streetcars, road vehicles and a working model railroad.

  • Founded in 1975
  • Only electric trolley ride in New York
  • Fourteen full-size trolley cars
  • Working HO model railroad
  • Midtown Plaza Monorail exhibit
  • Open Sundays, mid-May to October

New York Museum of Transportation at a glance

Hours
Sundays 11 am to 4 pm, mid-May through October, plus select December days
Admission
Adults $12, seniors 65+ $10, ages 3 to 12 $6, 2 and under free; special prices for events
Train rides
Trolley rides included with admission on Sundays, departing 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30
Seasonal events
Season Opening, Fathers Day, Military Appreciation Day, Trains and Trolleys at Twilight, Velocipede Day, Fall Foliage Trolley Rides, Halloween at the museum, December holiday trolley rides
Plan for
About 2 hours
Best for
Young trolley fans and Rochester-area families
Best ages
Ages 2 and up

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to New York Museum of Transportation? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to West Henrietta.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Bringing Rochester's trolleys home to an old dairy barn

Rochester's last streetcars ran in 1941, and its subway carried its final riders in 1956. Several local cars ended up far from home at the Magee Transportation Museum near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, until floods from Hurricane Agnes in 1972 damaged that collection and it was sold in 1973. Henry Hamlin, who was developing the planned community of Riverton in West Henrietta, went to see what could be saved. In October 1973 two trolleys, Elmira, Waverly and Corning car 107 and Rochester and Eastern car 157, were rolled into a leased dairy barn. A provisional charter in 1975 made the New York Museum of Transportation official.

Volunteers then got to work on a railroad of their own. They salvaged track from the abandoned western end of the Rochester Subway, began building in 1976, and by 1980 were giving rides on small gas-powered track cars. In 1993 their line met the one built by the neighboring Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, joined with a golden spike.

The trolley era began in 1996 with two steel interurban cars, 161 and 168, built in the 1920s for the Philadelphia and Western. Members of both museums set poles and strung overhead wire through the late 1990s, and in 2001 the museum ran the first public trolley rides in the Rochester area since 1956. By 2006 the wire reached Midway station, powered by a substation the neighboring museum's members designed and built.

The museum is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents as a nonprofit educational institution and is run by volunteers, who also hope to restore Rochester Subway car 60 to running order.

Trolleys, a fire truck, a monorail and a 21-foot layout

The old dairy barn holds fourteen full-size trolley cars, a caboose, a steam locomotive and antique highway and horse-drawn vehicles, including a fire truck and an ambulance. Around them are pump handcars, a track inspection velocipede, signs, baggage carts, diesel engine cutaways, cap badges and track tools, plus photo exhibits. The gallery shows a rare color film of the Rochester Subway.

An 11 by 21 foot HO-gauge model railroad runs five trains and two trolleys at once. The Visitor Center has O-gauge models of local trolleys and detailed scenes by Donovan Shilling, and a Midtown Plaza Monorail exhibit brings back holiday memories for many Rochester families. On ride days, a 1920s trolley takes you on a 2-mile, roughly twenty-minute round trip through the Genesee River valley to Midway Station.

Don’t miss

  1. Trolley cars 161 and 168These 1920s Philadelphia and Western steel interurbans carry riders on the only electric trolley ride in New York State.
  2. The Spaghetti Warehouse trolleyNorthern Texas Traction car 409 came from a closed restaurant in 1996 and still has its dining tables, which makes it a favorite for birthday parties.
  3. The Midtown Plaza MonorailA beloved piece of downtown Rochester holiday memory, now on display at the museum.
  4. The HO model railroadFive trains and two trolleys run at once on an 11 by 21 foot layout.
  5. Snow sweeper C-130A wood-bodied Philadelphia street snow sweeper, converted by the founding director from broad gauge and on display since the 1980s.
  6. The steam locomotive bellThe museum invites kids to ring the bell on a real steam locomotive.

Ring a bell, sit in a fire truck, ride a trolley

Kids can ring a steam locomotive bell, sit in a real fire truck, watch the big model railroad, and then ride a 1920s trolley with its clickety-clack rail joints and air whistle toots at the crossings. Every Sunday ticket includes the trolley ride, and at Midway Station some visits continue by track car or diesel train toward the neighboring railroad museum.

Special days are aimed squarely at families: a Halloween ride to a pumpkin patch to decorate a baby pumpkin, a LEGO stake bed truck build, Velocipede Day, and Christmas trolley rides on select December days. Trolleys leave on the half hour and the museum closes at 4 pm, so arrive early enough to see everything.

Plan your visit: tips for New York Museum of Transportation

  • Use 6393 East River Road, West Henrietta, NY in your GPS.
  • From I-390 exit 11, take Route 251 west 1.5 miles, then turn right on East River Road for 1 mile.
  • Trolleys depart promptly on the half hour; the last leaves at 3:30.
  • Halloween and twilight events need reservations.
  • Read the museum's dog policy on its website before bringing a pet.

In fall the museum runs Fall Foliage Trolley Rides on October Sundays and a Halloween day when families ride to the Pumpkin Patch, decorate a baby pumpkin and trick-or-treat in decorated trolleys, with reservations required. Christmas-themed trolley rides run on a few December days. See more ideas in our guides to Halloween train rides in New York and Christmas train rides in New York.

A volunteer museum that builds its own railroad

Volunteers run the New York Museum of Transportation, from trolley crews to the people who strung the overhead wire, and Monroe County supports part of its operations. It welcomes members, new volunteers and tax-deductible donations of money, vehicles, artifacts and photographs. The gift shop and the Headend newsletter are other ways to stay connected.

Two museums on one rail line, and more nearby

The Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is about a mile away and shares the same track, so many families see both. The Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society Museum is about 25 miles east, and the Medina Railroad Museum about 37 miles west. Browse more train museums in New York.

Every train museum in New York

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The museum describes its trolley ride as rolling hills and the Genesee River valley sliding past the window, with the whistle tooting at every crossing. In our book, Rally rides with his nose pressed to an arched window, watching the ocean and saying hello to a white bird. My mom loved that kind of quiet window view, and it's the part of the story I think of as most hers.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at New York Museum of Transportation?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

New York Museum of Transportation: 20 questions visitors ask

Where is the New York Museum of Transportation?

The museum is at 6393 East River Road in the Town of Rush, a suburb about 20 minutes south of Rochester. The museum asks you to enter 6393 East River Road, West Henrietta, NY in your GPS. From I-390 exit 11, take Route 251 west for 1.5 miles, turn right on East River Road, and go 1 mile.

What are the New York Museum of Transportation hours?

As of October 2026, the museum is open Sundays only from 11 am to 4 pm, from mid-May through October, plus certain days in December listed on its events page. It closes at 4 pm sharp, so the museum suggests arriving early enough to see the exhibits and catch a trolley.

How much are New York Museum of Transportation tickets?

As of October 2026, admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65 and up, $6 for youths ages 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and under. On regular Sundays the trolley ride is included. Special events can have different prices, so check the events page at nymtmuseum.org.

Can you ride a trolley at the New York Museum of Transportation?

Yes. It runs the only electric trolley ride in New York State, a scenic 2-mile round trip of about twenty minutes to Midway Station aboard a 1920s interurban car. On Sundays, trolleys leave promptly at 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30. Check the event calendar to confirm ride dates.

Is the New York Museum of Transportation the same as the New York Transit Museum?

No. The New York Museum of Transportation is a volunteer-run trolley museum south of Rochester. The New York Transit Museum is a different museum in a former subway station in Brooklyn, run as part of the MTA. It is also separate from the Trolley Museum of New York in Kingston.

Is the New York Museum of Transportation in Rush or West Henrietta?

Both names are used. The museum sits in the Town of Rush, but its mailing and GPS address is 6393 East River Road, West Henrietta, NY. Searches for the museum in Rochester also land here, since it is about 20 minutes south of the city.

What is there to see at the New York Museum of Transportation?

The collection includes fourteen full-size trolley cars, a caboose, a steam locomotive, a fire truck, an ambulance, and antique highway and horse-drawn vehicles. You will also find handcars, a velocipede, signs, tools and photo exhibits, an HO model railroad, O-gauge trolley models, a Rochester Subway film and the Midtown Plaza Monorail.

Is the Midtown Plaza Monorail at the New York Museum of Transportation?

Yes. The museum has an exhibit of the Midtown Plaza Monorail, which many Rochester families remember from holiday visits downtown. It is included with regular museum admission and is on view whenever the museum is open on Sundays from mid-May through October.

How long should I plan for the New York Museum of Transportation?

Plan on about two hours. The trolley ride takes about twenty minutes, and you will want time for the model railroad, the trolley barn, the road vehicles and the monorail exhibit. If you also continue to the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum next door, give yourself most of a Sunday afternoon.

Is the New York Museum of Transportation good for young kids?

Yes. Children can ring the bell on a real steam locomotive, sit in a fire truck, watch five trains and two trolleys on the model railroad and ride a vintage trolley. Children 2 and under get in free, and youth tickets for ages 3 to 12 are $6 as of October 2026.

Does the New York Museum of Transportation do Halloween?

Yes. Its Halloween day lets families ride the trolley to the Pumpkin Patch, decorate a baby pumpkin to take home, and trick-or-treat in Halloween-decorated trolley cars. In 2026 it was held on October 18, with reservations required. Watch the events page for next year's date.

Are there Christmas trolley rides at the New York Museum of Transportation?

Yes. The museum opens on a few December days for Christmas-themed trolley rides, usually using car 161 because of its refurbished heating system. Dates are posted on the events page at nymtmuseum.org, and special event prices may apply, so check there or email infonymtm@gmail.com.

Does the New York Museum of Transportation run fall foliage rides?

Yes. Fall Foliage Trolley Rides run on October Sundays, a chance to see autumn color from the window of a vintage electric trolley. In 2026 the dates were October 4, 11 and 25. They run during regular Sunday hours, from 11 am to 4 pm.

What is Trains and Trolleys at Twilight?

It is a joint evening event with the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, featuring both a train ride and a trolley ride, plus music and ice cream. In 2026 it was scheduled for Saturdays July 11 and September 12, with reservations required. Check either museum's website for future dates.

Can I have a birthday party at the New York Museum of Transportation?

The museum lists birthdays on its website, and its former Spaghetti Warehouse trolley, car 409, still has its restaurant tables and is a popular spot for parties. For dates, prices and details, email infonymtm@gmail.com or message the museum on Facebook.

Are dogs allowed at the New York Museum of Transportation?

The museum posts a dog policy on its website, but the details were not captured for this page. Read the policy on nymtmuseum.org before you bring a pet, or email infonymtm@gmail.com to ask about the trolley ride and the indoor exhibits.

Are there discount days at the New York Museum of Transportation?

Yes, a few. On Fathers Day, dads and grandpas get in free with a youth ages 3 to 12, and on Military Appreciation Day active-duty military and veterans pay half price with ID. Velocipede Day lets visitors try a three-wheeled velocipede free with admission, weather permitting.

When was the New York Museum of Transportation founded?

The museum received a provisional charter in 1975, after its first two trolleys were moved into a leased dairy barn in West Henrietta in late 1973. Volunteers began building the museum's railroad in 1976 and ran its first public trolley rides in 2001, the first in the Rochester area since 1956.

How can I volunteer or donate to the New York Museum of Transportation?

The museum is volunteer run and lists membership and Get Involved pages on its website. It accepts tax-deductible gifts of money as well as vehicles, artifacts, photographs and paper items related to transportation history. Email infonymtm@gmail.com to ask about volunteering on trolley crews, restoration or events.

What train museums are near the New York Museum of Transportation?

The Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is about a mile away and shares the museum's rail line. The Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society Museum in Shortsville is about 25 miles away, the Medina Railroad Museum about 37 miles, and the Arcade and Attica Railroad about 49 miles.

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