Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier in North Tonawanda, New York

Written By Kelsey Cecil

North Tonawanda, New York · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Railroad museumFreeOpen Saturdays year round; shorter hours November to May

The Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier, often called the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum, is a free, family friendly museum in a restored Erie Railroad freight depot, run by one of the oldest chapters of the National Railway Historical Society.

  • Free admission every Saturday
  • Restored Erie Railroad freight depot
  • Chapter chartered in 1942
  • Museum opened June 1, 2003
  • Fully accessible, free parking

Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier at a glance

Hours
Saturdays 11 am to 4 pm (June to October), 11 am to 2 pm (November to May); other times by appointment
Admission
Free; donations welcome
Seasonal events
Monthly chapter programs, second Friday, September to June
Best for
Families with young train fans and local rail history buffs
Best ages
Toddlers to about age 10
Parking
Free parking available
Accessibility
The chapter says the museum is fully accessible.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to North Tonawanda.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Sixteen railfans, one house meeting, and a museum 65 years later

The story starts on April 8, 1938, when Russell H. Shapley invited people he thought might share his interest to a meeting at his home in Buffalo. His job collecting for a clothing store took him through the city's east and south sides, where he met current and former railroad men and plain rail enthusiasts. Sixteen of them formed a Buffalo division of the Railroad Enthusiasts, a national railfan organization, and met every week at his house.

They wasted no time getting out on the rails. In May 1938 Shapley arranged two extra cars on a regular New York Central train to Cleveland, and the 16 founders ended up with about 70 passengers on that first trip. Monthly outings followed, including a special train on the Arcade and Attica Railroad and chartered interurban cars in Western New York and Ontario. On February 1, 1942 the group received its charter as the Buffalo Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, with Shapley, John M. Prophet III, Charles A. Erler and Albert D. Kerr among the charter members. Shapley led the chapter until his death in 1946.

On February 29, 1988 the chapter took the name Niagara Frontier Chapter NRHS, Inc. to better reflect its mission across Western New York and Southern Ontario. Its long held hope for a museum came true on June 1, 2003, when the Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier opened in the historic Erie Railroad freight depot in North Tonawanda.

Volunteers still run every part of it. The chapter's 2026 board is led by president Steve Frey, with Bob and Nancy Andrycha overseeing museum operations, Robert Andrycha serving as historian and Carl Butland as chief engineer. Their current work includes restoring historic equipment around the museum campus and cataloging and digitizing a large archive so researchers and students can use it.

A freight depot full of Niagara Frontier railroading

The museum fills the restored Erie Railroad freight depot at 111 Oliver Street with artifacts from the railroads of Western New York, Southern Ontario and neighboring regions. It is a campus rather than a single room, and the chapter is restoring historic railroad equipment on the grounds. A tourism listing has described two cabooses and two industrial locomotives outside, plus wooden train sets and electric trains that children can operate inside; that listing is older, so ask what is on display when you visit.

Behind the displays sits the chapter's archive, which volunteers are cataloging and digitizing so it can be opened up for research, education and public use. On the second Friday of most months from September to June, the chapter also hosts evening programs that are open to all, such as photo presentations on regional railroading from the 1970s through about 2000.

Don’t miss

  1. The Erie Railroad freight depotThe museum's home is itself a survivor, a restored freight depot from the Erie Railroad's years in North Tonawanda.
  2. Outdoor equipment on the museum campusVolunteers are restoring historic railroad equipment around the grounds; a tourism listing has noted cabooses and small industrial locomotives.
  3. Children's train displaysKids have been able to play with wooden trains and run electric trains here, according to a tourism listing; check what is set up on your visit.
  4. The chapter archiveAn extensive collection of railroad records and images that volunteers are cataloging and digitizing for public use.
  5. Monthly chapter programsFree evening slide shows and talks on the second Friday of the month, September to June, open to everyone.

A free Saturday stop for little train fans

The chapter describes the museum as family friendly, and free admission means you can stay as long as your child's attention lasts without worrying about the ticket price. A tourism listing mentions wooden trains to play with and electric trains kids can operate, along with cabooses and locomotives to see outside.

The museum is fully accessible, which helps with strollers, and free parking is on site. If you are coming from Buffalo without a car, NFTA bus Route 25 runs from downtown.

Plan your visit: tips for Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier

  • Winter hours are shorter: 11 am to 2 pm on Saturdays from November through May.
  • For a visit on another day, email nfcnrhs@gmail.com at least one week ahead.
  • NFTA bus Route 25 serves the museum from downtown Buffalo.
  • The phone line is a message machine, so email is usually faster.

The Niagara Frontier Chapter NRHS

The museum is owned and run by the Niagara Frontier Chapter NRHS, Inc., a nonprofit whose volunteers staff the depot, restore equipment and care for the archive. Donations pay for restoration work and for the tools needed to digitize the collection, and the chapter welcomes new members through its membership secretary.

Pair it with another Western New York rail stop

The Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum is about 10 miles south in downtown Buffalo, and the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway Museum in Orchard Park is about 19 miles away. Head east about 28 miles for the Medina Railroad Museum. There are many more on our list of New York train museums.

Every train museum in New York

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

A group of sixteen friends met at a friend's house in 1938, and decades later their chapter opened the doors of this museum. That long wait and happy ending feel a lot like the tunnel in our book: dark for a while, then a big bright light and everyone cheering. My mom's idea waited years to become a real book too. If you'd like to know how it happened, it's on our story page.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

North Tonawanda Railroad Museum: 20 family questions

What is the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum?

The North Tonawanda Railroad Museum is the Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier, run by the Niagara Frontier Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. It opened on June 1, 2003 in a historic Erie Railroad freight depot and displays artifacts from railroading in Western New York, Southern Ontario and nearby regions.

What are the hours of the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum?

As of October 2026, the museum is open every Saturday. From June through October the hours are 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, and from the first Saturday in November through May they are 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Other days are available by appointment arranged in advance.

Is the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum free?

Yes. As of October 2026, admission to the Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier is free. The chapter says donations are always welcome, and they pay for restoring historic equipment on the museum campus and for cataloging and digitizing the chapter's archive.

Where is the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum?

The museum is at 111 Oliver Street, North Tonawanda, New York 14120, in the former Erie Railroad freight depot. Free parking is available. If you are coming by public transit, NFTA bus Route 25 runs to North Tonawanda from downtown Buffalo.

Can I visit the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum on a weekday?

Yes, by appointment. The chapter arranges other days and times in advance. Email nfcnrhs@gmail.com or use the contact form on nfcnrhs.org, and send your request at least one week before the date you want to visit.

Is the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum good for toddlers?

It is a good fit for young children. The chapter calls the museum family friendly, admission is free, and a tourism listing mentions wooden trains for kids to play with and electric trains they can operate. Call or email ahead if you want to confirm the children's displays are set up.

Is the Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The chapter says the museum is fully accessible, and free parking is available. That also makes it easier to bring a stroller along for younger children. If you have specific access questions, email nfcnrhs@gmail.com before your visit so a volunteer can answer them.

What building is the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum in?

The museum occupies a restored Erie Railroad freight depot complex on Oliver Street. The depot dates to the early 1920s, with both 1922 and 1923 given as its construction year. The depot is part of the exhibit, since it once handled freight moving through North Tonawanda by rail.

What trains are at the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum?

The chapter is restoring historic railroad equipment around its museum campus. A tourism listing has described two cabooses and two industrial locomotives on display outside. Because that listing is older, ask the volunteers what equipment is on view and what is under restoration.

Can you ride a train at the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum?

The chapter does not advertise train rides at the museum. It is a museum of artifacts, displays and outdoor equipment. Families looking for a ride in Western New York can check heritage railroads such as the Arcade and Attica Railroad and plan a separate trip.

Who runs the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum?

The Niagara Frontier Chapter NRHS, Inc., a nonprofit, owns and runs the museum with volunteers. Its 2026 board is led by president Steve Frey, and Bob and Nancy Andrycha oversee museum operations. The chapter is one of the oldest in the National Railway Historical Society.

When was the Niagara Frontier Chapter founded?

The group began on April 8, 1938, when Russell H. Shapley hosted a meeting at his Buffalo home and 16 people formed a division of the Railroad Enthusiasts. It received its National Railway Historical Society charter as the Buffalo Chapter on February 1, 1942, and became the Niagara Frontier Chapter on February 29, 1988.

When did the Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier open?

The museum opened on June 1, 2003, a day the chapter describes as long anticipated. Members had been running excursions and preserving history since 1938, and the Erie Railroad freight depot in North Tonawanda finally gave them a permanent home to share their collection.

Does the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum have an archive?

Yes. The chapter holds an extensive archival collection, and volunteers are cataloging, caring for and digitizing it. The goal is to make these materials more accessible for research, education and public use. Donations help pay for the equipment and resources that work requires.

Does the Niagara Frontier Chapter hold public meetings?

Yes. Chapter meetings and programs are normally held on the second Friday of each month from September to June, starting at 7:00 pm at the Wheatfield Community Center on Church Road in North Tonawanda. There are no meetings in July or August, and all are welcome.

How do I contact the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum?

Call (716) 694-9588, which is a message machine, or email nfcnrhs@gmail.com. The website nfcnrhs.org also has a contact form. Mail goes to the chapter at PO Box 1043, North Tonawanda, NY 14120, while visitors go to 111 Oliver Street.

Can groups or schools visit the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum?

Groups can arrange visits outside regular Saturday hours by appointment. Email nfcnrhs@gmail.com at least one week ahead with your preferred date, group size and the ages of any children, and the volunteers will let you know what they can offer.

How can I volunteer at or donate to the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum?

You can donate at the museum, where admission is free and donations fund equipment restoration and archive work. To get more involved, ask about joining the Niagara Frontier Chapter NRHS, which has a membership secretary, or attend a monthly chapter meeting to meet the volunteers.

How long should I plan at the North Tonawanda Railroad Museum?

The chapter does not post a suggested visit length. It is a single depot complex with outdoor equipment, so most families can see it in a relaxed visit and still have time for lunch in North Tonawanda. Plan around the shorter 11 am to 2 pm hours from November to May.

What other train museums are near North Tonawanda?

The Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum in downtown Buffalo is about 10 miles away, and the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway Museum in Orchard Park is about 19 miles. The Medina Railroad Museum is about 28 miles east, and the Arcade and Attica Railroad is about 41 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil
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