Buildings and New Trackage Provided at Cost of $132,000; Will Greatly Facilitate Service to Up-River Industrial Plants
CONSTRUCTION of a new engine house and service building, together with all necessary trackage, to provide for the concentration of the operation and maintenance work of the Niagara Junction Railway company, the electric railroad which gives freight switching service to the upriver industrial establishments, was one of the major industrial additions to the city during the last year.
Work on the two buildings was begun in March and completed on September 1 at the site on the northeast corner of the Intersection of Adams avenue and Hyde Park boulevard. Both buildings, which are of one-story construction, are fabricated of brick and steel. Surrounding them is a network of tracks and switches providing sufficient trackage to take care of in and out business and storage of cars.
The cost of the work, including both buildings and trackage, was estimated at about $132,000. The engine-house, which stands considerably higher than the adjacent service building, is built to house all necessary repair equipment for the electric engines as well as to provide for their shelter and for the shelter of the work cars. It also serves as headquarters for the engine and repair crews. The building is large enough to house a dozen engines, thus providing for any necessary future expansion.
In the nearby service building are housed stores, the track maintenance department and the line maintenance department.
Location of the buildings and storage yard at the particular site selected was with a view of the eventual relocation of the railroad lines entering the city, officials explained. It will be, in that event conveniently located to connect up with the relocated trackage. In addition, it now provides for the long greatly needed centralization of the company’s line and operation maintenance work.
The offices of the company are still located at their site at Twenty-third street and Buffalo avenue but space has been reserved at the new location near Hyde Park boulevard to allow for the construction of an office building near the engine house and service building at some future date.
Principal officials of the Niagara Junction Railway company include Rob Roy MacLeod, president, and Leslie E. Ross, general superintendent.
Source: The Niagara Falls [NY] Gazette, 31 December 1938, p. 32, Fultonhistory.com