Explore the Electric Railway Museum in Avon Lake, Ohio
About Beach Park Railway Museum
The Beach Park Railway museum came to life when Tomie and Tom purchased the Avon Lake shopping center 21 years ago. At the time, neither of them knew why Electric Boulevard was called “Electric,” despite living in Avon Lake since 1976. Upon further investigation, they discovered that the Lake Shore Electric Railway (LSE) had a stop in the town.
In fact, the main building of the shopping center they had purchased was the main station for the railway. Once Tomie and Tom learned this fact, they decided to learn more about the LSE and spread awareness by way of a museum.
Explore the History of LSE
The Lake Shore Electric Railway was the quintessential interurban. Created in 1901 from the merger of four smaller railways, the Lake Shore Electric became renowned for its big, luxurious cars, and fast service between Cleveland, Toledo, and Detroit.
Digital Museum
Are you interested in buying a picture? We have thousands of pictures from the Lake Shore Railway. Each image captures the beauty and history of the railway, showcasing everything from scenic landscapes to iconic train scenes. Our collection is perfect for enthusiasts and collectors alike. Feel free to explore and find the perfect piece that resonates with your interests.
RailFan Sites
A collection of historical societies, maps, local history and more!
Spreading Awareness One Person at a Time.
Not many people understand and appreciate the importance of the railway system, but at Beach Park Railway, we aim to change that. Our founders never fully knew the history of Avon Lake, but once they purchased the old Avon Lake Shopping Center, that all changed. Suddenly, the amazing history of Avon Lake came to life, and the founders of Beach Park Railway wanted a way to spread that awareness and help other residents of the town learn more about the town’s humble beginnings.
Step back into the golden age of American electric railways. Richard Egen's richly detailed history of the Lakeshore Electric Railway (LSE) tells the story of one of Northern Ohio’s most vital and beloved interurban lines.
From its origins at the turn of the 20th century, the LSE’s electric cars linked bustling cities and quiet towns, gliding down city streets and racing across farmland. The line carried passengers to Cedar Point, the Lake Erie Islands, and the region’s fairgrounds, while also delivering freight and fueling local industries. With carbarns in Fremont, track innovations in Lorain, the beloved Stop 65 in Avon Lake, and a grand terminus in Cleveland, the LSE shaped the economic and social fabric of Northern Ohio for decades.
Featuring vivid descriptions, rare photographs, and maps, this book chronicles the LSE’s rise, its transformative impact, and its ultimate closure in 1938. Though its rails are long gone, the legacy of the Lakeshore Electric Railway still echoes in the communities it once connected, and Mr. Egen brings to life the history of the LSE through this thrilling and illustrative text.
Now in e-book format, this copy includes interactive hyperlinks that allow the viewer to click and view any photograph or map. in the archive.