B-1 Grand Trunk Station

B-1 Grand Trunk Station. . B-1 Moved to the Museum , On July 27, 1981, Fort Erie Town Council purchased the B-1 Station for $1.25. The following year, the structure was moved to its current location at the Fort Erie Railway Museum and now houses a gift shop and Museum staff offices., B-1 Historical Background , The B-1 Station was built in 1873 by the Grand Trunk Railway, which later became part of Canadian National Railways. It was situated along the rail line close to the International Railway Bridge., Across the Niagara River in Black Rock, New York was the B-2 Station. Station operators at both locations kept records of rail traffic and maintenance work, recorded daily water depth at each bridge pier, the number of boats passing under the bridge, weather conditions, water temperatures, and accidents. Station operators also redirected freight and passenger trains to various tracks by using a set of manually-operated levers mounted to the floor inside the building which connected to pipes and then to the rails. Additionally, the B-1 Station served as a customs office., B-1 in Gothic Revival Style , This architectural style mimics the elements often seen in parliaments, churches, and universities in mid-18th century England. By using the same elements seen in established institutions, the relatively fledgling railway industry tried to portray confidence and permanence during Canada's early years. These architectural features included a steeply-pitched roof, bay windows, decorative chimneys, and windows with pointed arches.