Commemorating final journey of Strates shows carnival train

Postmark Pursuit by Molly Goad

The James E. Strates Shows carnival train, the last of its kind, is featured on the Erie County Fair postmark displayed nearby.

For the fair’s annual Train Day, the family-owned carnival company revived its iconic train cars for one final journey, culminating on Aug. 1 at the Erie Depot in Hamburg, N.Y.

Train Day returned after a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, commemorating James E. Strates Shows and the fair’s remarkable 100-year partnership.

For decades, the train has played a pivotal role in transporting the fair’s rides to the western New York summer event, delighting spectators as it rolled into town.

The Erie County Fair train, a symbol of the behind-the-scenes magic that makes the fair possible, has been essential to the fair’s logistics. However, this year marks the end of an era, as the fair will transition to using trucks, a more cost-effective solution adopted during the pandemic years.

As the train completed its final journey, workers and fairgoers seized the moment to capture photographs and share stories of the train’s significant contribution to the success of the fair.

This last voyage was more than a transport of rides to the fairgrounds; it was a celebration of the train’s enduring legacy and invaluable support over the years.

To obtain the postmark, address your request to:

ERIE COUNTY FAIR Station, Postmaster, 5501 Camp Road, Hamburg, NY 14075-9998, Aug. 1.

Share information by writing to Postmark Pursuit, Box 4129, Sidney, OH 45365.

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