Arcade and Attica Railroad
Why it's listed
Running about fifteen miles through the hills and farmland of Wyoming County, New York, the Arcade and Attica Railroad links Arcade with North Java and connects to the Conrail line at Arcade. The nominated property includes the sixty-six-foot-wide right-of-way, the Arcade station complex with its repair shop, sand house and storage building, the small Curriers and Java Center depots, and the Beaver Meadow Trestle of 1895. Rolling stock includes a 1917 Baldwin locomotive, a 1920 American locomotive and six Pullman passenger cars built between 1914 and 1917. The line grew from several failed and reorganized railroads. It operated as the Tonawanda Valley Railroad from 1880 and was reincorporated as the Arcade and Attica in 1917 by 365 local subscribers who relied on it. It remains one of the last independent shortlines in New York State, carrying freight and running summer excursions.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as one of the last operating independent shortline railroads in New York State. It played a significant role in the county's development and reflects local determination to improve rural transportation. Its depots are uncommon survivors of a turn-of-the-century rural rail system, and its rolling stock matches the era of the line's original passenger service.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80002797, listed November 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Railroad right of way from Arcade to N. Java, North Java |
|---|---|
| County | Wyoming County |
| Listed | November 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002797 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific date 1880) |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still operating: summer passenger excursions run between Arcade and Curriers, and freight service continues for several industrial customers. |
| Acreage | 122 |
| Coordinates | 42.60651, -78.41109 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80002797.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.