Program

Historic Transportation

Subject

Building, Transportation

Location

174 N Main St, Salamanca, NY 14779, USA

Lat/Long

42.16065, -78.71418

Grant Recipient

Niagara Frontier Chapter NRHS, Inc.

In 1912, the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway built a passenger train station in Salamanca, New York. Completed in December 1912, the station was constructed of brick and stone with the interior finished throughout in oak with matching oak furnishings. The December 16, 1912 edition of Salamanca’s Republican Press described the waiting room of the new station as “spacious and airy with a high beamed ceiling and its heating and lighting arrangements … thoroughly modern and excellent in all respects.”

In January 1932, the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway was acquired by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In December of that year, the railroad closed the passenger station in Salamanca. The railroad had discontinued passenger service to the station. However, the December 16, 1932 Salamanca Inquirer noted that there would be no change in the passenger service from the East Salamanca station, located two miles to the east.

Fortunately, the station was saved and eventually restored, and on June 17, 1984, the Salamanca Rail Museum held its grand opening in the former station building. As of 2025, the museum continues to educate the public on the significance of this local piece of transportation history.