408:
662:, long known to be in many major cities with streetcars, were purchased between 1917 and 1919 to supplement the service being primarily offered with the earlier purchased Nearside car. These cars were built by Kuhlman Car Co. of Cleveland, Ohio. The Peter Witts were delivered on their own wheels and under their own power. This was done over a series of interurban railways' trackage that connected Cleveland with Buffalo.
465:
streetcar shared trackage with the
Parkside-Zoo (or Kenmore) streetcar, the Kensington street car, the West Utica and East Utica streetcars. During the busy weekday, the four- to five-minute headways between cars on each line made it common to see streetcar after streetcar lining Main Street after departing Utica Street.
38:
1086:
731:
Toward the end, many of the streetcars left in service were painted an orange color as the primary color, with a darker green accenting the car. This color scheme existed until the end of streetcar service in 1950, although the buses operated by the IRC at the end were painted a bright red color with
448:
After the first decade of the 1900s, the
International Railway Company began assigning numbers to their services, in addition to the naming of the route according to the primary street(s) the car travelled on. Many of the route numbers assigned the most historical routes continue to this day. There
852:
Much of the original right-of-way and graded roadbed, including a second roadbed graded as a provision for never-built third and fourth tracks, exist in areas that were not overlaid by limited-access highways (Twin Cities
Arterial/Colvin Avenue extension, LaSalle Expressway). The concrete bases of
746:
Located on
Broadway between Bailey Avenue and Greene Street on Buffalo's east side, this building continues to stand and is used as for an architecture/construction firm's offices and garage. The Broadway Barns housed the streetcars that serviced most of the city's east side car lines, notably the
649:
A notable feature this type of car was known for was the P.A.Y.E. (pay as you enter) entrance, starting the policy shift of
Buffalo area streetcars to operate with a one-person crew. Using this type of boarding procedure the operator of the car also handled the responsibilities of the conductor,
464:
In addition to
Shelton Square being the origination point for the Grant, Niagara, and Elmwood streetcar lines, there were also a number of routes that passed through Shelton Square to continue either south towards the docks and harbor, or north toward the northeast sections of the city. The Main
874:
Much of the right-of-way for the 9-Parkside line was incorporated into
Delaware Park. The roadbed grade is evident along much of Parkside Avenue. Ruins of a large shelter south of Amherst Street, on the west side of the street, still remain, with the shelter being gradually dismantled since bus
415:
In 1937 the IRC discontinued all interurban rail service, and replaced much of it with buses. On July 1, 1950, the remaining streetcar lines in both
Buffalo and Niagara Falls, NY, ended, also replaced by buses. Within the same year, the Niagara Frontier Transit (NFT) took over all remaining IRC
314:
in Olcott at the Olcott Beach docks. 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. A portion of the BL&OB was reopened in 1983 as part of the
865:
This short street in the Town of
Cheektowaga occupies a short section of the former Buffalo, Depew and Lancaster interurban right-of-way. Despite the grandiose name, Buffalo-Depew Boulevard is only about 0.3 miles (0.5 kilometers) long.
755:
Located on Forest Avenue and Tremont Avenue on the west side. This building was also utilized as a streetcar repair depot. However, by 1939 the old west side lines had pretty much ceased to exist. The building is currently used by the
452:
Routes with shortened or abbreviated names in parentheses are the original assignment to the route that it served. These services were slowly changed to the numerical format used by the IRC after being taken over from other companies.
839:
This NFTA Metro bus was painted as an International Railway Company streetcar, some 50 years after the end of the International Railway Company. The bus is primarily a dark green color, with a cream and rust accents and imitation
713:
In 1902, when the International Railway Company began absorbing many of the responsibilities of the Buffalo streetcar system, they dealt with a number of varied color schemes that existed with the past companies.
386:. A connection was made across the international border at Niagara Falls with the B&NF. It became part of the IRC in the 1902 merger. This line is best known for a visit by the Prince of Wales (later
1075:
445:
Buffalo was the city where a majority of the streetcar service by the IRC was offered. They IRC also offered service in a number of other localities in Western New York and Southern Ontario.
1064:
646:
between the years of 1911–1913. The cars were manufactured, using the input of Mitten Management, the company that provided the management structure for the International Railway Company.
290:. This line went up to Lockport, where the Lockport streetcars were IRC. Also the IRC met the Buffalo, Lockport & Rochester here. The Buffalo, Lockport and Rochester (BL&R) ran to
970:
217:(later the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority), shutting down the streetcar network in 1950. The city of Buffalo would not see rapid transit rail again until 1984 when the
627:
The International Railway Company utilized many of the vehicles from the companies it had absorbed at the early 1900s, and by 1910 found itself looking for replacement vehicles.
394:(NGRR) connected in both Lewiston and Niagara Falls, New York. The Park & River line was abandoned in 1932, following the expiration of the lease of the right-of-way through
686:
Limousine service had not quite become readily available when dignitaries came to visit the area, and the International Railway Company had cars specifically for that purpose.
17:
269:
in Niagara Falls, following the opening of Buffalo & Niagara Falls High Speed Line in 1918. The B&NF high speed line was abandoned in 1937. The 1895 powerhouse at
678:
were their names. Both burned in 1916, and were replaced with new cars of the same names - these were used until 1922, when they were converted to regular passenger use.
257:
in Canada, the Niagara Gorge Railroad in Niagara Falls, NY, and the Buffalo & Lake Erie Traction in Buffalo. The railway was organized and incorporated by
697:
car of the Niagara Gorge Railway were two cars that were used when the Prince of Wales visited the area on September 10, 1927, during the dedication of the
461:
Although the terminal point for the majority of west side streetcars, the streetcars that used Main Street clearly made the street live up to its name.
1133:
820:
The streetcar tracks are still visible even after being buried under asphalt all these years. On rainy days the old tracks are most visible.
1128:
440:
274:
213:
Partially owing to the decline of the streetcar system, the IRC declared bankruptcy in 1947 and transferred its assets to the newly formed
1118:
254:
950:
809:
424:
417:
1138:
808:
There is an earthen embankment at the end of the dead-end street where the lower sections of the concrete supports for the old
910:
423:
The NFTA opened the subsidiary light rail rapid transit line known as Metro Rail along Main Street in Buffalo, from the
1123:
407:
1010:
995:
214:
89:
784:
Former IRC building with complete IRC markings. Abandoned, possibly old offices, power station or repair shops.
717:
Previously, one could look at many of the cars and immediately know which company was operating that service.
367:
ran from the end of the Genesee car line in Pine Hill to Depew. It was reorganized in the early 1920s as the
431:'s South Campus. Much of this same route followed the previous 8-Main streetcar line only 35 years earlier.
187:(NGRR) as a subsidiary, which was sold in 1924 to the Niagara Falls Power Company. The NGRR also leased the
316:
966:
416:
operations. In 1974, NFT and Grand Island Rapid Transit were merged into a public Corporation, named the
792:
On the site of the past Seabrook Loop of the 3-Grant bus line sits a building that is now part of the
270:
246:
295:
234:
996:"National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Herschell–Spillman Motor Company Complex"
761:
258:
199:
132:
1051:
793:
757:
353:
207:
184:
1029:, Harold Ahlstrom, Buffalo Chapter, National Railways Historical Society, Inc. (1973) No ISBN
428:
230:
833:
724:
The Broadway line at one time operated violet colored cars from Downtown Buffalo to Emslie.
659:
250:
8:
828:
The streetcar tracks on this old route are visible along this entire stretch of roadway.
395:
327:
302:, where the IRC maintained an amusement park. IRC trolleys met steamers from Rochester,
147:(IRC) was a transportation company formed in a 1902 merger between several Buffalo-area
881:
643:
639:
383:
342:
266:
218:
203:
906:
797:
379:
307:
195:
53:
773:
303:
650:
collecting fares in addition to his normal day-to-day operating of the streetcar.
357:
331:
262:
922:
286:(BL&OB) left the B&NF in North Tonawanda, NY, on tracks leased from the
37:
152:
60:
1098:
1112:
857:
support structures are still in place along much of the former right-of-way.
854:
291:
287:
776:
Belt Line. Building still standing, now used as an automotive repair shop.
698:
387:
101:
299:
148:
630:
Two major car types became the backbone of the IRC's equipment force.
194:
The IRC maintained streetcar networks throughout Western New York: in
841:
702:
971:
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
670:
Two specific cars were available to those needing funeral cars. The
341:(BG&E) was part of Erie County Traction. It ran from Buffalo to
360:. East Aurora was never reached. also part of Erie County Traction.
955:. New York, New York: James B. Lyon, Publisher. pp. 216–217.
311:
229:
Besides the city streetcars, the IRC network extended throughout
993:
721:
The Buffalo Street Railway cars utilized a bright yellow color.
468:
974:
253:
to Niagara Falls, Ontario. This line interchanged with the
449:
appears to be no logical numbering scheme for the routes.
334:, creating a loop line. This route was abandoned in 1937.
294:. From Lockport, the line continued through the town of
760:
as a storage facility with a special exhibit about the
434:
772:
Located on Walden Avenue near Lathrop Street near the
747:
4-Broadway car, which trundled by since its opening.
735:
265:
This line was later abandoned between Tonawanda and
844:for the crest, logo and "INTERNATIONAL" lettering.
1065:Google Maps: Buffalo-Niagara Falls High Speed Line
727:The Jersey line boasted a green colored streetcar.
693:car of the International Railway Company, and the
167:. The suburban railroads that merged included the
994:Kerry Traynor and Daniel McEneny (January 2013).
1110:
237:counties. Most lines radiated out from Buffalo.
825:Fillmore Avenue (Seneca Street to Best Street)
326:(BB&L) interurban line ran from Buffalo to
653:
633:
402:
245:(B&NF) line ran from Buffalo, through the
967:"Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)"
169:Buffalo & Niagara Electric Street Railway
1022:
1020:
622:
469:Route of Niagara Falls, New York, streetcars
441:List of routes of City of Buffalo streetcars
173:Buffalo, Lockport & Olcott Beach Railway
255:Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Railway
189:Lewiston & Youngstown Frontier Railroad
27:Former urban transit company in Buffalo, NY
875:service on Parkside Avenue was withdrawn.
800:for the IRC Streetcars electrical supply.
284:Buffalo, Lockport and Olcott Beach Railway
243:Buffalo and Niagara Falls Electric Railway
18:International Railway (New York – Ontario)
1017:
959:
923:"History of Metro - Metro Bus & Rail"
905:, D. David Bregger, Arcadia Pub., c2008.
418:Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
155:. The city railways that merged were the
805:Virgil Avenue & St. Lawrence Avenue
406:
378:(NFP&R) opened in 1893. It ran from
330:. From Lancaster a line branched off to
275:Herschell–Spillman Motor Company Complex
1134:Interurban railways in New York (state)
1041:, William Gordon, Self published (1970)
903:Buffalo's Historic Streetcars and Buses
681:
14:
1111:
948:
944:
942:
849:Buffalo-Niagara Falls High Speed Line
642:type streetcar was purchased from the
376:Niagara Falls Park & River Railway
356:. The original intention was to reach
181:Niagara Falls Park & River Railway
177:Buffalo, Depew & Lancaster Railway
1076:Google Maps: Buffalo-Depew Boulevard
435:Routes of city of Buffalo streetcars
352:(BH&A) ran from Buffalo, NY, to
1129:Transportation in Buffalo, New York
1027:The Last Decade of Buffalo Trolleys
939:
781:1231 Seneca Street at Imson Street
411:Workers arriving on IRC buses, 1943
350:Buffalo, Hamburg and Aurora Railway
24:
1119:Defunct New York (state) railroads
25:
1150:
736:Visible remains of the IRC system
339:Buffalo, Gardenville and Ebenezer
1099:"IRC - 18 Mile Creek Bridge (E)"
221:began operation under the NFTA.
36:
1091:
1080:
708:
665:
215:Niagara Frontier Transit System
90:Niagara Frontier Transit System
1139:Interurban railways in Ontario
1069:
1058:
1044:
1032:
915:
896:
817:Virgil Avenue (North Buffalo)
789:Kenmore Extension at Seabrook
456:
324:Buffalo, Bellvue and Lancaster
13:
1:
952:The New York red book, Vol. 4
889:
812:Belt Line are still visible.
183:. Later the IRC acquired the
145:International Railway Company
1087:Google Maps: Parkside Avenue
1039:90 Years of Buffalo Railways
796:. The previous use was as a
345:, and was abandoned in 1937.
73:Buffalo and Niagara Frontier
7:
654:Peter Witt car (100 to 229)
634:Nearside car (6000 to 6363)
403:Buses and modern rail lines
390:) in 1927. The IRC and the
10:
1155:
1052:"1231 Seneca Street — PRS"
879:
878:
870:
869:
861:
860:
848:
847:
832:
831:
824:
823:
816:
815:
804:
803:
788:
787:
780:
779:
768:
767:
751:
750:
742:
741:
732:silver and black accents.
438:
224:
949:Murlin, Edgar L. (1896).
623:Equipment / Rolling Stock
271:North Tonawanda, New York
171:, and its subsidiary the
131:
100:
95:
85:
77:
69:
59:
49:
44:
35:
31:International Railway Co.
1124:Defunct Ontario railways
1012:Accompanying photographs
862:Buffalo-Depew Boulevard
371:and operated until 1925.
165:Buffalo Traction Company
161:Crosstown Street Railway
157:West Side Street Railway
762:Pan-American Exposition
261:, investors, including
259:Niagara Falls, New York
206:, and a single line in
794:Buffalo Public Schools
758:Buffalo History Museum
412:
392:Niagara Gorge Railroad
208:Niagara Falls, Ontario
185:Niagara Gorge Railroad
978:(Searchable database)
880:18 Mile Creek Bridge
701:(between Buffalo and
660:Peter Witt streetcars
439:Further information:
429:University of Buffalo
410:
834:New Flyer Industries
769:Walden Avenue Barns
752:Forest Avenue Barns
682:Special service cars
273:, forms part of the
396:Queen Victoria Park
369:Depew and Lancaster
32:
882:Lockport, New York
644:J.G. Brill Company
494:Streets Travelled
413:
384:Lewiston, New York
219:Buffalo Metro Rail
78:Dates of operation
30:
911:978-0-7385-5750-2
887:
886:
798:power transformer
620:
619:
380:Chippewa, Ontario
365:Buffalo and Depew
317:Somerset Railroad
308:Hamilton, Ontario
141:
140:
54:Buffalo, New York
16:(Redirected from
1146:
1103:
1102:
1095:
1089:
1084:
1078:
1073:
1067:
1062:
1056:
1055:
1048:
1042:
1036:
1030:
1024:
1015:
1008:
1006:
1005:
1000:
988:
986:
985:
979:
973:. Archived from
963:
957:
956:
946:
937:
936:
934:
933:
919:
913:
900:
871:Parkside Avenue
774:New York Central
740:
739:
473:
472:
427:Terminal to the
126:
122:
120:
119:
115:
112:
40:
33:
29:
21:
1154:
1153:
1149:
1148:
1147:
1145:
1144:
1143:
1109:
1108:
1107:
1106:
1097:
1096:
1092:
1085:
1081:
1074:
1070:
1063:
1059:
1050:
1049:
1045:
1037:
1033:
1025:
1018:
1003:
1001:
998:
992:This includes
983:
981:
977:
965:
964:
960:
947:
940:
931:
929:
921:
920:
916:
901:
897:
892:
743:Broadway Barns
738:
711:
684:
668:
656:
636:
625:
471:
459:
443:
437:
405:
358:East Aurora, NY
263:Frank A. Dudley
227:
153:street railways
133:Electrification
124:
117:
113:
110:
108:
107:4 ft
106:
81:1902–1950
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1152:
1142:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1105:
1104:
1090:
1079:
1068:
1057:
1043:
1031:
1016:
958:
938:
927:metro.nfta.com
914:
894:
893:
891:
888:
885:
884:
877:
876:
872:
868:
867:
863:
859:
858:
850:
846:
845:
837:
830:
829:
826:
822:
821:
818:
814:
813:
806:
802:
801:
790:
786:
785:
782:
778:
777:
770:
766:
765:
753:
749:
748:
744:
737:
734:
729:
728:
725:
722:
710:
707:
683:
680:
667:
664:
655:
652:
635:
632:
624:
621:
618:
617:
615:
613:
611:
609:
607:
605:
598:
597:
595:
593:
591:
589:
587:
585:
581:
580:
578:
576:
574:
572:
570:
568:
564:
563:
561:
559:
557:
555:
553:
551:
547:
546:
544:
542:
540:
538:
536:
534:
530:
529:
527:
525:
523:
521:
519:
517:
513:
512:
510:
508:
506:
504:
502:
500:
496:
495:
492:
489:
486:
485:Ended Service
483:
482:Began Service
480:
479:Route Numbers
477:
470:
467:
458:
455:
436:
433:
404:
401:
400:
399:
372:
361:
346:
335:
320:
279:
278:
226:
223:
139:
138:
135:
129:
128:
104:
98:
97:
93:
92:
87:
83:
82:
79:
75:
74:
71:
67:
66:
63:
61:Reporting mark
57:
56:
51:
47:
46:
42:
41:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1151:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1116:
1114:
1100:
1094:
1088:
1083:
1077:
1072:
1066:
1061:
1053:
1047:
1040:
1035:
1028:
1023:
1021:
1014:
1013:
997:
991:
980:on 2019-04-04
976:
972:
968:
962:
954:
953:
945:
943:
928:
924:
918:
912:
908:
904:
899:
895:
883:
873:
864:
856:
851:
843:
838:
835:
827:
819:
811:
807:
799:
795:
791:
783:
775:
771:
763:
759:
754:
745:
733:
726:
723:
720:
719:
718:
715:
706:
704:
700:
696:
692:
687:
679:
677:
673:
663:
661:
651:
647:
645:
641:
631:
628:
616:
614:
612:
610:
608:
606:
604:
601:Sugar Street
600:
599:
596:
594:
592:
590:
588:
586:
583:
582:
579:
577:
575:
573:
571:
569:
566:
565:
562:
560:
558:
556:
554:
552:
549:
548:
545:
543:
541:
539:
537:
535:
532:
531:
528:
526:
524:
522:
520:
518:
515:
514:
511:
509:
507:
505:
503:
501:
498:
497:
493:
490:
487:
484:
481:
478:
475:
474:
466:
462:
454:
450:
446:
442:
432:
430:
426:
421:
419:
409:
397:
393:
389:
385:
381:
377:
373:
370:
366:
362:
359:
355:
351:
347:
344:
340:
336:
333:
329:
325:
321:
318:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
293:
289:
288:Erie Railroad
285:
281:
280:
276:
272:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
239:
238:
236:
232:
222:
220:
216:
211:
209:
205:
201:
200:Niagara Falls
197:
192:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
146:
136:
134:
130:
125:1,435 mm
105:
103:
99:
94:
91:
88:
84:
80:
76:
72:
68:
64:
62:
58:
55:
52:
48:
43:
39:
34:
19:
1093:
1082:
1071:
1060:
1046:
1038:
1034:
1026:
1011:
1002:. Retrieved
989:
982:. Retrieved
975:the original
961:
951:
930:. Retrieved
926:
917:
902:
898:
730:
716:
712:
709:Color scheme
699:Peace Bridge
694:
690:
688:
685:
675:
671:
669:
666:Funeral cars
657:
648:
637:
629:
626:
603:(Hyde Park)
602:
584:11th Street
550:Buffalo Ave
533:Pine Avenue
516:Main Street
499:19th Street
463:
460:
451:
447:
444:
422:
414:
391:
375:
368:
364:
354:Orchard Park
349:
338:
323:
283:
242:
228:
212:
193:
188:
180:
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
144:
142:
50:Headquarters
457:Main Street
388:Edward VIII
241:The former
102:Track gauge
1113:Categories
1004:2015-11-01
984:2015-11-01
932:2022-03-01
890:References
567:Riverview
491:Terminals
425:Lackawanna
304:Youngstown
251:Wheatfield
247:Tonawandas
179:; and the
149:interurban
842:gold leaf
836:bus 9318
703:Fort Erie
676:Greenwood
488:Car Type
476:Car Line
328:Lancaster
292:Rochester
96:Technical
86:Successor
855:catenary
810:DL&W
640:Nearside
420:(NFTA).
343:Ebenezer
204:Lockport
163:and the
121: in
45:Overview
691:Ondiara
672:Elmlawn
312:Toronto
296:Newfane
267:LaSalle
235:Niagara
225:Network
196:Buffalo
137:600v DC
116:⁄
909:
695:Rapids
300:Olcott
175:; the
159:, the
70:Locale
999:(PDF)
990:Note:
382:, to
332:Depew
1009:and
907:ISBN
689:The
674:and
658:The
638:The
374:The
363:The
348:The
337:The
322:The
310:and
282:The
249:and
233:and
231:Erie
202:and
151:and
143:The
705:).
298:to
65:IRC
1115::
1019:^
969:.
941:^
925:.
764:.
306:,
210:.
198:,
191:.
1101:.
1054:.
1007:.
987:.
935:.
398:.
319:.
277:.
127:)
123:(
118:2
114:1
111:+
109:8
20:)
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