Transportation History
Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier – 111 Oliver Street
Photo: Niagara Frontier Chapter National Railway Historical Society, courtesy of the Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier
North Tonawanda's Railroad History
Located in the former North Tonawanda Erie Railroad station, midway between Buffalo and Niagara Falls, the museum is on the site of a rail line which was not only a busy freight artery, but at one time ran a regular schedule of passenger trains. The International Railway Company also ran trolleys on this right-of-way.
North Tonawanda was known as the “Lumber Capital of the World” in the late 1800's. It was an industrial center which developed because of its fantastic location at the juncture of the Niagara River and the Erie Canal. In addition, it thrived because it was a transportation hub for the railroads which came right through the City and were an additional means of carrying natural resources in and out.
The first steam railroad in Western New York , the Buffalo and Niagara Falls line, was opened and ran on the right of way through Main Street in Tonawanda and Webster Street in North Tonawanda. It was completed September 6, 1836. It was later taken over by the New York Central System. The New York Central Railroad ran along Webster Street , the crossings guarded by gates and a watchman. The station was approximately where the parking lot is now for Greater Buffalo Savings Bank. At one time in the 1800's, there were 16 different railroad companies using the tracks in North Tonawanda. From the late 1800's until 1922, the New York Central and Hudson River Railroads ran through North Tonawanda and its sister City, Tonawanda , from Niagara Falls to Buffalo.
The station served trains until 1960. The Society bought the building from Conrail in 1986 and began refurbishing. The Museum opened in 2002.
North Tonawanda Trolley Lines
The trolley lines were the main means of transportation preceding the bus service of today. There were four main lines operating within our city limits:
1884: The Gratwick Line was known as the Buffalo , Kenmore and Tonawanda Line and was opened on June 30, 1984. This route came across the bridge from Young and Delaware down Main Street , Goundry, Vandervoort, Robinson and Oliver Street , to the intersection with Ward Road and returned. This was the local line and was well patronized. It was discontinued on July 1, 1922.
1895: The Old Buffalo-Niagara Falls Line was opened September 20, 1895. It operated from the foot of Main Street in Buffalo to Sweeney Street , Payne to the Gratwick trestle which took the cars over the Erie and New York Central Railroads at the north end of the city limits, then down River Road to Buffalo Avenue , to the foot of Falls Street and returned. This line was discontinued on July 1, 1922. The car barns which stood on the east end of the Gratwick trestle were demolished on November 26, 1935. The Powerhouse #4 and trolley barn was located in a building still standing at 184 Sweeney Street.
1900: The Lockport Line used the tracks of the Erie Railroad and the first station was Goundry Street where a waiting room and newsstand stood. The next stops were Oliver, Payne, Division and Niagara Falls Boulevard in Martinsville , and then to Lockport and back. This line was used by those having business in Lockport , the County Seat, and carried a great many passengers before the advent of the automobile and the bus.
1918: The "High Speed" Line was officially opened on June 9, 1918 and for a long while was the fastest and most comfortable mode of travel between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Travel time from the foot of Main Street in Buffalo to the foot of Falls Street in Niagara Falls was approximately one hour. This line was discontinued on August 20, 1937 and demolition began September 28. The tracks were built on an embankment, with bridges going over many streets, including Sweeney, Tremont, Goundry and Christiana. The City purchased the right of way which was a high embankment running north along Division Street from the canal across Wheatfield toward Walck Road where it tapers down to a normal level at the Payne Avenue crossing. A large part of the fill in the "China Wall" came from the old Payne Hill which was a famous sleighing and skiing spot in the winters of the good old days. Removal of the embankment was completed in the 1960's.