Skip to main content

Buffalo Central Terminal, Buffalo, New York.

Built in 1930 it was a Buffalo landmark.  I traveled on the NYC railroad to Buffalo from Cleveland, Ohio in 1962 before it was abandoned.  I also have a September 1985 Trains article with original photos and plans. A most amazing and unique structure for its day.

It was abandoned and destroyed but now is in a restoration process. Unfortunately only a portion of the original station remains.

Heralded as one of the premier examples of railroad art deco architecture when it was built in 1929, the New York Central's Buffalo Central Terminal is an imposing and majestic building. In 1967 the New York Central RR and the Pennsylvania RR merged, forming the Penn Central system, the terminal's second owner. Amtrak took over the majority of the inter-city passenger service in the United States in 1971 and used Central Terminal as its Buffalo terminus until October 28, 1979 when the terminal was abandoned. At the end of August 1997 the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation took possession of this grand old edifice with the primary focus on restoration and preservation of this landmark site. After well over ten years of neglect, efforts have begun to repair one of Buffalo's favorite buildings, the Central Terminal. 

buffalo central terminal photo 1

trains magazine

 

Attachments

Images (2)
  • trains magazine
  • buffalo central terminal photo 1
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I was messing around with the OGR search function and came across this old thread.
It got me wondering how the efforts to save the structure were going.
From what I see on the web, it looks like there has been some progress.
Anybody follow what has been going on?

I was lucky enough to see the concourse in the early 1980's before it was completely trashed. The owner at the time was trying to make it into banquet facilities. (If I recall correctly)

Here is the non-profit organization's web site:   Buffalo Central Terminal

I don't follow this closely but I know a movie company did some work on the concourse so they do some filming there. The walls were cleaned up and wall lighting installed similar to the original. Last year a Canadian developer wanted to purchase the station and surrounding properties for a big project but has since been put on hold.

Here are the stories.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local...l-terminal/215310451

http://www.twcnews.com/nys/buf...ement-developer.html

 

Also the city is in need in a new Amtrak station. After discussing a few sites including the Terminal it was decided apparently to use a spot closer to the central downtown area.

Pete

Gentleman......I took these pictures in May of 84 on a visit to Buffalo for my 5th Medical School reunion. I came across them earlier this year and digitalized them earlier this week.

Does anyone have any updates?

The Trains articles from 1985 are quite good.

29E71F62-DD29-4D08-BD54-E909ABE7EE4936B5BFC9-7D17-4298-A35A-CEA37B216F8FD55608E8-4162-4518-A936-4FC525C39D415D00F5EE-34FA-48F8-8B88-FBF104599D95A1297EB5-ED36-4DB7-BEC8-73E9B2017256A34C7190-BE6B-4852-8D0A-8EB2143204446A965068-5B7A-48BD-9922-359DCD446273B30C4F23-7A5E-4300-A6CA-E591937E917F96AA7902-FFF7-4AB1-BD0A-B1D558C3325063C3B42F-A1B7-4C63-A12F-59AF966A6467

Does anyone know of any updates?

Peter

Attachments

Images (10)
  • 29E71F62-DD29-4D08-BD54-E909ABE7EE49
  • 36B5BFC9-7D17-4298-A35A-CEA37B216F8F
  • D55608E8-4162-4518-A936-4FC525C39D41
  • 5D00F5EE-34FA-48F8-8B88-FBF104599D95
  • A1297EB5-ED36-4DB7-BEC8-73E9B2017256
  • A34C7190-BE6B-4852-8D0A-8EB214320444
  • 6A965068-5B7A-48BD-9922-359DCD446273
  • B30C4F23-7A5E-4300-A6CA-E591937E917F
  • 96AA7902-FFF7-4AB1-BD0A-B1D558C33250
  • 63C3B42F-A1B7-4C63-A12F-59AF966A6467
Last edited by Putnam Division

Peter,

Thank you for sharing those pictures, In the early sixties, I traveled often through the arches and concourses of this magnificent station. When I see your pictures, my imagination allows me to see them come alive with all the action from the late 50s and early 60s. One can almost see the many configurations of the Great Steel Fleet, arriving, shifting, waiting and finally ready; comes the shriek of the whistle and she follows rails into the disappearing distance.

Travellers well dressed, Porters and Trainmen all about. A haze of cigar smoke and newspapers underarm. Booming train announcements.

Often in the deep snows from the lake to the west. Then night more steam a more surreal a stage lit by a thousand lights. A terminal, a point of departure, a point of arrival.

My Grandfather and Father both career New York Cental men ............... both would be gone by 1965, but in these images, they are for the moment here again.

And that's why I love this model railroading, the past fades in and out; but it's there.



K

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×