New York Railroad Archive

Suspension Bridge, NY

Suspension Bridge was a village just north of downtown Niagara Falls, NY and was the site of the first railroad suspension bridge across the Niagara River, known as the International Suspension Bridge. This was a key east-west route that went through Canada to Michigan. The original bridge stood from 1855 to 1897 when it was replaced by the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge.

A second bridge, known as the Michigan Central Suspension bridge was later added just south of the original bridge. This bridge was opened for traffic in 1925 and was used as a railroad bridge until 2001.

A 1931 aerial photograph of the railroad yards and stations in Suspension Bridge, NY. The blue box is the Union passenger depot used by the New York Central and most other railroads and the green box shows the Erie Railroad’s passenger station. The Niagara River and bridges over it are just out of sight on the left of the photo. Author’s illustration based on a photo from Facebook.com.

The New York Central Railroad, Erie Railroad, and Lehigh Valley Railroad all had lines that went to or through Suspension Bridge.

New York Central Railroad

The Union Depot passenger station in Suspension Bridge, NY. Niagara Falls Public library photo found on Facebook.com.

The New York Central Railroad entered Suspension Bridge from three directions. The Niagara Falls Branch from Buffalo through Niagara Falls to Suspension Bridge. The Falls Road Branch entered from the east and ran from Rochester through Lockport to Suspension Bridge. The former Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad came down to Suspension Bridge from the north.

The New York Central passenger station was a “Union Station” utilized by other companies and was located just east of the entrance to the bridge. The station was destroyed by a fire in 1883 and was replaced by a larger one near the same location.

Erie Railroad

The Erie Railroad passenger station at Suspension Bridge, NY near Niagara Falls. eBay.com.

The Erie Railroad entered Suspension Bridge from the south from Buffalo and Niagara Falls. The railroad continued across the suspension bridge and terminated in Clifton, Ontario, where it connected to railroads going west.

The Erie had a separate passenger station just to the south of the New York Central’s union station.

Lehigh Valley Railroad

The Lehigh Valley Railroad yard office in Suspension Bridge, NY just before it was demolished in November 1963. Facebook.com.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad yard office in Suspension Bridge, NY just before it was demolished in November 1963. Facebook.com.

The Lehigh Valley reached Suspension Bridge using trackage rights over the New York Central from Tonawanda to Niagara Falls and Suspension Bridge. It had its own large yard at Suspension Bridge.

The Lehigh Valley used the New York Central union station for its passenger service but had its own yard office and other buildings in its yard.

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Cover: Detail of an 1866 drawing of the original railroad suspension bridge over the Niagara River. eBay.com.