by Otto Vondrak/photos by the author

Launching on July 4, a new seasonal tourist train operation is coming to upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region. The new Finger Lakes Rail Experience will take visitors on a scenic excursion along portions of the Finger Lakes Railway with departures from Canandaigua, Geneva, and Seneca Falls throughout July and August.

The genesis for the project came from Finger Lakes Railway (FGLK), who approached consultants FMW Solutions (FMW) to help establish a new tourist rail operation in the region. Founded in 1995, FGLK operates freight service on a 167-mile system of former New York Central, Pennsylvania, and Lehigh Valley tracks from its headquarters in Geneva. While the railroad has previously operated its own seasonal passenger excursions over the years, a shift in business priorities led to the end of charters and the sale of its excursion fleet in 2024.

ABOVE: Visitors enjoying the ammenities in the plush observation lounge of Hickory Creek during a special media preview day on July 1.

“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 FGLK President Eric Betke in a press release. The railroad turned to FMW as their partner to help put together a new tourism experience with the help of several partners, including the United Railway Historical Society of NJ (URHS) and the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.

Key to this new experience are the five vintage passenger cars provided by URHS, some of which became available when Amtrak cancelled charters out of New York Penn Station earlier this year due to an extensive tunnel repair project affecting the schedule. The cars include observation-lounge Hickory Creek (Pullman, 1948, the tail car from New York Central’s famed 20th Century Limited), tavern-lounge NYC 43 (Budd, 1947), and NYC sleeper-buffet-lounge Swift Stream (Budd, 1949). To support this expanded service schedule, URHS also refurbished tavern-lounge NYC 37 (Budd, 1947) and Pennsylvania Railroad coach 1547 (Budd, 1949, ex-PRR sleeper Cambridge Inn). Work was performed by URHS volunteers and contractors at their shop in Boonton, N.J., and the cars were shipped out at the end of June to FGLK in Geneva. Also included was a generator car loaned by Operation Toy Train (TOYX) to support the operation of the trains, which will be led by FGLK locomotives.

ABOVE: The refurbished interior of sleeper-buffet-lounge Swift Stream.

“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 in a press release. “We’re proud to be working with partners who understand the value of tourism and support our nonprofit mission of preservation and education.” The five-car set will also allow FLX Rail Experience to offer different tiers of service, including deluxe coach, premium, and first class; plus additional options for families or individuals with sensory issues seeking a more relaxed ride experience.

Key to the experience is a partnership with the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, helping to bring in more than a dozen local wineries and breweries to provide tastings on board. The specific microclimate around the Finger Lakes has encouraged the growth of vineyards and the production of wine since the 1860s. However, it was only in the last 50 years that the Finger Lakes have developed into a major tourist attraction centered around the region’s various award-winning wineries.

ABOVE: The interior of New York Central tavern-lounge 43.

The current schedule calls for train rides to be operated through July and August, with a special “Railfan Train” scheduled for September 1. FMW is using this ten-week schedule to test the concept and make adjustments for possible future expansion into the fall and winter months. Train rides range in length from one hour to two and a half hours round-trip, departing from Canandaigua, Geneva, and Seneca Falls, operating on a portion of the former New York Central Auburn Branch.

Tickets are on sale now. For detailed schedules and reservation information, please visit the FLX Rail Experience website.