My trip to Buffalo's Central Terminal

 

After viewing a web site, http://infiltration.org/abandoned-bct.html that featured the Buffalo Central Terminal, I was fascinated by it, by it's size, and of course by it's fantastic architecture.

You can check out other sites http://terminal.buffalonet.org/ , http://central.terminal.railfan.net/history.html to learn the detailed history of the building, but the main fact is that it was Buffalo's main Train and Bus terminal for 50 years from it's opening in 1929 til it's closing in 1979.

There have been attempts to redevelop it in recent years. One of the most promising was an interest in it for use as a casino. It's a shame nothing has come to pass yet. This site is run by the current owners and is one of the best sites about the BCT http://www.buffalocentralterminal.org/

How I got there: I drove a friend to Cortland NY as a favor and I figured since I was up there I should go see Niagra Falls. I'd heard about it since I was a kid but had never been up that way. On the way, I stopped in to lend my presence to the Rochester Lilac Festival parade, and also to see the Buffalo station. Niagra was fantastic, but I'm glad I saw Rochester and Buffalo, also.

I'm especially glad I got my "money shot" of the inside of the terminal concourse below.

These pics were taken on May 15th, 2004.

These pics are in chronological order, as I drove up to the building from the main road.

Click on each pic for a bigger version in a new window. Hover your mouse over each thumbnail for the caption.

Long shot from the SW entrance rd.End of the long buildingAnother shot down the entrance road

Distant tower and concourse shot from the SWTower face on SW sideConcourse facade from SW

long building NW facadeTower from the NWTower and NW sideNorth face of long building

W tower entranceNE foyerConcourse facing NEConcourse inside facing SW This is the "Money Shot"

Foyer hall ceiling detail. This ornamentation is above your head.DAMMIT!NE Concourse facade

Looking SE over train tracks coming into the stationMarble detail of driveway walltower NE faceNE foyer entranceTower north face

 

I understand the need to have a venture be commercially ($$$) successful, but the fact that this building has stood empty for the last TWENTY-FIVE YEARS is a shame.

It's got parking, lots of office space, and it's outside of Buffalo's downtown. The large concourse could be an inside shopping area with cafe's and shops for the customers coming from the offices upstairs. A simple shuttle bus schedule could tie it to downtown.

 

Obviously Buffalo needs economic recovery, and urban revitalization. I hope the BCT can be part of that.