The vision for The Erie Rail Museum at Historic Union Station is to combine a driving force in Erie’s history—manufacturing locomotives—with the magnificent historical structure in the heart of downtown that is Union Station. The museum will help memorialize Union Station and put her back in her rightful place as a centerpiece of the city. At the same time we will help make Erie, Pennsylvania, the home of the #1 locomotive maker in the world, the “Mecca” for Rail Fans everywhere.
Historic Union Station is the ideal location to house a non-profit Railroad Museum as well as the many other rail-themed shops we envision. The 10,000 square foot trackside warehouse is perfectly suited for a beautiful and innovative museum. Every day, just outside, 70 real freight trains still go rumbling by—one every 20 minutes. Trackside further east of the museum space will be rail-related shops such as crafts shops, model train shops, art galleries, cafés, etc.—all part of the drawing card to Erie that will beckon rail fans worldwide.
Our 3 acre lot adjacent to the station is where we will display the old locomotives, railcars, Pullman sleeper cars, dining cars and such as part of the museum. We want to make this a world class celebration of Erie's past and present glory as the #1 locomotive manufacturing city in the world. We want to honor a building that played a central role in the life of our parents, grandparents and great grandparents encompassing nearly 80 years of memories.
We will also use the central part of our 2nd floor trackside as a Station Master Suite that would provide four overnight guest suites. This would make for a truly unique experience for those rail fans lucky enough to get to actually spend a night in the historic station. How many cities can offer that?
On board with the vision is the leading manufacturer in the world, General Electric. GE has generously offered to donate some of their memorabilia to fill the museum with genuine railroad artifacts. In fact, it’s not well known anymore, but Matthew Griswold, the first General Manager of the GE Rail Works was instrumental in the birth of Union Station. Griswold Park, just across 14th St. from Union Station, is named in his memory.
How you can help…
Currently, we are in the very beginning stages of bringing The Erie Rail Museum to Union Station. I was just recently hired to head up this project for Jim Berlin, the owner of Union Station, who has been working to revitalize it since buying it nearly 3 years ago. We’ve recently filed for our non-profit status and are working on a number of different aspects of the planning and organization process. We are building a network of contacts full of those who support our mission and keep us encouraged. We would like you to be a part of our network.
What we are looking for now is for support from the railroad community and our local community as well as our friends, families, and associates.
Support can come in a variety of ways.
You can:
•Provide contact information to us of those folks who you know that are in the railroad community and may be interested in what we are doing.
•Help spread the word. Forward the vision for The Erie Rail Museum to as many people as you can.
•Provide any information that you know will be helpful in getting our non-profit museum off the ground as well as any lessons you may have learned from your own experiences.
•Share any innovative ideas that you may have for the museum.
•Provide financial support.
Our goal is to raise the funds needed to build and maintain this one of a kind museum, in the most magnificent building in Erie and we need your help to do it.
We invite you to come by Union Station to take a tour of our facilities and to get a first hand look at the vision we have for The Erie Rail Museum. You can contact me by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (814)464-1713. Our website address is www.erierailmuseum.com.
We thank you for your encouragement and support,
Jim Berlin & Tisa Nelson
The Erie Rail Museum at Historic Union Station
P.S. This is just part of the continuing revitalization of this historic building and the downtown “Station Square” neighborhood. We have already “adopted” Griswold Park and, with the help of the city, have begun to bring it back to life.
Recently, we have painted two overpass bridges that abut Union Station, welcoming folks coming downtown on the major North/South gateway into/out of downtown. (see attached pictures)
We’ve also completed our first 3D wall mural along side our parking lot. (picture attached). With the help of the Erie community, we will paint 3D wall murals along the 200 yards of wall on the south side of the tracks to celebrate the history of Erie and of the Rail.
We are currently in the process of flying 50 flags on top of Union Station that will represent all the countries where we do business or have employees from.
2007 is Union Station’s 80th Birthday!! Plans are in the works for a fitting celebration of this historical American beauty.
We’ve done a lot, but there is much more to do. And, unfortunately, we can’t do it alone. We need the support of those who appreciate Union Station and its place in history, as well as those who wish to help celebrate Erie, Pennsylvania.
Thank you.
Historic Union Station is the ideal location to house a non-profit Railroad Museum as well as the many other rail-themed shops we envision. The 10,000 square foot trackside warehouse is perfectly suited for a beautiful and innovative museum. Every day, just outside, 70 real freight trains still go rumbling by—one every 20 minutes. Trackside further east of the museum space will be rail-related shops such as crafts shops, model train shops, art galleries, cafés, etc.—all part of the drawing card to Erie that will beckon rail fans worldwide.
Our 3 acre lot adjacent to the station is where we will display the old locomotives, railcars, Pullman sleeper cars, dining cars and such as part of the museum. We want to make this a world class celebration of Erie's past and present glory as the #1 locomotive manufacturing city in the world. We want to honor a building that played a central role in the life of our parents, grandparents and great grandparents encompassing nearly 80 years of memories.
We will also use the central part of our 2nd floor trackside as a Station Master Suite that would provide four overnight guest suites. This would make for a truly unique experience for those rail fans lucky enough to get to actually spend a night in the historic station. How many cities can offer that?
On board with the vision is the leading manufacturer in the world, General Electric. GE has generously offered to donate some of their memorabilia to fill the museum with genuine railroad artifacts. In fact, it’s not well known anymore, but Matthew Griswold, the first General Manager of the GE Rail Works was instrumental in the birth of Union Station. Griswold Park, just across 14th St. from Union Station, is named in his memory.
How you can help…
Currently, we are in the very beginning stages of bringing The Erie Rail Museum to Union Station. I was just recently hired to head up this project for Jim Berlin, the owner of Union Station, who has been working to revitalize it since buying it nearly 3 years ago. We’ve recently filed for our non-profit status and are working on a number of different aspects of the planning and organization process. We are building a network of contacts full of those who support our mission and keep us encouraged. We would like you to be a part of our network.
What we are looking for now is for support from the railroad community and our local community as well as our friends, families, and associates.
Support can come in a variety of ways.
You can:
•Provide contact information to us of those folks who you know that are in the railroad community and may be interested in what we are doing.
•Help spread the word. Forward the vision for The Erie Rail Museum to as many people as you can.
•Provide any information that you know will be helpful in getting our non-profit museum off the ground as well as any lessons you may have learned from your own experiences.
•Share any innovative ideas that you may have for the museum.
•Provide financial support.
Our goal is to raise the funds needed to build and maintain this one of a kind museum, in the most magnificent building in Erie and we need your help to do it.
We invite you to come by Union Station to take a tour of our facilities and to get a first hand look at the vision we have for The Erie Rail Museum. You can contact me by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (814)464-1713. Our website address is www.erierailmuseum.com.
We thank you for your encouragement and support,
Jim Berlin & Tisa Nelson
The Erie Rail Museum at Historic Union Station
P.S. This is just part of the continuing revitalization of this historic building and the downtown “Station Square” neighborhood. We have already “adopted” Griswold Park and, with the help of the city, have begun to bring it back to life.
Recently, we have painted two overpass bridges that abut Union Station, welcoming folks coming downtown on the major North/South gateway into/out of downtown. (see attached pictures)
We’ve also completed our first 3D wall mural along side our parking lot. (picture attached). With the help of the Erie community, we will paint 3D wall murals along the 200 yards of wall on the south side of the tracks to celebrate the history of Erie and of the Rail.
We are currently in the process of flying 50 flags on top of Union Station that will represent all the countries where we do business or have employees from.
2007 is Union Station’s 80th Birthday!! Plans are in the works for a fitting celebration of this historical American beauty.
We’ve done a lot, but there is much more to do. And, unfortunately, we can’t do it alone. We need the support of those who appreciate Union Station and its place in history, as well as those who wish to help celebrate Erie, Pennsylvania.
Thank you.
