Buffalo, NY's Central Terminal

This blog is about architecture from Louisville's past, but I recently watched a TV special about Buffalo, NY's Central Terminal and was so impressed by its size, design, and story that I felt compelled to post about it. The sprawling, art deco complex opened for business on June 22, 1929. It featured a 17-story office tower and could handle 200 trains daily. From the beginning, it was too big for the times. The Great Depression hit soon after it opened, and once the WWII boom was over, passenger rail in America began to decline. On October 28, 1979, the last trained pulled out of the station. It was completely abandoned by 1986 and became a target for salvagers, thieves, vandals, and even arsonists. Eleven years later though, the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation took over and began efforts to breathe new life into the hub. There is still much work to be done, but it appears that this landmark will be saved like similar ones in New York, D.C., Cincinnati, St. Louis, and yes, Louisville (Union Station). America must hold on to these great old train stations.

For more information, visit http://buffalocentralterminal.org/.

In its prime...

Today...

Note the bridge connecting the main complex to the platforms was removed at some point after it closed to allow double-decker freight cars to move through the area.