The Buffalo and Rochester Railroad was one of a number of railroads that eventually formed the New York Central Main Line in Central and Western New York.

History

The Buffalo and Rochester Railroad was formed on December 7, 1850 by the merger of the Tonawanda Railroad and the Attica and Buffalo Railroad.

The Tonawanda Railroad was chartered April 24, 1832 to build from Rochester to Attica. The section from Rochester to Batavia opened May 5, 1837 and the rest of the line to Attica opened on January 8, 1843.

The Attica and Buffalo Railroad was chartered in 1836 and opened on November 24, 1842, running from Buffalo east to Attica. When the Auburn and Rochester Railroad opened in 1841, there was no connection at Rochester to the Tonawanda Railroad, but with that exception there was now an all-rail line between Buffalo and Albany. On March 19, 1844 the Tonawanda Railroad was authorized to build the connection, and it opened later that year.

The Buffalo and Rochester Railroad opened a new direct line from Buffalo east to Batavia on April 26, 1852. When this line was opened they sold the old line between Depew and Attica to the Buffalo and New York City Railroad on November 1, 1852. The Buffalo and New York City used a broad gauge and the line was converted to a 6 foot gauge after it was sold.

The railroad was one of ten that merged on May 17, 1853 to form the New York Central Railroad.

Clippings

Learn More

• Wikipedia. “Buffalo and Rochester Railroad“