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Location / Name:
Northeast PA, Erie County
What's Here:
the Lake Shore Railway Museum
Data:
GPS Coordinates: 42.209803, -79.838509
ZIP: 16428
Phone A/C: 814
Access by train/transit:
Closest Amtrak is 14 miles west in Erie PA
The Scoop:
The museum is housed in the former Lake Shore & Southern Michigan RR station, built in 1899. It is a brick structure. It is the latest of three stations built in North East, with the earlier ones being built in 1852 and 1869. The latter still stands and is used as a freight shed.
The museum is now open all year EXCEPT for November and December.
Buffalo NY is about 75 miles NE and then north, and Salamanca NY (another RR museum) is about 60 miles east.
Train Watching
There is a two-track mainline going thru town for CSX, and a single track mainline for NS. Both are right in front of the museum, altho CSX freights can block NS action.
CSX used to be the New York Central, and before that, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern RR - they were the railroad to build the depot the museum is in.
The NS tracks used to be the Nickel Plate Road, and before that, the New York, Chicago & St Louis RR.
The Canadian Pacific has trackage rights on CSX, and as of 2015, was running one train a day thru North East.
Frequencies:
NS - 161.250/road
CSX - 160.860/road
CSX - 160.520/dispatcher
Acknowledgements:
Google Maps
Geno Dailey
George Hamlin
Trains Magazine
University of Texas
Websites and other additional information sources of interest for the area:
Their website is at: http://lakeshorerailway.com/
I-90 to exit 41, Station Road. Head NW on Station Road, highway 89, into town - it will curve to your right, go due north, and turn into South Lake Street after entering the city (and passing Wellington St on your right). You will go under two sets of railroad tracks in two separate underpasses. Take the very next left onto Clinton St, and then another left at the first street, Wall Street. The museum will be in front of you in one block, with the station off to your right. There is a hotel and a gas station at the exit.
If coming in via US 20 from Buffalo NY way, take a left onto Robinson St after passing Lake Street, it takes you right up to the station.
If coming in via US 20 from the SW, take a right at Robinson BEFORE getting to Lake St.
As can be seen in pictures below, the museum has a three head searchlight installation on a high mast on the grounds.
Freshly painted rolling stock and engines
The South Shore "Little Joe" engine #802 was formerly at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, until they decided to get rid of non-Baltimore related assets. They and the box cab engines are beautiful, and you should have seen them going down the street in Michigan City IN back in the "old days"! Glad it found a home. Now, lets replace the transformers with a prime mover and get the thing on the road like the Pennsy E's! :-)
Here it is in Baltimore....
Amtrak train #48, the EB Lake Shore Limited, coming thru North East
Amtrak passing the museum
North East was featured in the January 2015 issue of Trains Magazine as a Hot Spot.
Also in 2015, Erie PA was the featured MAP OF THE MONTH.....
Courtesy of the University of Texas Library, click here for their index page.
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New format 10/26/23: Please check out my disclaimer page for my standard dribble and contact info here
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