Buffalo: Central Terminal Tour (July 2012)

***Jaybird*** · August 6th, 2012, 06:57 AM

Hey guys,

Since I came out with my latest Buffalo pics, here's probably the set you have all been waiting for, a tour of the Buffalo Central Terminal, Buffalo's former passenger railroad station until 1979, when it moved to the much smaller Exchange Street station, near the One HSBC Center in downtown Buffalo.

The Buffalo Central Terminal is a 17-storey Art Deco railroad station, built in 1929. It was used over the years by numerous railroad lines, mostly by the New York Central Railroad. However in the 1970s, its usage declined and after Amtrak's decision to move the Buffalo stops to Depew and Exchange Street, the station went out of use in 1979. After a long time of abandonment and foreclosures, the terminal was purchased for $1 by a group that formed the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation. The CTRC is a non-profit group dedicated to preserving and restoring the building and keep it as a viable development opportunity for Buffalo.

Since then, the clocks on the tower are fully functional, and the complex is sealed and protected so no vandals can get in, the clock in the center concourse, which was sold to Chicago buyers was purchased back by the CTRC has been restored and along with a replacement buffalo statue (the old one was stolen) inside the building and in 2003, the building re-opened for public tours. The building is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Numerous fundraisers, events, and concerts are held at the Central Terminal to raise money to restore it. As well, some movies and tv shows have filmed here.

Just recently the building has been given another grant by the State of New York to restore and habilitate the entrances and the awnings.

Today was a first, allowing professional photographers with tripods (including me, although I'm not necessarily a professional) to take pictures inside for $100, along with a tour of the building. I was proud to support this and participate in this inaugural events of professional photographers at the terminal.

There is talk that if high-speed rail ever becomes a reality in Buffalo and in New York State, that the Central Terminal would serve as a stop

Without further ado, here's my tour of the Buffalo Central Terminal!

Front of the terminal...

Close-up of one of the clocks. There are four of these clocks on the terminal, they all work and are accurate.

Inside the terminal now, here's the main concourse… taken from the west mezzanine...

Windows on the mezzanine...

Basement...

In this area was where a proposed underground light rail line to downtown from here was to go, before the station closed and taxicab drivers protested against this.

Exits to outside...

NIce little bit of graffiti, KISS does rule! Detroit Rock City!

This would have been where a proposed trolley from here to downtown was supposed to go and passengers were to get to it, but taxi cab companies protested against it and won.

Looking outside at the tracks running past the terminals, freight trains use this.

Looking outside...

North Exit...

Main concourse again...

As I mentioned, there's a story behind this clock. Believe it or not, it was sold to people from Chicago, and some kind person recognized it bought it at a Chicago auction and gave it back to the Terminal!

There's the Buffalo statue on the left, the original one was stolen...

Closeup...

Ticket kiosks...

Looking towards the main entrance...

Baggage check booths...

Ceiling in main concourse...

Exit...

Former Elevator entrance, to elevators that don't work (yet) and a staircase...

Plaque dedicated in 2004, commemorating the Central Terminal being on the NHRP.

Newsstands… or possibly a post office...

[IMG]http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/600122_10151968864845002_1318289266_n.jpg/IMG]

Train Concourse entrance...

Eastern Exit to Taxis and Buses

The Eastern part of the terminal served as a little mall, and even had a Liquor Store!

View from inside the Liquor Store…

A train going by on the outside!

[IMG]http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/599950_10151968865865002_680806125_n.jpg/IMG]

Inside the Train concourse on the right in the distance, there are clean, fully functional and beautifully restored washrooms...

[IMG]

Looking up at main entrance...

Baggage Check entrance...

Welcome to Buffalo...

Old Cabinet...

Exit to street...

Back looking at station entrance...

The non-functional elevators...

Stairway to mezzanine and tower floors...

Looking up, this is a "strong-looking" building… which is something that Buffalo has a lot of…

View from the north...

Looking west towards downtown Buffalo from the terminal...

A brief glimpse of the neighborhood the Terminal stands in, called Polonia, or "Broadway-Fillmore". It has seen better days, once home to an influx of Polish immigrants.

Buffalo skyline, notice the sun is coming out...

As mentioned, the CTRC received a grant from the state to restore this awnings and improve the entrances...

Hope you all enjoyed it! Thanks for looking!

Bronxwood · August 15th, 2012, 02:27 PM

Beautiful. I enjoyed every shot. The Buffalo central terminal is a grand station, i can definitley see the potential. That main concourse can be such a grand space. It's shocking to me the station wasnt entirely demolished..this being Buffalo and all. Are they using authentic materials to restore the station? Would you know?

***Jaybird*** · September 10th, 2012, 04:02 AM

I don't know if they are using "authentic" materials of not, but they are trying to restore it to as close to its original self as they can. The building does have a lot of potential, definitely worth saving. I was happy to pay the money to do the photographers tour.

bayviews · September 10th, 2012, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaybird

I don't know if they are using "authentic" materials of not, but they are trying to restore it to as close to its original self as they can. The building does have a lot of potential, definitely worth saving. I was happy to pay the money to do the photographers tour.

Have you seen the Terminal Tower in downtown Cleveland?

They were able to fix it up as the central hub for Cleveland's rapid transit network. Sadly Buffalo's terminal is way too far from downtown for similar re-use.

Glad it's still standing though!

***ikops*** · September 11th, 2012, 05:20 PM

Damn! That looks amazing. I am glad I stumbled onto this thread.

UrbanMyth · February 2nd, 2013, 07:38 AM

What happened to the images?

***Jaybird*** · February 6th, 2013, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UrbanMyth

What happened to the images?

They should be fixed now.

August 6th, 2012, 06:57 AM	#1
*Jaybird* Making Detroit look good! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mitchell, Ontario Posts: 3,898 Likes (Received): 22	Buffalo: Central Terminal Tour (July 2012) Hey guys, Since I came out with my latest Buffalo pics, here's probably the set you have all been waiting for, a tour of the Buffalo Central Terminal, Buffalo's former passenger railroad station until 1979, when it moved to the much smaller Exchange Street station, near the One HSBC Center in downtown Buffalo. The Buffalo Central Terminal is a 17-storey Art Deco railroad station, built in 1929. It was used over the years by numerous railroad lines, mostly by the New York Central Railroad. However in the 1970s, its usage declined and after Amtrak's decision to move the Buffalo stops to Depew and Exchange Street, the station went out of use in 1979. After a long time of abandonment and foreclosures, the terminal was purchased for $1 by a group that formed the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation. The CTRC is a non-profit group dedicated to preserving and restoring the building and keep it as a viable development opportunity for Buffalo. Since then, the clocks on the tower are fully functional, and the complex is sealed and protected so no vandals can get in, the clock in the center concourse, which was sold to Chicago buyers was purchased back by the CTRC has been restored and along with a replacement buffalo statue (the old one was stolen) inside the building and in 2003, the building re-opened for public tours. The building is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Numerous fundraisers, events, and concerts are held at the Central Terminal to raise money to restore it. As well, some movies and tv shows have filmed here. Just recently the building has been given another grant by the State of New York to restore and habilitate the entrances and the awnings. Today was a first, allowing professional photographers with tripods (including me, although I'm not necessarily a professional) to take pictures inside for $100, along with a tour of the building. I was proud to support this and participate in this inaugural events of professional photographers at the terminal. There is talk that if high-speed rail ever becomes a reality in Buffalo and in New York State, that the Central Terminal would serve as a stop Without further ado, here's my tour of the Buffalo Central Terminal! Front of the terminal... Close-up of one of the clocks. There are four of these clocks on the terminal, they all work and are accurate. Inside the terminal now, here's the main concourse… taken from the west mezzanine... Windows on the mezzanine... Basement... In this area was where a proposed underground light rail line to downtown from here was to go, before the station closed and taxicab drivers protested against this. Exits to outside... NIce little bit of graffiti, KISS does rule! Detroit Rock City! This would have been where a proposed trolley from here to downtown was supposed to go and passengers were to get to it, but taxi cab companies protested against it and won. Looking outside at the tracks running past the terminals, freight trains use this. Looking outside... North Exit... Main concourse again... As I mentioned, there's a story behind this clock. Believe it or not, it was sold to people from Chicago, and some kind person recognized it bought it at a Chicago auction and gave it back to the Terminal! There's the Buffalo statue on the left, the original one was stolen... Closeup... Ticket kiosks... Looking towards the main entrance... Baggage check booths... Ceiling in main concourse... Exit... Former Elevator entrance, to elevators that don't work (yet) and a staircase... Plaque dedicated in 2004, commemorating the Central Terminal being on the NHRP. Newsstands… or possibly a post office... [IMG]http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/600122_10151968864845002_1318289266_n.jpg/IMG] Train Concourse entrance... Eastern Exit to Taxis and Buses The Eastern part of the terminal served as a little mall, and even had a Liquor Store! View from inside the Liquor Store… A train going by on the outside! [IMG]http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/599950_10151968865865002_680806125_n.jpg/IMG] Inside the Train concourse on the right in the distance, there are clean, fully functional and beautifully restored washrooms... [IMG] Looking up at main entrance... Baggage Check entrance... Welcome to Buffalo... Old Cabinet... Exit to street... Back looking at station entrance... The non-functional elevators... Stairway to mezzanine and tower floors... Looking up, this is a "strong-looking" building… which is something that Buffalo has a lot of… View from the north... Looking west towards downtown Buffalo from the terminal... A brief glimpse of the neighborhood the Terminal stands in, called Polonia, or "Broadway-Fillmore". It has seen better days, once home to an influx of Polish immigrants. Buffalo skyline, notice the sun is coming out... As mentioned, the CTRC received a grant from the state to restore this awnings and improve the entrances... Hope you all enjoyed it! Thanks for looking! __________________ I'm a kind of person feeling like living back in the 1950s, one who favors and enjoys the Golden-age, rust-belt cities of Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit, and the Gothic skylines of New York and Philadelphia. In my eye, they have more character, soul, and history to be pictured than today's world-class, cosmopolitan, and sprawling cities. Jaybird's flickr page \| Jaybird's ZENFOLIO Photo Galleries \| Jaybird's PBASE Photo Galleries Last edited by Jaybird; February 6th, 2013 at 05:01 AM.

September 10th, 2012, 04:02 AM	#3
*Jaybird* Making Detroit look good! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mitchell, Ontario Posts: 3,898 Likes (Received): 22	I don't know if they are using "authentic" materials of not, but they are trying to restore it to as close to its original self as they can. The building does have a lot of potential, definitely worth saving. I was happy to pay the money to do the photographers tour. __________________ I'm a kind of person feeling like living back in the 1950s, one who favors and enjoys the Golden-age, rust-belt cities of Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit, and the Gothic skylines of New York and Philadelphia. In my eye, they have more character, soul, and history to be pictured than today's world-class, cosmopolitan, and sprawling cities. Jaybird's flickr page \| Jaybird's ZENFOLIO Photo Galleries \| Jaybird's PBASE Photo Galleries

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August 15th, 2012, 02:27 PM	#2
Bronxwood Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 92 Likes (Received): 6	Beautiful. I enjoyed every shot. The Buffalo central terminal is a grand station, i can definitley see the potential. That main concourse can be such a grand space. It's shocking to me the station wasnt entirely demolished..this being Buffalo and all. Are they using authentic materials to restore the station? Would you know?

September 11th, 2012, 05:20 PM	#5
*ikops* Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Den Haag Posts: 6,096 Likes (Received): 197	Damn! That looks amazing. I am glad I stumbled onto this thread.

February 2nd, 2013, 07:38 AM	#6
UrbanMyth Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hartford and Mecklenburg, Virginia Posts: 302 Likes (Received): 6	What happened to the images?