New York Railroad Archive

Erie Railroad Lockport Branch

History

The Lockport and Buffalo Railroad was organized in 1876 and broke ground in October of that year. In 1877 the New York Central sued to prevent the company from crossing its tracks in Tonawanda, effectively preventing the railroad from connecting to the Erie Railway. The road was opened in 1879 and on September 15 , 1880 it was leased to the Suspension Bridge and Erie Junction Railroad Company, which was itself leased to the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad.

An 1898 article in an electrical trade journal stated that:

The Buffalo and Lockport Railway has placed its new line connecting the county seats of Erie and Niagara counties in operation. From North Tonawanda to Lockport the Buffalo-Lockport cars are run over the old Tonawanda-Lockport branch of the Erie railroad. This branch has been leased by the Buffalo and Lockport Railway company, and the line fitted for electric service. On taking possession the Buffalo and Lockport Railway company found the track in fair condition. The rails used by the Erie company were of the 60-pound type, and about two miles out of Lockport a mile of track was relaid with 80-pound rails.

The Buffalo and Lockport Railway became part of the Buffalo, Lockport and Olcott Beach Railway (BL&OB), which was owned by the Buffalo & Niagara Electric Street Railway. The Buffalo & Niagara Electric Street Railway later became part of the International Railway Company (IRC).

In 1937 the IRC abandoned the line north of Lockport, and ended passenger service south of Lockport. IRC returned operations of the line to the Erie Railroad in 1951.

Timeline of the Route

1876: The Lockport and Buffalo Railroad was organized in 1876.

1879: The Lockport and Buffalo Railroad was opened over the full length of the line.

1880: The New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad (NYLE&W) leased the Lockport and Buffalo Railroad and began operating the Lockport Branch on September 15 , 1880.

1895: The Erie Railroad purchased the NYLE&W and began operating the branches.

1898: The Lockport Branch is leased to an electric railroad and the Erie stops service on the line.

1951: The Erie Railroad resumes operations on the Lockport Branch.

1960: The Erie Lackawanna Railroad was formed by the merger of the Erie Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad.

1976: Conrail was formed from the Erie Lackawanna, and other northeastern railroads, including the New York Central, Pennsylvania, and the Lehigh Valley.

Stations

Tonawanda * Martinsville * Hoffman * Pendleton Centre * Hodgeville * Lockport

Details
StationDistance
Tonawanda
Martinsville
Hoffman
Pendleton Centre
Hodgeville
Lockport		13
16
17
21
22
26

Clippings

Photographs

Timetables

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