Riding into history: my experience on the final fair train
HAMBURG, N.Y. (WIVB) — The band played, the cameras rolled, the pyrotechnics shot skyward, and a few tears were shed as the world’s last “fair train” rolled into the Village of Hamburg during the noon hour Thursday.
Hundreds of people were on hand to witness the end of an era and the proclamations by local dignitaries to mark the milestone. I had the good fortune of riding the last leg of this historic route.
There were just a handful of folks with us in the bright green caboose: train enthusiasts, media, and Erie County Fair employees with family. We stopped before the Scott Street station in Hamburg so that members of the Strates family could board the front of the short train and share in this special occasion.
Strates Shows has had a legendary partnership with the Erie County Fair, providing the midway and carnival rides dating back 100 years – so this centennial year is cause for celebration itself. But 2024 also marks the last time Strates will transport any of its show equipment by rail. From now on, Strates will use trucks, and the fair train tradition will be no more.
According to information provided by the Strates, the family-owned company employed the last show train on American rails beginning in 2017 when Ringling Brothers, Barnum, and Bailey Circus closed and ended its circus train tradition.
Village of Hamburg Mayor Thomas Tallman grew up two blocks from the train tracks and says it was always a “big deal” when the fair train rolled in. It signaled the start of set-up for the popular Erie County Fair and heralded the colorful fair parade through the village, sending animals and entertainers en route to the fairgrounds.
Standing aboard the caboose platform as the train hosted by Buffalo Southern lumbered along, Mayor Tallman called this ride “the culmination of a long relationship” and said “It’s great to be here to see a nice ending.”
Jim Doran served as a conductor for this short final run. He works with Buffalo, Cattaraugus, and Jamestown (BC&J) railway passenger excursions and said he jumped at the chance to serve aboard this historic trip. He’s seen a lot of events related to railroads past and present but called this ride “an amazing experience.”
Also aboard with us, an Erie County Fair vendor who describes himself as “a carnival kid.” Joe Potillo says he grew up around fairs and his family connections with these traveling shows date back some 60 years. Potillo says he can remember celebrating many Thanksgivings in Broward County, Florida, which was the last stop for the fair train when the season ended.
It was very touching for me to see so many people of all ages crowded along the tracks today waving, cheering, and recording the train’s passage on their phones and cameras. Each one of them has a story built around memories of the fair train.
Joe Potillo was re-living those memories, too. “I feel blessed and lucky,” he told me. “I’m fielding texts from carnival friends all over the country who want to change places with me. It’s truly the end of an era.”
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Jacquie Walker is an award-winning anchor and reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 1983. See more of her work here.
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