Vintage trolley could be just the ticket

By John Neeskens

The Citizens’ Rapid transit Committee has released a prospectus for a vintage trolley project to connect the waterfront with Chippewa Street. Such a line could have cars built to the same specifications as the IRC cars which, among other things, ferried people to the Pan American Exposition. @2,000,000 in county money and $110,000 in city funds could be used to gain sufficient state and federal matching grants for both the vintage trolley and a new Metro rail loop and station in the Cobblestone District.

The Preservation Coalition supports the idea and asked Coalition member and Inkwell Studio principal Michael Gelan to develop a promotional image for fictional Cobblestone Electric Railway. Shown in the illustration is an open IRC car replica. If vision becomes realty, Buffalo would join cities vintage rail cities such as San Francisco, New Orleans, and Portland, Ore.

Key funding for the vintage rail cars could come from Erie County, which has in 1997 set aside $2,000,000 for capital projects in the Cobblestone District.

Copies of the prospectus can be had by writing the Coalition at 49 Illinois St, Buffalo NY 14203. Enclose $2 to cover copying and postage.