conneaut historical railroad museum

What an interesting collection of different memorabilia associated with the Conneaut railroad and some of the incidents that occurred! The Berkshire 755 is 'related' to the Berkshire 756 that occasionally sells rides through the Cleveland Metropolitan Park system. The railroad watches collection was especially interesting. It's amazing that this museum operates with volunteers and on donations!!

It had been a very long time since I had visited the Conneaut Historical Railroad Museum (CHRM). My mom and I decided to stop in and check it out. I don't think she'd been in there in years either. The last time I went, I was in elementary school. I remember enjoying it at that time. During my recent visit, I found that all the fun highlights I remember from my youth are still there: the real engine, coal car, and caboose outside and the model train village in the little room off to the side. Heck! They even still sell candy sticks! My age and experience allowed for fresh discoveries during this recent visit. I could see the photos that hang high on the wall. My longer attention span allowed me to enjoy reading placards and information about each piece in the museum. My developed interest in history, urban planning, and architecture helped me focus on details I missed when I was eight, and CHRM has plenty of detail to take in. This place is packed with paraphernalia! My new favorite parts of the museum are found in the old ticket booth. I liked seeing the old office supplies and figuring out how everything worked behind the scenes of running a bustling passenger railway station. Many people who live in Conneaut either works, worked, or have relatives who worked for the railroads. Having such connections can enhance the visit. But, even if you don't have a family connection, the museum is still interesting and enjoyable. It made me pine for a chance to experience heyday of railway service in Conneaut--something I missed out on. I enjoyed hearing my mom's memories about riding the train to visit relatives in Erie and Cleveland.I highly recommend visiting the CHRM. It's a great resource to learn and reminisce. There are things for all people to enjoy--young and old. The museum is free, but they take donations. I think you can even buy a t-shirt (and some candy sticks).

We happened upon by surprise but very glad we did. Our 3yr old loved it. With a small Model train layout and an full size train you can walk thru. Lots of old artifacts and pictures. But the best part was the actual tracks right outside with an average of 70 trains a day. Kids would love it. Oh and hard to believe it was free! It's rare to find that these days!