The Niagara Frontier Chapter NRHS is one of the oldest chapters of the National Railway Historical Society. Originally named the NRHS Buffalo Chapter, we received our charter on February 1, 1942.
Operating as usual
Empire State Passengers Association
From the 1-21-21 Senate Hearing for Secretary of Transportation Nominee Pete Buttigieg!
Mayor Pete - "I enjoy long distance trips as well as short ones...I think that Americans ought to enjoy the highest standard of passenger rail service."
Merry Christmas And Happy New Years To All!
Santa is crying because the Niagara Frontier Chapter's Friday, December 11, 2020 Meeting & Annual 'Members Photo/Video Night' Program has been cancelled due to the ongoing health concerns!
Let's hope the the Covid Grinch's heart grows three sizes soon so we can all meet together again in 2021.
Until then, please stay safe & healthy.
Happy Holidays to All!
Today Is 'Giving Tuesday'
Please Support The
Niagara Frontier Chapter - NRHS
Your Generous Support Helps To Make The Chapter's Mission Of Preserving The Rich Railroad History Of Western New York & Southern Ontario Possible.
Thank You In Advance For Your Donations!
The Niagara Frontier Chapter - NRHS, Inc. Is A Recognized & Designated
IRS 501(C)3 Non-Profit Charitable Educational Organization.
Donations & Membership Dues May Be Tax Deductible.
Please Consult With Your Tax Adviser.
Click here for an update from Niagara Frontier Chapter NRHS, Inc.!
Anton Schwarzmueller (L) and Jim Ball (R) with the new historical marker dedicated at the Niagara Falls Customs House on Whirlpool Street on Saturday, November 14, 2020.
Kudos go to Chapter member Anton Schwarzmueller for facilitating the marker, which was made possible through a generous grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse.
WIVB's coverage of this past Saturday's dedication of the Niagara Falls Custom House Historical Marker!
Kudos to Chapter member Anton Schwarzmueller for facilitating the marker, which was made possible through a generous grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse.
https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/niagara-county/niagara-falls/niagara-falls-customhouse-dedicated-with-historic-marker/
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB)– Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino commemorated the Niagara Falls Customhouse today. A historic marker was dedicated on-site. The historic building served as a pr…
WGRZ's coverage of this past Saturday's dedication of the Niagara Falls Custom House Historical Marker!
Kudos to Chapter member Anton Schwarzmueller for facilitating the marker, which was made possible through a generous grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse.
https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/mayor-dedicates-historic-marker-at-niagara-falls-customhouse/71-ffa69f00-7524-4bd5-941c-6e6da003310c
Robert Restaino's office says the initiative to save the building was taken when it was listed as one of the state's most endangered historic structures.
Announcing a new way to help support the Niagara Frontier Chapter - NRHS every time you make a purchase on Amazon!
There is NO cost to you! Amazon simply shares a portion of each & every purchase you make as a donation to the Chapter.
Use the link below to connect your Amazon purchases to the Chapter's Amazon Smile donation account or click on the Amazon Smile tab in your Amazon account and then search for 'Niagara Frontier Chapter-NRHS' & select the Chapter as your Amazon Smile partner!
Thanks in advance for supporting the Chapter through your Amazon purchases!
When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to Niagara Frontier Chapter Nrhs Inc. Support us every time you shop.
Empire State Passengers Association
First train, #64, arriving into the new Buffalo Exchange Street Station on Sunday, November 8, 2020
Empire State Passengers Association
The new Buffalo Exchange Street Station was officially opened today!
A ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by many state, regional & city elected representatives preceded the arrival of train #64 on route from Niagara Falls to New York City; the first train to serve the new station.
The station is open & fully staffed from 3:30am to 11:00pm daily.
Governor Cuomo's Press Release on the station opening - https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-completion-new-intermodal-transportation-hub-downtown-buffalo
The new station is a tremendous improvement over the previous 1952-era facility and is a great addition to rapidly-redeveloping & increasingly vibrant downtown Buffalo.
Empire State Passengers Association
The first train to serve the new Buffalo Exchange Street station is expected to be tomorrow's #64 on route from Niagara Falls to New York City.
Pictures of the new station's beautiful interior will be posted soon!
The station will be open & fully staffed from 3:30am to 11:00pm seven days a week.
Reminder...The October 2020 Chapter Meeting & Program is this evening, Friday, October 9, starting at 7:00pm, at the DeGraff Community Center - 139 Division Street, North Tonawanda, NY
Chapter Member John Dahl Will Be Presenting Part Three Of Ed Weber’s Photography On A “Look at the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western In the 1950’s”
In This Installment We'll Travel From The Delaware Water Gap To The DL&W's Terminal In Hoboken, NJ.
FREE - ALL ARE WELCOME!
Safety First - Mask/Facecoverings Are Required & Social Distancing Protocols Will Be In Effect!
The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation is inviting all interested persons to participate in the first public meeting as part of the CRTC's Master Planning process for the Buffalo Central Terminal site and its connectivity to the surrounding Broadway -
Fillmore Neighborhood.
This virtual public meeting is Thursday, October 8, starting at 6:00pm.
Complete meeting information & the Zoom connection/access details are at - https://www.buffaloterminalplan.org/
Check out the video of Guest Speaker Jerry Bertoldo's presentation at the Saturday, September 19, 2020 80th Annual Niagara Frontier Chapter Banquet.
https://youtu.be/6zaa-IkCVzQ
Jerry provided a great historical overview of the New York Central's vast & varied Dining Car Services, which was complemented by Chapter President Jim Ball's personal reminisces & stories about his father, Cyril A. Ball, who managed the Central's dining car commissary operations at Buffalo up to its end in 1964.
Enjoy!
'The 2020 edition of the 'New York By Rail' Magazine is NOW available!
You can view a digital copy at - https://www.mirabelsmagazinecentral.com/DigitalEdition/index.html?id=59d5cef0-3f4e-42f7-bb40-f388c2ac08e3
or
Order a complimentary print copy at - https://www.newyorkbyrail.com/amtrak-special-offer/
This is the 17th annual edition and its 100 pages contain great information on the sites, activities and events at the destinations you can reach by train across New York State, Southern Vermont, in Montreal & at Toronto.
Check out this site with great interactive views of the ongoing restoration work of Detroit's Michigan Central Station!
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=nhQitTrsuMP&back=1
Hopefully some day in the future there will be similar views of Buffalo Central Terminal.
Coverage of the unveiling of the new historical plaques in the Lewiston Sentinel...
https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/featured/2020/09/21/143342/plaques-commemorate-niagara-gorge-scenic-railway-at-artpark-state-park
It was a beautiful day in Lewiston for the Chapter to unveil two new historical plaques at Artpark State Park commemorating the route of the Niagara Gorge Scenic Railway and the location of the remnants of the 1899 suspension bridge which crossed the Niagara River between Lewiston & Queenston and carried the trolley line between the US & Canada.
Speakers at the unveiling included Chapter President Jim Ball; Curator of the Historical Association of Lewiston Tom Collister & Chapter member Anton Schwarzmueller, who coordinated the project.
The plaques were made possible through a generous grant from the William C. Pomeroy Foundation.
Copies of the Chapter Publication 'The Niagara Gorge Belt Line; A Pictorial Album' are available for purchase on the Chapter's web site - https://www.nfcnrhs.org/copy-of-chapter-historical-publicat
A great turnout Friday evening for the Chapter's first meeting & program since March, held at the historic Buffalo Central Terminal. Thanks to the Central Terminal Restoration Corp & their Program Manager Jacques Garcia for hosting us and to Chapter member Tony Schill for his outstanding program.
Visit www.nfcnrhs.org for information on our future Chapyer meetings!
The 2021 Niagara Frontier Chapter Calendar Is NOW Available!
The calendar features 12 great photographs taken across Western New York & Southern Ontario, many in beautiful full color.
The calendar is only $14.00 each (tax & shipping included) or two for $26.00. (Canadian orders are $15.00 each).
Purchase yours today at - https://www.nfcnrhs.org/2021-chapter-calendar
Don't Wait! Quantity is limited - Last year's edition sold-out!
Makes a GREAT Holiday Gift.
Reminder: The September Chapter Meeting & Program is this Friday, September 18, starting at 7:00pm, at the historic Buffalo Central Terminal.
Safety First: Masks/Face Coverings Are REQUIRED For All Attendees; Social Distancing Will Be Enforced & A 50-Person Maximum Interior Limit Will Be In Effect!
Free - All Are Welcome!
More Information - https://www.nfcnrhs.org/upcoming-events
Lots of masonry work has been completed at the Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier over the past few week!
In conjunction with the pending completion of handicap access for the interior of the Museum, a new sidewalk has been installed. The sidewalk design & layout is true to the original 1923 building drawings. It is a great addition to the exterior of the Museum building.
A handicap lift and platform will soon be installed at the north end of the sidewalk, adjacent to the wide freight house door.
And the chimney at the Museum's Tower EL-2 (which protected the crossing of the NYC's Lockport Branch & the Erie's Niagara Falls Branch) has been repointed, with new flashing installed.
While the Museum remains closed due to the health restrictions, these improvements will welcome members & guests alike in 2012!
Check out more at: www.nfcnrhs.org
As a reminder, the 2020 Train Show at the Buffalo Central Terminal scheduled for this weekend is CANCELED!
Save The Dates For The 2021 Show - Saturday & Sunday, September 11 & 12, 2021!
We are very sorry to announce that based on New York State health restrictions, the 2020 Train Show at the Buffalo Central Terminal is CANCELED!
Full refunds for all vendor registrations and advance ticket purchases will be processed by August 14.
We look forward to being back bigger & better in 2021!
Empire State Passengers Association
Construction on the new Buffalo Exchange Street Station continues to move forward well!
In these pictures we see:
#1 - Detail of the brick facade now being installed. Notice the care being taken to provide the building exterior with a sense of historical character.
#2 - The steel work for the high level platform has now been installed. In the distance is the temporary platform currently in use.
#3 - A view from the corner of Exchange & Washington Streets, looking towards the new station. The area in the foreground will become part of the station plaza & passenger drop-off/pick-up loop. The station building will be clearly visible from Main Street, a short 200-foot block away from Washington Street (behind in the picture).
#4 - The artist drawing of the finished plaza and loop area. The arrow indicates where picture #3 was taken.
Empire State Passengers Association
Service was restored (as scheduled) to the Buffalo Exchange Street Temporary Station on Saturday, June 20.
During the previous week, CSX forces installed a new main track past the future station site with two new switches for the upcoming passenger siding that will serve the station's high-level boarding platform.
At the Temporary Station, a wooden boarding platform extension was installed up to the new main track for use as the construction continues.
Empire State Passengers Association
Amtrak Train #64 today crossing over Delaware Ave. in North Buffalo during its detour on CSX's Belt Line between Niagara Falls & Buffalo-Depew, due to track & signal installation at the new downtown Buffalo Exchange Street Station. The detours continue through this Friday.
Empire State Passengers Association
In order to cut in the freight 'by-pass' siding & signals at the new Buffalo Exchange Street Station, Trains #284, 64, 281 & 283 will be detouring from Buffalo-Depew to Niagara Falls on the CSX Buffalo Belt Line starting with #281 on Friday, June 12, with all four trains re-routed through Friday, June 19. Normal routing and service will resume on Saturday, June 20.
During the detours, there will be no service to/from the temporary Buffalo Exchange Street Station.
https://www.amtrak.com/alert/empire-service-maple-leaf-schedule-changes.html
The Lake Shore Limited serves only the Buffalo-Depew Station and is unaffected by the detours.
New videos have been posted on the Niagara Frontier Chapter's YouTube Channel -
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiB68URo_eGTrnN5pi9BxDw
Check Them Out Today!
1990 Buffalo - Albion, PA Excursion Trip Behind N&W #1218
Part One - https://youtu.be/EZBOMMHW3lA
Part Two - https://youtu.be/Qh_2l733UfA
Amtrak Comes To The Railroad Museum Of The Niagara Frontier - 1996
https://youtu.be/GuegT1M0ujU
Cab Ride From Buffalo Depew to Niagara Falls Circa Late 1990's
https://youtu.be/EeZNSj2t3HQ
Name The Tourist Railroad Quiz
Part One - https://youtu.be/QG5S_v444Vo
Part Two - https://youtu.be/iGbQefr-n5I
Please subscribe to the channel so you don't miss out on future releases.
Thanks for watching!
Empire State Passengers Association
Happy Birthday Amtrak - 49 Years Young Today!
https://youtu.be/Ko1aTX9xHIg
Empire State Passengers Association
Following up on yesterday's post with pictures of the ongoing construction of the new Buffalo Exchange Street Station, here are some artist concept drawings of the finished project.
First is a view of the exterior of the completed building; second is a view of the waiting room; third is an overview of the passenger drop-off zone, plaza area & Exchange Street; and the final view is of the designated walkway connecting the station to Main Street.
Empire State Passengers Association
Work on the new Buffalo Exchange Street Station continues to move forward at a rapid pace!
In these photos taken 4-17-20, we see the new station building; a view from the Washington Street bridge looking east showing that the grading for the by-pass siding track is nearly complete; a view looking west to the 'tunnel' under Main Street & a picture of a stockpile of pre-formed cornices ready for installation.
The expected completion date is the late fall of 2020.
Stay Safe...Stay Well...Stay Home!
111 Oliver Street
North Tonawanda, NY
NFTA Bus Route 25
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