Train rides are operated and the museum is open to the public on select weekends from June through October, and is staffed entirely by volunteers.

The depot provided the village with daily mail, express, and passenger service by means of an omnibus.

By 1874 the Rochester and State Line Railroad reached the village of Scottsville proper, and the Erie depot became less attractive to local citizens.

In the early part of the 20th century, the Erie electrified the line from downtown Rochester to Mount Morris, NY.

As a result of general economic downturn and the devastation in the aftermath of 1972's Hurricane Agnes, Erie Lackawanna became a part of Conrail 1976.

[2] When the current depot was constructed in about 1909, the name was changed to Industry, to reflect the small community that the School had created.

The Rochester Chapter was founded in 1937,[6] and by the late 1960s was ready to start a museum due to the ongoing acquisition of artifacts and rolling stock.

The depot was built in 1909 as "Oatka," later changed to "Industry" after the newly established state school for boys.

The Rochester Chapter was seeking a home and possible museum site for its activities, and discovered Industry depot was available.

By 1979 volunteers had constructed enough track to receive the first piece of equipment, a Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway caboose #280.

The museum continues to grow and expand, with additional storage space planned to house its unique collection of equipment.

Of note, distinctive high-hood "Hammerhead" Lehigh Valley Railroad RS3m 211 is part of the operating collection.

Because Rochester is known as the "World's Image Center" and is associated with photography and the home of Eastman Kodak, the museum has an extensive collection of photos.

Of note is the collection of steam-era images from Robert Carper, a Rochester native who authored "American Railroads in Transition."

An ex-Pennsylvania Railroad class B60 Railway Post Office is currently being refurbished to house additional displays.

Former Lehigh Valley Railroad "Northeastern" style caboose 95100 was acquired in 2011 from a local scrap yard to be restored to operating condition.

[13] In 2014, a former U.S. Army 40-foot flatcar was acquired from the Lowville and Beaver River Railroad, to be converted into an open-air rider flat.