The historic New York Central Railroad Mail and Freight Depot property
The historic New York Central Railroad Mail and Freight Depot property, located along Interstate 690, Interstate 81 and Burnet Avenue at the gateway to Syracuse's downtown community. Once a part of Syracuse's busy raised railroad hub, the property currently sits in a dilapidated state and is a community eyesore to the nearly 110,000 vehicles passing daily and the surrounding neighborhood.
The main buildings and train platform were constructed in the 1930's for use as a mail and freight depot to support the connected (via the underground tunnels) passenger terminal. The passenger terminal was recently redeveloped and houses the Channel 10-Time Warner operations. The Train Depot has remained intact without significant renovation or alteration since its original use. The train platform still stands today along the existing highway system (I-690 and I-81). The highway system replaced the elevated rail system that once traversed the City of Syracuse. Additionally, the former power house remains much as it did during operation as a coal-fired power generation plant, including a coal hopper chute and cistern.
The station complex represented the centerpiece of a highly integrated approach to the problem of urban transportation, elevating rail lines above city streets. The train platform was constructed off of the 2nd and 3rd floors of the buildings. Train locomotives were shuttled into the coal hopper room, also located on the 2nd floor, to refuel with coal and hot water while unloading ash. The Train Depot was connected to the passenger terminal through two tunnel walkways, which remain intact. In the 1960's, the rail lines were replaced with a modern divided highway, I-690 and I-81.
Click below for information on the Syracuse Train Depot Project