A line with a long memory
The story of the New York & Lake Erie Railroad
Passenger excursions through Gowanda, South Dayton, and the Cattaraugus County countryside.
Our history
The route has been moving people for generations.
The first through train on this line ran on May 14, 1851, traveling from Piermont-on-Hudson to Dunkirk. The railroad later became part of the Erie Railroad and then Conrail. The current New York & Lake Erie short line formed in 1978 and today carries freight as well as passenger excursion guests.
The NY&LE’s passenger rides are a way to experience a small stretch of that older network at a human pace. From Gowanda to South Dayton, the route passes through the hills, valleys, crossings, and communities that made the line useful long before it became a special event.
First through train on the line
1978New York & Lake Erie short line formed
TodayFreight service and passenger excursions in Cattaraugus County
In the movies
South Dayton has a place in film history, too.
South Dayton was connected to filming for The Natural in 1983 and Planes, Trains and Automobiles in 1987. When the train pauses there, the stop is more than a turnaround: it is a chance to see a Western New York community with a story that reaches beyond the tracks.
The railroad’s seasonal programming sometimes brings those screen connections into the ride calendar through John Candy Tribute events and other special excursions.
On board
Vintage equipment, local voices, open windows.
Guests come for the scenery, but the rolling stock is part of the experience. The old cars, the conductor, the crossings, and the sound of the train create a kind of attention that a highway trip cannot.
See railroad photosPlan the day
See where the line can take you
Browse seasonal events and scenic excursions departing from Gowanda.