BUFFALO, N.Y. — Fundraising is underway to return Buffalo Creek Railroad Alco S2 switcher No. 46 to Buffalo as the next phase of the Flour-by-Rail Legacy Project, which will commemorate the role of Buffalo and the rail industry in shipping the commodity.
The locomotive, built in Alco in 1947, was part of the Buffalo Creek fleet until the railroad’s dissolution in the late 1970s. It is now stored serviceable by the current owner, the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad, which will save the locomotive from scrapping by donating it to the Buffalo, USA Organization, the 501c3 non-profit behind Flour-by-Rail.
Funds are needed to cover the locomotive’s move from Corning, N.Y., to Buffalo. To do by rail will require renting or acquisition of wheelsets with roller bearing trucks, since the locomotive’s original friction-bearing trucks are no longer allowed on mainline railroads, as well as blocking of the unit’s couplers and the actual transportation costs. The foundation has also received an estimate for a highway move.
“We are eternally grateful that the LA&L is willing to donate BCK 46,” said Charlie Monte Verde, foundation president. “The preservation of the 46 was always a goal of our Flour-by-Rail Legacy Project. The thing that has changed is the timeline — we need to raise the funds to save this locomotive now.”
The foundation has estimated that a safe, high-end estimate for the move is $30,000. When the fundraising effort hits $10,000, foundation trustees have committed to a matching donation of $2,500; at $15,000, an anonymous donor has committed another $5,000. Donations can be made at this GoFundMe page, and are also accepted by PayPal (to admin@buffalousa.org), as well as cash or check.
If the fundraising is unsuccessful and the locomotive is scrapped, donors will have the opportunity to receive their contribution back or to have it go to toward the restoration of Buffalo Creek flour boxcar No. 1424. That car already on display at the Flour-by-Rail Silo City site [see “First car arrives for Buffalo’s Flour-By-Rail …,” Trains News Wire, July 20, 2021]. More on the Flour-By-Rail Legacy Project is available at this Facebook page.
— Updated Feb. 21 at 7: 15 a.m. to correct donation of anonymous donor to $5,000.
