Images of America: Buffalo’s Historic Streetcars and Buses
Much like the other titles in the series, Buffalo’s Historic Streetcars and Buses is primarily a collection of images topically and chronologically arranged with introductory material at the beginning of each chapter.
Just as the title promises, the book is nonstop collection of images of public transportation in and around Buffalo. Included are a few surprises like Buffalo’s double-decker buses that ran down Delaware Avenue, or the streetcar hearses that literally took you to the end of the line.
Buffalo’s Historic Streetcars and Buses does focus more pages to the mid 20th century and there are more images of buses than streetcars. This scope, while interesting, is somewhat limiting. The first horse drawn streetcars began operation in 1859, and the operations with some fits and starts, expanded since. Unfortunately, this formative growth period is poorly represented in only the first 6 pages.
The other criticism, is the over use of images of only a bus publicity photos. The _ shots of buses in a garage or empty lot devoid of context are a bit tedious.
That said, many of images are treasure troves of interesting glimpses into Buffalo’s past. Not just for the streetcars and buses either. Lost vistas and structures abound throughout the book. It would behoove urban planners who wonder what hardscapes to include in commercial districts to pick up Buffalo’s Historic Streetcars and Buses. Streetlights, signage, and transit stops are all well documented within the photographs. Of particular interest to readers may be the Shelton Square shelter. Built of brick, this handsome little stop sat on an island in the middle of the square serving bus and streetcar patrons.
Overall, this little book is well worth its $19.95 cover price, and should be a welcome addition to any Buffalo or transportation library.
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Other books in the series:
Buffalo: Good Neighbors, Great Architecture, Buffalo’s Waterfront, and Buffalo’s Pan-American Exposition
Images of America: Buffalo’s Historic Streetcars and Buses
Arcadia Publishing www.arcadiapublishing.com
127 pages | 19.95 cover price
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Dan
The definitive book about Buffalo's streetcar system is 90 Years of Buffalo Railways, 1850-1950: International Railway Company by William Gordon. It has over 500 pages, and is as complete as it gets: routes, rosters, mergers, photos, everything. Unfortunately, it's been out of print for years, and nearly impossible to find outside of libraries.
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Dan
Moderator: please fix my broken italics tag. Thanks.
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LarkinLot
Streetcars, buses, and cars all on the same road!
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br_boy
An interesting book as is any that tells the story of what used to be Buffalo. I listen to my parents and hear how they would catch a streetcar at the Botanical Gardens in Lackawanna and ride it all the way down South Park to the downtown area. And all the way, South Park was bustling with activity and filled with shops. And where is it all now.
And now for our next topic: Robert Moses, History's Greatest Monster. And why the parkway leading to Niagara Falls is named after him is beyond me. At the very least, we should petition to have that renamed. No reason to immortalize this animal.
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NBJOHN
br_boy,
I here ya singing - R M was a downstate SOB. We will live with his errors for generations
I will never live to see streetcars because we in upstate are controlled by downstate ( I am 34) (Sam Hoyt prove your worth)
Street cars are the best way to get to bars Nite BFLO
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RisingDamp666
Robert Moses was a wonderful champion of the automobile. Were it not for that great man, all of us, especially newly arrived immigrants and their families would be deprived of the pleasures of parking ramps.
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