Sorry about the lack of posting but have been a bit blue of late....My photos finally made it back from the lab and I must apologize for my ludism, but I'm still using film.   Found a few interesting postcards and I am trying to figure out how to include street running and still include the Erie canal, as the tracks are perpendicular to the canal....I may have to include a peninsula to include the canal.  This mostly going to be a thoughts in progress post, but wanted to share some photos and ideas. These bridge piers carried the NYC across the canal from Tonawanda to North Tonawanda, the tracks ran literally right down Main St. 

Piers as referenced above. This Tonawanda Creek and the Erie Canal(left)  headed toward Buffalo. The canal has been filled and is actually a street today( this street is in front of my apartment ) I am trying to incorporate some of the flavor of this into a track plan, but need more than a 12" shelf to do this.....Will ponder and find more info and continue on from here, Peace to all, Bill