Comments on: These were the lean years for Amtrak. This train which rattled its way along the CASO from Detroit thru to the International Bridge to Buffalo was given the name “Niagara Rainbow” a rather inventive name for such a clunker. This train during these lean years ran with old hand-me-down E8A units, as seen in this image. AMTK 407 is photographed on approach to the bridge having just stopped at the passenger station. A few people and a taxi can be seen. On the right in this image is the old B-1 station, moved in 1981 to Oakes Park down on Central Av to keep the old CNR 6218 company. A lot of things have changed in Fort Erie over the years…on the left, the water tower is gone, as is the crew hostel in front. The bridge recently was replaced. In far background the CN shop has been closed and is now a fledgling RR museum. And the Sidekick of the day was along; standing in front of the pole on the left.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 12:11:59 +0000

I can really appreciate the difficulty in getting this shot. Well done

By: Klaucker

Klaucker — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 18:18:15 +0000

Pretty awesome capture…when Railroading mattered to Fort Erie !

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:16:13 +0000

LOL, it was a bunkhouse when I stayed there. The the city bought it an turned it into a womens shelter
HAHA, me thinks the Conrail crews were having a “liquid lunch” wink . The food there was amazing. I remember stopping there to place an order “to go” before heading to Frontier or Bison Yard, because we could get held out for hours of outlaw on the train and have no food.
I have no idea whats left on that street as it always felt like a dying town.
Yes sir, seems like you are a poet and didn’t even know it

By: awmooney

awmooney — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:03:11 +0000

Amusing.
No wonder the Hostel came down. There is nothing there but the old concrete pad for something. Still empty land.
The Barney House…..oh, I guess there was a lot of “eating” going on there, but I recall seeing a few Conrail guys who spent more than 2 hours there just waiting out the day to get a signal to return home. Must be good “food”.
I wonder if there is anything at all left on that street.
If you care to return there, the air of despair is everywhere. (geez, that flowed nicely, didn’t it? ) )

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 13:56:06 +0000

WOW..talk about a blast from the past. Your pics always bring me great memories. This shot is 5 years before I hired on so its nice to see what it looked like. I stayed in that bunkhouse many times (lol what a dump). By the time I went to Ft.Erie the station had been razed and only the foundations left. The only good thing about going to the Fort was eating at The Barney House (long closed) that was behind the station