History of Buffalo’s DL&W
Industrial innovation at its best
The departure concourse of the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (DL&W) terminal remains largely intact on the waterfront in downtown Buffalo, New York.
Built in 1917 by the DL&W Railroad, it served as a major intermodal link, moving anthracite coal from Pennsylvania mines to points north, east, and west and providing luxury passenger service between New York City, Buffalo, and points west. Train passengers could transfer from the terminal to awaiting passenger ships to Great Lakes ports or for further travel West and South via the Nickel Plate Railroad, which also serviced the DL&W terminal.
For decades, the building was central to Buffalo’s movement of people and goods. While the western half of the original complex was demolished in the late twentieth century, the remaining structure, including its pioneering and historic train shed, is not done playing its part in the city’s history.
Cutting-edge form and function
The DL&W terminal was designed by architect Kenneth M. Murchison, best known for his Beaux-Arts public transportation structures. Perhaps the most unique feature of the terminal came from DL&W’s head engineer, Lincoln Bush. His patented design for the train shed, now known as the Bush-style shed, increased passenger comfort and safety. Skylights brightened the platforms, and vents above the tracks funneled out steam and smoke. Large exterior windows introduced plentiful natural light. The DL&W’s elevated double-deck train shed was constructed of reinforced concrete, which was still new to the industry.
While second-story train sheds weren’t unheard of then, they were uncommon. Buffalo’s DL&W double deck train sheds remain a standout. Bush’s modular design allowed for efficient construction, and in Buffalo, the terminal’s location allowed passengers to connect with lake ships and trains in the same place.
Photo by Bruce Jackson
Decline, dormancy, and transformation
Passenger service at the DL&W terminal ended when the Erie and Lackawanna railroads merged in 1963. As highway and air travel grew, passenger rail service declined. In 1979, the grand staircase and Headhouse were demolished by the NFTA in order to facilitate the use of the terminal’s first floor for Buffalo’s then-new Metro Rail project, serving as its head end maintenance facility. Though the original elegance of the train terminal was lost, its structure was preserved.
A foundation for what’s next
Today, the +110,000-square-foot second-story train shed is being returned to public use. The NFTA is constructing a Metro passenger station on the first floor of the structure and providing a direct link to public transportation. It can be said that the new DL&W project builds on the original purpose and legacy of Buffalo’s original DL&W terminal. Its scale, location, utility, and ability to connect passengers and visitors have evolved to serve the way we live and gather today.
A storied past and unfolding future
Explore a historic timeline of Buffalo’s DL&W terminal below. Visit the Terminal Bulletin for more historical insight.