Article and video posted by Seth Voorhees, Spectrum News, December 1, 2025.
See the video from Spectrum news HERE.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A new version of an old documentary that tells the story of Rochester’s long-lost subway is nearly complete. A screening date has been set for the re-release of “The End of the Line.”
For the film’s producers, getting there has meant overcoming challenges in finding old footage used in the initial release three decades ago. There are also some new treasures — and a new ending.
For Mike Champlin and Fred Armstrong, the five-year project started out of COVID lockdown boredom.
“I reached out to Fred and said, ‘hey, you busy?’” said Champlin, owner of DeBergerag Productions in Fairport. “And he said, ‘not really.’ And I said, ‘what do you think of working on the subway again?’”
The reference to the subway pertains to the documentary the pair first completed in 1994. One that’s getting a new look and a new ending.
“One of the biggest challenges was something that completely surprised us,” said Champlin. “We thought originally it was going to be working with the physical media, but it turns out it was finding the physical media that was the hardest part.”
After its initial showing, “The End of the Line” came out on VHS and DVD in a screen format that no longer lives with today’s televisions. Three decades ago, the producers were limited in the special effects available at the time.
“The whole idea of us doing this is to make it look as good as we can,” said Armstrong, owner of Animatus Studio in Rochester.
Improvements include enhancing old photos using movement and 3D imaging, done at Armstrong’s studio. Last year, the filmmakers put out a call to the public for old photos and film footage used in the original, some of which hadn’t been seen in decades.
“Well, 32 years later, trying to find the footage has been quite the journey,” said Armstrong.
Some footage has been lost. Most of the people in the original documentary are no longer alive. Champlin and Armstrong have been able to uncover some images that were not included in the original film. Drone footage and new interviews mixed with the old will all be part of an updated, modernized production, telling the story of America’s first small city to build a subway — and, in the 1950s — the first to shut it down.
“The story originally ended on a rather maudlin, ‘End of the Line’ was the name of it,” said Champlin. “In this version, we are rewriting the third act to more accurately reflect the fact that Rochester hasn’t let this go.”
Champlin says the subway’s history is being kept alive at local train museums, including the long-awaited restoration of Car 60, the last remaining car from the Rochester subway, which sat inside a barn for decades.
“And 30 years later, there’s a team of 20 plus people that are volunteering their time and know-how on the complete restoration of that car, said Champlin. “With the intention of getting it to run again.”
After receiving $15,000 in the 1990s to make the initial documentary, the reboot is entirely self-funded.
“If we weren’t having so much fun doing it, it would be a drag,” said Armstrong. “I wouldn’t want to do it.”
The filmmakers say they’re not really changing the story of the end of the line, but bringing it into the 21st century.
“Five years later, we’re just about ready to unleash it on the public,” laughed Champlin.
With that comes the pressure of a deadline. A debut screening is scheduled for Feb. 7 at The Little Theatre in Rochester.
A story of what was, and what could have been — told to a new generation.
“I think it’s time for the Rochester public to reacquaint itself with the Rochester subway, as we’ve known it,” said Champlin. “And, I couldn’t be happier.”
