Over the past several years efforts to improve the museum’s holdings, to present better programming, and to advertise more effectively have resulted in measurable benefits.
Beginning in 2010, and continuing through 2012, over 10,000 persons per year visited the Lake Shore Railway Museum. This number was up significantly from 2009 and earlier. “The visitor count pushed over 11,000 in 2013 for the first time ever,” says Lake Shore Railway Historical Society President, Ray Grabowski, Jr. “We had a series of ‘perfect’ events in 2013 and people noticed,” he added.
During 2013, Norfolk Southern Railway donated a GE Dash–8 locomotive, the first Dash-8 model ever to be donated to a museum. Later, steam locomotive “Viscose #6” visited and operated during ‘Steam Locomotive Weekend” at the Museum. Lake Shore Vice President Ryan Maxwell is quick to point out that 2013 started off busy right from the beginning. “The museum had nearly 500 visitors for its annual Easter Egg Hunt, and that was the very first day of the season!”
Several projects which brought attention to the Museum were begun in 2013:
- restoring the paint scheme on two passenger cars, two locomotives and one freight car,
- creating extensive new track work on the Museum grounds,
- installing a new model railroad and updating the gift shop inside the Museum depot.
- evaluating the Museum’s 1869 Freight House through a PA Historical & Museum Commission grant.
Much more is planned for 2014. Those interested in Museum events are encouraged to “Like” Lake Shore’s Facebook page and to bookmark the Museum’s webpage.
The non-profit, all volunteer Lake Shore Railway Historical Society has operated the Lake Shore Railway Museum in North East, PA, since 1970. Those interested in volunteering should contact the Museum.
CONTACT
Lake Shore Railway Historical Society
31 Wall Street
North, East, PA 16428
Ray Grabowski, Jr., President
814-873-0679
rayg@lakeshorerailway.com
http://www.lakeshorerailway.com
http://www.facebook.com/lakeshorerailwaymuseum