Genesee Valley Transportation

Company History: Genesee Valley Transportation (GVT), based in Batavia, has been slowly acquiring various secondary and industrial trackage that Conrail and other class one railroad no longer maintained an interest in. GVT has grown into a profitable company with shortline railroads throughout upstate New York and Pennsylvania. Alco fans won't take long to fall in love with GVT's shortlines - 4-axle Alco Century series and RS series engines comprise the vast majority of power used by GVT, much of it from Canada. A sprinkling of GE center-cab switchers and MLW engines can be found throughout the system.

Founded in 1983 by entrepreneur David J. Monte Verde, Genesee Valley Transportation Company Inc. initially was established to market and broker railway rolling stock. Acquiring motive power (much of it Alco) for prospective leasing arrangements, Monte Verde, along with associates Charles Reidmiller and Michael Thomas, expanded the company's leasing services from its home base in Batavia, N.Y. Start-up of a shortline railroad became the long-term goal, and on August 1, 1989, GVT began operations of the Depew, Lancaster & Western Railroad with ex-Central Vermont RS11 3600 (the first RS-11 ever built) and ex-D&H RS3 4085. (Trains, 11/97)

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