Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society Station Museum in Shortsville, New York

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Shortsville, New York · Updated October 19, 2026 · 11 min read

Depot museumOpen during announced open houses, usually Sunday afternoons

The Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society preserves the history, artifacts and memories of the Lehigh Valley and other local railroads in a wooden New York Central freight depot in Shortsville, its museum and meeting place since 2001.

  • Chartered in 1996
  • c. 1900 freight depot
  • Over 3,000 archive items
  • Operating N scale layout
  • Sunday open houses
  • Excursion departure point

Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society Station Museum at a glance

Hours
Open during announced open houses, typically Sundays 1 pm to 3 pm; next date to be announced
Admission
Not posted online
Train rides
Occasional passenger excursions on the Finger Lakes Railway departing from the depot; tickets through the society's website
Seasonal events
Station Museum Open House, Fall foliage excursion
Plan for
About 1 hour
Best for
Lehigh Valley fans, model railroaders and families who like layouts
Best ages
Ages 4 and up

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society Station Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Shortsville.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Former Lehigh Valley men, their families and a depot of their own

The Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society was chartered by the State of New York as an education corporation in 1996, with a mission to preserve the history, artifacts and memories of the Lehigh Valley and other local railroads. That same year the Village of Manchester donated a site to the society for a memorial park, and in 1997 the IRS recognized it as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its members have always been a mix: former LVRR employees and their families, railfans, scale modelers and others who share an affection for the old Lehigh Valley.

From 1995 to 2001 the society kept its display and archive in the Manchester Village Hall on Clifton Street, where space allowed only a small slice of the collection to be shown. That changed in October 2001, when the society bought the former New York Central freight depot on East High Street in Shortsville. The wooden station, built around 1900 on the old "Auburn Road" line, had served as a church and a machine shop before the society moved in.

Today the depot is both museum and meeting place, and the archive has grown past 3,000 items, photographs and documents. Members are also building an alphabetical record of former Lehigh Valley employees, with job descriptions, gathered from the families who remember them. Volunteers are always welcome, and the society says it needs more of them to keep the museum open.

Artifacts, archives and a working layout

During open houses, visitors can see a large collection of Lehigh Valley Railroad artifacts displayed throughout the old freight depot, along with an operating N scale model train layout. The gift shop is open too, with model trains among its stock. Archive photographs and paperwork cover mainline and branch line depots across Upstate New York, Manchester Yard and LVRR diesel locomotive rosters.

The depot also serves as the departure and arrival point for the society's passenger excursions on the Finger Lakes Railway. On a 2019 fall foliage trip, Finger Lakes Railway engine 2201, a General Electric U23B painted in the Lehigh Valley's 1950s colors, pulled the train past the museum.

Don’t miss

  1. The N scale layoutAn operating model railroad that runs during open houses, a favorite with younger visitors.
  2. Lehigh Valley artifact collectionPart of an archive of more than 3,000 items that, for the first time since 2001, has room to be displayed.
  3. The freight depot itselfA wooden New York Central freight station from around 1900, once a church and a machine shop before the society rescued it.
  4. 1911 Manchester train wreck photosAmong the historic albums the society shares on its Facebook page, along with the Shelden King, Richard Pearson and Paul Templeton collections.

Model trains and an open house afternoon

The operating N scale layout is the main draw for kids, and the gift shop's model trains can make for a happy souvenir. Open houses are short, two-hour afternoons, which suits small children. The museum is a single depot building with display cases, so it works best for kids who enjoy looking closely.

For a ride, watch for the society's excursions on the Finger Lakes Railway, which leave from the depot.

Plan your visit: tips for Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society Station Museum

  • Check lvrrhs.org or the society's Facebook page for the next open house date.
  • The museum is at 8 East High Street in Shortsville; mail goes to PO Box 200 in Manchester.
  • Bring family stories: the society collects information on former LVRR employees.
  • Monthly meetings are on the third Sunday at 3 pm at the depot.

The society's homepage also promotes the Finger Lakes Rail Experience Christmas Trains, which bring Santa to Canandaigua by train with letters to Santa, holiday treats and a keepsake ornament for each party. Tickets are sold through Finger Lakes Rail Experience. For more holiday rides around the state, see our guide to Christmas train rides in New York.

Members, volunteers and the families of railroaders

The Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society is a volunteer nonprofit actively seeking members and museum volunteers. It welcomes donations of local railroad artifacts and model trains through a donation form on its site, and families can add a relative to its record of former LVRR employees. Email info@lvrrhs.org or call (585) 289-9149.

Rochester-area rail museums nearby

Two larger museums sit about 25 miles away: the New York Museum of Transportation in West Henrietta and the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Rush. The Martisco Station Museum is about 45 miles east. For more, see every New York train museum.

Every train museum in New York

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

This little depot is where the society's excursion trains load up, and I can picture families helping small ones up those tall coach steps. In our book, Rally's short corgi legs just cannot make the big train stairs, so Dad lifts him aboard. My mom dreamed that page up before she died in 2021. If your kids want to draw it, our coloring pages include Rally's train.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society Station Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society Museum: 20 FAQs

Where is the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society Station Museum?

The station museum is in the former New York Central freight depot at 8 East High Street in Shortsville, New York. The society's mailing address is PO Box 200, Manchester, NY 14504. One map listing places it on Sheldon Street, but the society's own listings give East High Street.

When is the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society museum open?

The museum opens for announced open houses rather than regular daily hours. Recent open houses ran on Sundays from 1 pm to 3 pm. As of October 2026, the society's website lists the next open house as to be announced, so check lvrrhs.org or its Facebook page.

How much does it cost to visit the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society museum?

Admission prices are not posted online. The museum is run by a volunteer nonprofit and opens during special open houses. Call (585) 289-9149 or email info@lvrrhs.org to ask about any fee or suggested donation before you visit.

What can you see at the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society museum?

Open house visitors can see a large collection of Lehigh Valley Railroad artifacts, an operating N scale model train layout and a gift shop with model trains. The society's archive holds more than 3,000 items, photographs and documents covering LV depots, Manchester Yard and diesel locomotive rosters.

What building houses the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society museum?

The museum is in a wooden New York Central Railroad freight station on the old Auburn Road line in Shortsville. It was built around 1900 and was used as a church and a machine shop before the society bought it in October 2001 for its museum and meeting place.

When was the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society founded?

The society was chartered as an education corporation by the State of New York in 1996, and it was recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1997. It kept its collection at the Manchester Village Hall from 1995 to 2001 before buying the Shortsville depot.

Does the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society run train excursions?

Yes. The Shortsville depot is the departure and arrival point for the society's passenger train excursions on the Finger Lakes Railway, including fall foliage trips. Tickets are sold through the excursions link on lvrrhs.org. Dates vary by year, so check the website for the current schedule.

What locomotive pulls the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society excursions?

The society does not name a regular engine. On an October 12, 2019 fall foliage excursion, the train was pulled by Finger Lakes Railway engine 2201, a General Electric U23B diesel painted in the Lehigh Valley Railroad's 1950s color scheme. Ask the society which engine is planned for upcoming trips.

Is there a Christmas train near the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society?

The society's homepage promotes the Finger Lakes Rail Experience Christmas Trains from Canandaigua, where Santa greets families on board, kids write letters to Santa and each party gets a keepsake ornament. Children 2 and under who do not take a seat ride free. Tickets are sold on the Finger Lakes Rail Experience website.

Is the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society museum good for kids?

Yes, for a short visit. The operating N scale layout is the main attraction for children, and the gift shop sells model trains. Open houses last about two hours, which suits young attention spans. For a real ride, watch for the society's excursions on the Finger Lakes Railway.

Does the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society museum have a gift shop?

Yes. The gift shop opens during the station museum's open houses, and it carries model trains among other items. Sales help support the volunteer-run society, its archive of more than 3,000 items and the upkeep of the Shortsville freight depot.

Can I find records of a relative who worked for the Lehigh Valley Railroad?

The society keeps an alphabetical record of former LVRR employees with general information and job descriptions. If a relative worked for the Lehigh Valley, you can fill out the Railroad Employee Form on lvrrhs.org and submit it, and you can email info@lvrrhs.org to ask about existing records.

Does the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society have photos of the 1911 Manchester train wreck?

Yes. The society's Facebook page includes albums on the 1911 Manchester, New York passenger train wreck, along with historic photos and postcards of Upstate New York depots, Manchester Yard, LVRR diesel rosters and images from the Shelden King, Richard Pearson and Paul Templeton collections.

Can I donate railroad items to the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society?

Yes. The society welcomes donations of local railroad artifacts and model trains for its museum. Fill out the fill-in PDF donation form on lvrrhs.org, then contact the society at info@lvrrhs.org or (585) 289-9149 to arrange the donation.

How do I join the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society?

The society is actively seeking new members. Print and complete the membership application from the Join section of lvrrhs.org and mail it to PO Box 200, Manchester, NY 14504. Members include former LVRR employees, their families, railfans and scale modelers.

Can I volunteer at the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society museum?

Yes. The society says volunteers are needed for museum operations, which include staffing open houses, the gift shop and the archive. Email info@lvrrhs.org or call (585) 289-9149, or come to a monthly meeting on the third Sunday at 3 pm at the Shortsville depot.

When does the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society meet?

Monthly meetings are held on the third Sunday of each month at 3 pm at the depot building in Shortsville. As of October 2026, the society's homepage lists the next meeting as to be announced, so check lvrrhs.org before attending.

How long does a visit to the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society museum take?

Most visitors spend about an hour at an open house, looking at the artifacts, watching the N scale layout and browsing the gift shop. Since open houses run about two hours, arrive early if you want time to talk with members about the Lehigh Valley's history.

Is the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society museum accessible?

Accessibility details are not posted online. The museum is a single wooden freight depot from around 1900. Call (585) 289-9149 or email info@lvrrhs.org before an open house to ask about entrances and access for wheelchairs or strollers.

What train museums are near the Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society museum?

The New York Museum of Transportation in West Henrietta and the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Rush are each about 25 miles away. The Martisco Station Museum is about 45 miles east, and the Medina Railroad Museum is about 62 miles west.

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Kelsey Cecil
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