Restoration of Buffalo Creek flour boxcar no. 1424

The Flour-by-Rail Legacy Project (FBRLP) is a community-driven placemaking initiative in Buffalo, NY, to preserve, relocate and restore historic rail equipment of significance to the lake-to-rail transportation business and industries that once made Buffalo the 'bread-basket for the nation.'

The singular initiative of the 501c3 Buffalo, USA Foundation, the restored FBRLP railcars will be home to interpretive/educational exhibits, greenhouse space for local threatened/essential flora and fauna, and revenue-generating partnerships to create sustainable fundraising sources for the foundation. The project is being undertaken at an iconic, high-visibility location adjacent to Silo City and efforts are aligned with the sustainability endeavors and creative reuse being undertaken on the grounds.

In July of 2021, the first railcar, Buffalo Creek Railroad PS-1 boxcar no. 1424 (BCK 1424), was trucked to the site and restoration efforts commenced. Built in August of '52 by the Pullman-Standard Co., Phase I of this fundraiser is dedicated to raising the necessary dollars to paint BCK 1424 in her classy, as-delivered red, black and silver paint scheme (rendering, below). All fundraising is occurring under the auspices of our 501c3 nonprofit organization, the Buffalo, USA Foundation.

11/20/20 Buffalo Rising article discussing this initiative 

12/7/20 WBFO NPR article and audio discussing the FBRLP

1/28/21 WGRZ article announcing 10K grant to move 1st boxcar

4/18/23 Roundhouse podcast with updates on the initiative

SPONSOR BACKGROUND

The FBRLP concept was developed by Charlie Monte Verde, newly-resident of Buffalo but an Upstate native. Charlie's background is in both in the public/passenger rail sector as well as the freight rail side of the business.

QUESTIONS? Flour-by-Rail Legacy Project Facebook page or Send the project team an email.