The United States of America is a nation of big cities, and it is a nation of small towns. While more people are flocking to the big cities, they are leaving the small towns behind. In the early days of railroading, the railroad made stops in many of these small towns. Today, very few small towns are served, and the ones that get service are the ones on the passenger routes between two major cities.
In the western part of the U.S. state of New York, about six miles south of Buffalo and the world-famous Niagara Falls and thirty-five east of the city of Jamestown, the birth city of the famous comedian Lucille Ball, is the city of Salamanca. What is so special about Salamanca? It has the claim to fame of being the only city in the United States of America to be completely within an Indian reservation. The town is the home of a casino and the home of the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum. The town is also home to another museum.
In the town’s heyday, it was a major railroad town and it was in the heart of the lumber industry. Although the railroad still passes through the town, much of the old rail yard was taken up. The passenger depot and freight house were preserved, and it is the home to the Salamanca Railroad Museum.
When passenger service ceased, the depot and the freight house were left to ruin. It became a place for vandals to destroy this piece of history. The depot was rescued, and it was completely restored to the look it once had except that it is fully of artifacts and displays from the different railroads that once served this town. Outside the museum includes two cabooses and other rolling stock. Even when the museum is closed, you will be amazed by the structure.
Some of you are saying, “This is nice that they were able to restore this train depot as many old depots go into disrepair. Sadly, the railroad will never serve this town,”
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the town of Salamanca, New York and to the Salamanca Railroad Museum. Salamanca was selected by Home and Garden Television for a revitalization project to revitalize the main street. The future of the Railroad Museum will include the return of passenger service of an excursion train bringing the people of Buffalo to various town in western New York to include the town of Salamanca. You will want to make plans to visit this town.
The Salamanca Railroad Museum is located at 170 Main Street in Salamanca, New York. It is just minutes from Interstate 86 and U.S. Route 219. It is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm from April to October. Admission is free, but they could use your donations to help keep the museum running for many years to come. Parking is at the museum. You can read more about the museum at https://enchantedmountains.com/place/salamanca-rail-museum and read more about the town of Salamanca at http://www.salmun.com/.
The next time you are in western New York, make your way to Salamanca. They will be happy to see you and pay a visit to the Salamanca Railroad Museum while you are there.
John Cowgill: Stories of the Railroad 
Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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