ABOUT US
- We are located in West Pittsburg, PA and are dedicated to preserving the rich history of railroading in our area. Our society is comprised of railroad enthusiasts from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other states as far away as California. Our organization began when an informal group of rail fans and railroad employees started meeting in a public library and a super- market's community room in Beaver County. Today we are a full-fledged historical society meeting in our own train station in Lawrence County. In addition to the station, we own an interlocking tower, a watchman's shanty, a PRR N5c caboose, a Brookville Diesel rail car, a Fairmont Speeder, a PRR N-8 Caboose, a 26A C&O Bay Window Caboose, a GE 50 ton Locomotive, and many other historic railroad items.
- The Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Society is a non-profit rail preservation organization situated in New Castle, Pa. Formerly the Beaver Valley Junction Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, today the Society is an independent organization dedicated to preserving railroad history and items in Lawrence County and the western Pennsylvania region. Major assets include a former Pittsburgh & Lake Erie depot in West Pittsburgh and a former Baltimore & Ohio switch tower now situated in Mahoningtown.
West Pittsburg Station
- The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad's West Pittsburg Station was built by W.F Trimble & Sons at a cost of $32,544.54. Opened in 1907, the 32' x 85' sandstone block and brick building had a tile roof with glass tile in the center that let light into the main waiting room. The glass tiles were painted black during World War II to prevent the station from being easily seen from the air at night. In addition to the main waiting room (which was for men only), the interior included a women's waiting room, men's and women's toilets, ticket office, baggage room, storage closet, and a coal bin.
- Passenger service to the station ended in the early 1960s, thereby rendering it obsolete. Shortly thereafter the P&LE sold the station and approximately 4.5 acres of property to a West Pittsburg business owner who used the building for storage and later rented it to another business. Today the station is the official home of the Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Society.
OUR BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN DEDICATED
The Brookville Building is dedicated in memory of Bruce Kelly
Bruce was a Diesel Mechanic and restored the engine of the Brookville
Mike Zilka, Sr. designed the signs and had them made. They are two layers of laser cut steel. They are powder coated and should last a long time.
Our Speeder Shed is dedicated in the memory of Michael J. Zilka, Jr. who passed away long before his time. We all miss his smile.
OUR MEETING ROOM
OUR CURRENT PROJECTS
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Here is our locomotive at it's former home, the Ohio Edison Power Plant in Niles, Ohio, as it was being readied to move to our station.
Here is the switch or turnout that lets our Brookville Rail Bus on to the main line from it's barn.
Track Leveling
Here we are jacking the track into place before spiking it to the ties using a jackhammer.
SpeederShed Under Construction
SpeederShed Under Construction
SpeederShed Under Construction
Club member Regis Kuntz spent several months building this shed to house our Fairmont Speeder. Thanks, Rege!
Spreading Ballast
SpeederShed Under Construction
SpeederShed Under Construction
Here ballast is being spread in preparation for extending our tracks. We currently have 1200 feet of track and will extend it more.
Our Flat Car Arrives!
SpeederShed Under Construction
Our Flat Car Arrives!
Here is our Pennsylvania Railroad Flat Car arriving on a truck.
Our Flat Car Arrives!
This is our meeting room. It is the Ladies Waiting Room. Yes, in 1907 the Railroad gave the ladies their own waiting room. The narrow window in the corner gave a view of incoming trains.