Lake Shore Railway Historical Society

CRO was on the road in July and visited the Lake Shore Railway Museum at North East Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1956 the LSHRS is an all volunteer educational organization on the grounds of the former New York Central passenger depot. The museum is located next to the CSX and NS mainlines from Buffalo to Chicago with a steady stream of traffic and a scanner feed to keep you up to date on traffic movements.

The museum has a excellent collection of GE locomotives including CSS&SB No. 802 Little Joe and New York Central No. 2500 U25b.

Other notable items in their collection are WAG No. 1700 (Ford #1006) which is the last remaining 132 ton center cab built for the Ford Motor Company. It was designed to look like a 1938 Ford automobile. Erie City Iron Works #25, National Forge #392 and Erie Dock Co #7. Some of them can be seen in the photo below.

Another unique item is the Illuminating Co #6 fireless steam engine. Built in 1937 by the Heisler Locomotive Works in Erie. Heisler fireless steam (thermos bottle) locomotive (0-6-0 wheel configuration). Used in Ashtabula, OH by the Cleveland Illuminating Co. until 1973. Only 30 built; approximately six survive.

The museum also has a huge collection of passenger and freight cars including the following:

Pullman “Central Park”

Pullman “Lake Terrell”

Pullman “NightStar”

NYC 2950 “James C. Caldwell”

Nickel Plate (NKP) 103

GN 1251 “Lake Wenatchee”

GN “Pend O’Reille River”

CB&Q 1530

B&O 3001

B&O 3582

B&O 3573

Below are a couple views of some of them.

If you are looking for a museum with charm and a staff that makes you feel at home, please plan a trip to the Lake Shore Historical Society Museum in North East PA . I would like to thank Ray Grabowski Jr for answering my questions and allowing me to roam the site on my own.

If you would like more information please visit their web site at Lake Shore Historical Railway Society.

While I was visiting I also checked out the CSX and NS mainline between North East PA and Buffalo. Both lines run very close together and there are some great photo spots. A collection of photos from my trip can be seen on my web site.