Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad (P&LE) , also known as the "Little Giant", was formed on May 11, 1875. Company headquarters were located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. The line connected Pittsburgh in the east with Youngstown, Ohio
at nearby Haselton, Ohio in the west and Connellsville, Pennsylvania to the east. It did not reach Lake Erie
(at Ashtabula, Ohio
) until the formation of Conrail in 1976. The P&LE was known as the "Little Giant" due to the amount of tonnage that it moved was dramatically out of proportion to its actual number of route miles. While it operated around one tenth of one percent of the nation's railroad miles, it hauled around one percent of its tonnage. This was largely because the P&LE served the steel mills of the greater Pittsburgh area, which consumed and shipped vast amounts of material. It was a specialized railroad deriving much of its revenue from coal
, coke
, iron ore, limestone
, and steel
. The eventual closure of the steel mills led to the end of the existence of the P&LE as an independent line in 1992.
and St. Lawrence Seaway area.
(at Haselton) and 24th Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
near the Jones and Laughlin Iron Works
, opened in 1879. The P&LE's passenger terminal in Pittsburgh was on the south bank of the Monongahela River
, at the foot of the Smithfield Street Bridge
.
The P&LE followed the left downstream bank of the Monongahela River past the terminal to the Golden Triangle, where that waterway meets the Allegheny River
and becomes the Ohio River
. The railroad continued northwest along the left downstream bank of the Ohio to the vicinity of Beaver, Pennsylvania
, where it crossed the river on the Beaver Bridge. From there it followed the Beaver River
to just south of New Castle, Pennsylvania
, where it then followed the Mahoning River
west-northwest, crossing into Ohio just east of Lowellville
. From there it ran northwest into Youngstown, terminating at a junction with the New York Central known as Haselton.
Please note that in the table below, mileage is reckoned westbound from the P&LE Terminal in Pittsburgh. The original line continued east past that station for a little over two miles (listed in Youghiogheny Branch table below) to near 24th Street in the South Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh, where it met the Monongahela Connecting Railroad and the Pittsburgh, McKeesport & Youghiogheny (PM&Y).
to McKeesport, Pennsylvania
, then the Youghiogheny River
to Connellsville, Pennsylvania.
Please note that mileage on this P&LE branch was reckoned from the passenger terminal back at the Smithfield Street Bridge.
to Brownsville, Pennsylvania
.
, a prominent Pittsburgh businessman, merchant, and railroad builder. McCreery had suffered at the hands of Pennsylvania Railroad
in a business that had a loss or failed. The Pennsylvania Railroad at the time used discriminatory rates which became a hot issue in Pittsburgh. On May 11, 1870 McCreery and ten other people filed Articles of Association with Pennsylvania Secretary of State. The stated length of the railroad was for 57 miles (91.7 km). After 2 years the starting group was not very successful at raising the required funds and in 1877 many of the directors were succeeded by a new group of Pittsburgh businessmen. The new group was James I Bennett, David Hostetter, James M. Baily, Mark W. Watson, and James M. Schoonmaker, all influential.
In the spring of 1877, the first rails were laid down in Beaver Falls, which had the largest population other than Pittsburgh. The other reason for this was around February 1877 Jacob Henrici of the Harmony Society
had business there. Henrici would also become a director in 1877. On July 6, 1877, McCreery resigned and Bennett was elected to president with Jacob Henrici becoming a director. Henrici was the key due to his Harmony Society ties which was a communal religious group founded in 1805. In 1880, William Henry Vanderbilt
's Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
bought stock to the tune of $200,000 in the P&LE. The P&LE would stay in the Vanderbilt's system until Conrail. Also in 1877, an agreement between the P&LE and the Atlantic & Great Western (Erie) and the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway was reached for routing traffic at Youngstown
Ohio. The final track laying between Pittsburgh and Youngstown was on January 27, 1879. At the opening in 1879, the P&LE was a poorly-built, single track line. Fortunately for the railroad it was an immediate success and money was soon available for improvements.
South Penn and Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad
In 1881, the P&LE became linked with the notorious South Pennsylvania Railroad
(South Penn). This would lead to William Henry Vanderbilt
to control of the P&LE as a link in the South Penn and the building of the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad. Vanderbilt did this by buying Henry W. Oliver
's and the Harmony Society's stock in the P&LE. Then Vanderbilt, aided by Andrew Carnegie, advanced the PM&Y all of the funds to build to Connellsville, Pennsylvania and then lease it to the P&LE for 99 years. The PM&Y in the end was the only part of the South Penn that was built, but it would be an important part of the P&LE. The PM&Y opened in 1883 and leased to the P&LE in 1884.
Concurrently in 1883, to get the P&LE ready for the expected new business due to the South Penn linkage, the McKees Rocks shops were built.
Vanderbilt and the "Little Giant"
The company came under more formal control in the 1887 by the New York Central Railroad
. Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway's president, John Newell, took over as president of the P&LE in 1887. Under Newell, Reed and Colonel Schoonmaker; the P&LE would become the "Little Giant". From 1887 to 1927, the P&LE would became a heavy duty railroad, with double track all the way from Pittsburgh to Youngstown.
The P&LE operated as an independent subsidiary, even after New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad
merged to form Penn Central.
PM&Y and the Monongahela Railway
The making of coke in Connellsville had been a big part of P&LE traffic, but by the early 1900s it had lessened. The development of by-products distillation processing of coke had moved to the Pittsburgh area. The P&LE then extended up the Monongahela River to Brownsville, Pennsylvania in 1901. The Pennsylvania Railroad at the same time had extended to Brownsville. Both the PRR and the P&LE had plans to extend even further up the river into West Virginia
coke fields. Most likely due to the South Penn, after they decided to work together by using the Monongahela Railway
. The Monongahela Railway then was extended south to Martin, Pennsylvania reaching the Kondike Coke fields. Later in 1915 it reached Fairmont, West Virginia
.
Conrail and CSX
When Conrail was formed, the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad again became an independent Road because P&LE was owed $15.2 million by Penn Central, and operated as such until its merger into CSX.
Starting in 1934, the B&O bought trackage rights over P&LE from McKeesport to New Castle. The B&O's route through Pittsburgh had excessive grades and curves. In the last years of the P&LE, CSX used the line more than P&LE leading to the merger. Most of the online customers had long been gone, with only the main line still intact. In 1992 the company was taken over by CSX Transportation
. The CSX designated the P&LE as a new subsidiary, the Three Rivers Railway
. However, in 1993, CSX leased the TRR, and there is currently no de facto distinction between the former P&LE and any other portion of CSX's system.
After Newell the presidency would be held by the president of the NYC with the active management of the local vice president.
Vice Presidents:
With Nash the active management went back to the president.
in Pittsburgh has been converted into a shopping center, Station Square
. The passenger station has been placed on a list of historic edifices, spruced up and converted to a restaurant.
The Youngstown Gateway Yard
was a major hub location on the railroad, until the creation of Conrail. Gateway Yard
was opened in October of 1957, to be a modern hump yard. The yard was approximately 200 acre (0.809372 km²) stretching for a distance of just over 5 miles (8 km) from Lowellville, Ohio to Center Street in Youngstown, Ohio. Gateway Yard was made up of three principal yards, and an assortment of smaller, special purpose yards. The principal yards were arranged linearly, with the eastern limits of the Departure Yard in Lowellville. The Hump Yard was located in Struthers in the center of the facility, and the Receiving Yard was to the west. The special purpose yards were "Diesel Servicing Facilities", "Gorilla Park" and "Interchange" yards. The "Interchange" yard was made up of six tracks, four were for interchange to and from the B&O Railroad and two of which were for general use. The other interchange with was with New York Central Railroad which was a direct interchange. The western yard limit was the end of track for the P&LE. Beyond the western end of the Yard was the NYC mainline that continued to Ashtabula, Ohio
. The yard was constructed when the P&LE was under the control of the New York Central Railroad. Conrail routing most of the traffic around P&LE facilities in the area. After the 1993 CSX take over of P&LE, Gateway Yard was closed and most tracks have been removed. The yard tower still stands but has been heavily vandilized. The Gateway Yard Tower November 2008
McKees Rocks
The McKees Rocks Yard facility was home to a yard, Major Locomotive Rebuilding and general maintenance, as well as Freight Car Repair and Maintenance. On the Western most end of the McKees Rocks yard, the P&LE interchanged with the PC&Y. However the PC&Y facilities are just behind the P&LE Locomotive facilities in the main yard, and trackage from the PC&Y crosses the P&LE Mainline at this point, servicing several local businesses in the Bottoms section of McKees Rocks, finally making the previously mentioned interchange. Most of the McKees Rocks facilities are still in place being used by various Freight Car rebuilding companies. The Locomotive Facility still has the PITTSBURGH AND LAKE ERIE LOCOMOTIVE SHOPS sign proudly displayed on its side, and if you look close enough, you can see where the old New York Central Ovals were.
In 1904, P&LE built the O'Donovan Bridge for easier automobile access from Island Avenue to The Bottoms without crossing the railroad tracks. This was replaced in 1931 by the McKees Rocks Bridge, which extended to Ohio River Blvd. but still provided access to The Bottoms via Helen Street exit.
The McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation has plans to adaptively reuse the building.
College
The College Hill
neighborhood of Beaver Falls had a small yard located just below Geneva College
along the Beaver River
. There was also a small roundhouse on the property, plus the College Hill Station
. Today, only the station remains.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. The line connected Pittsburgh in the east with Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
at nearby Haselton, Ohio in the west and Connellsville, Pennsylvania to the east. It did not reach Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
(at Ashtabula, Ohio
Ashtabula, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,962 people, 8,435 households, and 5,423 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,775.9 people per square mile . There were 9,151 housing units at an average density of 1,211.8 per square mile...
) until the formation of Conrail in 1976. The P&LE was known as the "Little Giant" due to the amount of tonnage that it moved was dramatically out of proportion to its actual number of route miles. While it operated around one tenth of one percent of the nation's railroad miles, it hauled around one percent of its tonnage. This was largely because the P&LE served the steel mills of the greater Pittsburgh area, which consumed and shipped vast amounts of material. It was a specialized railroad deriving much of its revenue from coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, coke
Coke (fuel)
Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...
, iron ore, limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
. The eventual closure of the steel mills led to the end of the existence of the P&LE as an independent line in 1992.
Route of the P&LE
The P&LE purchased many smaller railroads that operated in the areas of its main train line extending the line north to Youngstown and south to Connellsvile . This provided a means of transportation from the steel centers of Pittsburgh to the Great LakesGreat Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
and St. Lawrence Seaway area.
P&LE Division
The original line ran between Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
(at Haselton) and 24th Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
near the Jones and Laughlin Iron Works
Jones and Laughlin Steel Company
The earliest foundations of Jones and Laughlin Steel Company were the American Iron Company, founded in 1851 by Bernard Lauth, and B. F. Jones founded in 1852a few miles south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River. Lauth's interest was bought in 1854 by James H. Laughlin...
, opened in 1879. The P&LE's passenger terminal in Pittsburgh was on the south bank of the Monongahela River
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
, at the foot of the Smithfield Street Bridge
Smithfield Street Bridge
The Smithfield Street Bridge is a lenticular truss bridge crossing the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.The bridge was designed by Gustav Lindenthal, the engineer who later designed the Hell Gate Bridge. The bridge was built between 1881–83, opening for traffic on March 19, 1883....
.
The P&LE followed the left downstream bank of the Monongahela River past the terminal to the Golden Triangle, where that waterway meets the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
and becomes the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The railroad continued northwest along the left downstream bank of the Ohio to the vicinity of Beaver, Pennsylvania
Beaver, Pennsylvania
Beaver is a borough in and the county seat of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, at the confluence of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 4,775, having dropped from 5,641 in 1940....
, where it crossed the river on the Beaver Bridge. From there it followed the Beaver River
Beaver River (Pennsylvania)
The Beaver River is a tributary of the Ohio River in Western Pennsylvania in the United States with a length of approximately 21 mi . It flows through a historically important coal-producing region north of Pittsburgh...
to just south of New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...
, where it then followed the Mahoning River
Mahoning River
The Mahoning River is a river located in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. It joins the Shenango River to form the Beaver River and is part of the Ohio River watershed.- Physical properties :...
west-northwest, crossing into Ohio just east of Lowellville
Lowellville, Ohio
Lowellville is a village in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States, in the "Steel Valley" area of the northeast part of the state, southeast of Youngstown. The village is an older, predominantly Italian-American, working-class community built along the banks of the Mahoning River, and centered around...
. From there it ran northwest into Youngstown, terminating at a junction with the New York Central known as Haselton.
Please note that in the table below, mileage is reckoned westbound from the P&LE Terminal in Pittsburgh. The original line continued east past that station for a little over two miles (listed in Youghiogheny Branch table below) to near 24th Street in the South Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh, where it met the Monongahela Connecting Railroad and the Pittsburgh, McKeesport & Youghiogheny (PM&Y).
| State | Milepost | City | Station | Lat/long | Old Telegraph Call Letters | Connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OH Ohio Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus... |
64 | Haselton | Interchange With NYC New York Central Railroad The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States... |
|||
| Youngstown Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania... |
Youngstown | Interchange With B&O Baltimore and Ohio Railroad The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which... |
||||
| Youngstown Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania... |
East Youngstown | |||||
| 60 | Struthers Struthers, Ohio Struthers is a city in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The population was 12,036 at the 2000 census. Struthers is served by a branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :John... |
Struthers | JCT for LE&E and Y&S | |||
| Lowellville Junction | ||||||
| 56 | Lowellville Lowellville, Ohio Lowellville is a village in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States, in the "Steel Valley" area of the northeast part of the state, southeast of Youngstown. The village is an older, predominantly Italian-American, working-class community built along the banks of the Mahoning River, and centered around... |
Lowellville | ||||
| Ohio Ohio Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus... -Pennsylvania Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... state line |
||||||
| PA Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
Robinson Robinson Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania Robinson Township is a township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,193 at the 2000 census. It was formerly an area of interest concerning coal mining... |
Robinson | ||||
| 52 | Edinburg | |||||
| Coverts-Crossing | ||||||
| 48 | New Castle New Castle, Pennsylvania New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the... |
New Castle (Mahoningtown) | ||||
| New Castle Junction | Branch to New Castle New Castle, Pennsylvania New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the... |
|||||
| West Pittsburg West Pittsburg, Pennsylvania West Pittsburg is an unincorporated community in southern Taylor Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, along the banks of the Beaver River just 5 miles south of New Castle. Its main street is the north-south Pennsylvania Route 168, which crosses the river at the southern end of the community... |
West Pittsburg Station West Pittsburg Station The West Pittsburg Station is a former railway station that was constructed and used by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. The station building is located just south of the city of New Castle, Pennsylvania in the small village of West Pittsburg... |
B&O Baltimore and Ohio Railroad The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which... Trackage Rights over P&LE to Port Vue |
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| Newport Newport, Pennsylvania Newport is a borough in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,506 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Newport is located at .... |
Newport | |||||
| 41 | Wampum Wampum, Pennsylvania Wampum is a borough in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 678 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wampum is located at .... |
Wampum | ||||
| Rock Point | ||||||
| 36 | West Ellwood Junction Station | Branch to Ellwood City Ellwood City, Pennsylvania Ellwood City is a borough in Beaver and Lawrence counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Ellwood City is 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh and some 8 miles south by southeast of New Castle... |
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| Beaver Falls (College Hill) College Hill (Beaver Falls) College Hill is a neighborhood located in the northern section of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States. Geneva College is located in the community, and is the namesake of College Hill.-History:... |
College Hill Station College Hill Station The College Hill Station is a former train station located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, USA. The structure was built by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad to help transport goods and passengers in and out of the neighborhood of College Hill in Beaver Falls... |
College Yard | ||||
| Beaver Falls Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River... |
Beaver Falls | |||||
| New Brighton New Brighton, Pennsylvania New Brighton is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, located along the Beaver River northwest of Pittsburgh. There are deposits of coal and clay in the vicinity. In the past, articles produced here included pottery, bricks, sewer pipe, glass, flour, twine, lead kegs,... |
New Brighton | |||||
| Fallston Fallston, Pennsylvania Fallston is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 307 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fallston is located at .... |
Fallston | |||||
| Beaver Beaver, Pennsylvania Beaver is a borough in and the county seat of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, at the confluence of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 4,775, having dropped from 5,641 in 1940.... |
Bridgewater | |||||
| Beaver Beaver, Pennsylvania Beaver is a borough in and the county seat of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, at the confluence of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 4,775, having dropped from 5,641 in 1940.... & Monaca Monaca, Pennsylvania Monaca is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States along the Ohio River, northwest of Pittsburgh. Monaca was first incorporated as Phillipsburg in 1840, and had been known by that name since the 1820s. In 1892, the name of the borough was changed to Monaca in honor of the Native... |
Beaver Bridge over Ohio River Ohio River The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream... |
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| 24 | Monaca Monaca, Pennsylvania Monaca is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States along the Ohio River, northwest of Pittsburgh. Monaca was first incorporated as Phillipsburg in 1840, and had been known by that name since the 1820s. In 1892, the name of the borough was changed to Monaca in honor of the Native... |
Monaca | ||||
| Aliquippa Aliquippa, Pennsylvania Aliquippa is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 9,438 at the 2010 census. Formerly a borough, it was formally named a city in 1987 by the Aliquippa Council.-History:... |
West Aliquippa | |||||
| 20 | Aliquippa Aliquippa, Pennsylvania Aliquippa is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 9,438 at the 2010 census. Formerly a borough, it was formally named a city in 1987 by the Aliquippa Council.-History:... |
Aliquippa Aliquippa Station The Aliquippa Station is a former railway station located in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, USA. The station was constructed and used by the now defunct Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. Constructed in 1911, the station has also gone by the name of Woodlawn Station because of the former town of... |
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| 18 | Economy Economy, Pennsylvania Economy is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,363 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Economy is located at .... |
West Economy Station | ||||
| 16 | South Heights South Heights, Pennsylvania South Heights is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. The population was 542 at the 2000 census. South Heights was first known as Ethel's Landing, a docking point on the Ohio River. The name of the town was changed to Shannopin when the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad... |
South Heights Station South Heights Station The South Heights Station was a commuter train station located in South Heights, Pennsylvania serving the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad in the late 1890's-early 1900's. The station was located near the junction of Jordan Street and Hill Street within the Borough limits... |
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| 15 | Glenwillard | Glenwillard | ||||
| 14 | Crescent Twp | Stoops Ferry | ||||
| 11 | Moon Twp | Kendall | ||||
| 9 | Coraoplis Coraopolis, Pennsylvania Coraopolis is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 5,677 at the 2010 census. In 1940 the population peaked at 11,086. It is a small community located to the west of Pittsburgh, along the Ohio River and to the east of the Pittsburgh International Airport... |
Coraopolis Coraopolis Railroad Station The Coraopolis Railroad Station is located in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. The train station was built in 1895 by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and designed by architects Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge in Richardsonian Romanesque style... |
Interchange With Montour Montour Railroad Montour Railroad is a former short line railroad company operating passenger and freight service on standard gauge track in southwestern Pennsylvania... |
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| 8 | Robinson Twp | Montour Junction Station | Montour Montour Railroad Montour Railroad is a former short line railroad company operating passenger and freight service on standard gauge track in southwestern Pennsylvania... Trackage Rights over P&LE to Coraopolis |
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| 4 | McKees Rocks McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania McKees Rocks, also known as "The Rocks", is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the south bank of the Ohio River. The borough population was 6,104 at the 2010 census.In the past, it was known for its extensive iron and steel interests... |
McKees Rocks | Yard, Locomotive, Freight Car Shops and Maintenance. JCT with PC&Y. | |||
| 2 | Pittsburgh (West End) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States... |
West End | ||||
| 0 | Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States... |
P&LE Pittsburgh Terminal Station Square Station Square is a indoor and outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex located in the South Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.... |
Pittsburgh Terminal and Smithfield Street Bridge | |||
Youghiogheny Branch
The Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad ran from 24th Street in Pittsburgh, PA to Connellsvile, Pennsylvania, in 1882. The PM&Y followed the Monongahela RiverMonongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
to McKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census...
, then the Youghiogheny River
Youghiogheny River
The Youghiogheny River , or the Yough for short, is a tributary of the Monongahela River in the U.S. states of West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania...
to Connellsville, Pennsylvania.
Please note that mileage on this P&LE branch was reckoned from the passenger terminal back at the Smithfield Street Bridge.
| State | Milepost | City | Station | Lat/long | Old Telegraph Call Letters | Connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
0 | Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States... |
P&LE Pittsburgh Terminal Station Square Station Square is a indoor and outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex located in the South Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.... |
original route of the Pittsburgh and Beck's Run Railroad Pittsburgh and Beck's Run Railroad The Pittsburgh and Beck's Run Railroad was a short line railroad in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, running from the Smithfield Street Bridge to the Jones and Laughlin Iron Works.... (start) |
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| Pittsburgh (South Side) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States... |
20th Street & 24th Street junctions: Interchange with MCRR Monongahela Connecting Railroad The Monongahela Connecting Railroad or Mon Conn was a small industrial railroad in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, now part of the Allegheny Valley Railroad. It was a subsidiary of the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company and a large portion of its work was for its parent company, though it also served other... |
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| 4 | Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States... |
Williamsburg | ||||
| 5 | Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States... |
Becks Run Becks Run Becks Run is a tributary of the Monongahela River. As an urban stream, it is heavily polluted, receiving combined sewer outflow from Carrick and Mount Oliver, Pennsylvania. There is a waterfall on a tributary, just downstream from a slate dump, near the intersection of Wagner Avenue and Mountain... |
end of Pittsburgh and Becks Run Railroad | |||
| 6 | Homestead Homestead, Pennsylvania Homestead is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, in the "Mon Valley," southeast of downtown Pittsburgh and directly across the river from the city limit line. The borough is known for the Homestead Strike of 1892, an important event in the history of labor relations in the United... |
Homestead | Site of Homestead Strike Homestead Strike The Homestead Strike was an industrial lockout and strike which began on June 30, 1892, culminating in a battle between strikers and private security agents on July 6, 1892. It was one of the most serious disputes in U.S. labor history... |
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| Munhall Munhall, Pennsylvania Munhall is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on the west bank of the Monongahela River, south of the confluence of the Monongahela and the Allegheny rivers where the Ohio River begins. It abuts the borough of Homestead. A large part of the Homestead Works of the Carnegie Steel Company... & Rankin Rankin, Pennsylvania Rankin is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, south of Pittsburgh on the Monongahela River. Early in the 20th century, Rankin specialized in manufacturing steel and wire goods... |
P&LE Munhall Bridge over Monongahela River Monongahela River The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States... |
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| 8 | Rankin Rankin, Pennsylvania Rankin is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, south of Pittsburgh on the Monongahela River. Early in the 20th century, Rankin specialized in manufacturing steel and wire goods... |
Rankin | ||||
| 10 | Braddock Braddock, Pennsylvania Braddock is a borough located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 10 miles upstream from the mouth of the Monongahela River. The population was 2,159 at the 2010 census... |
Braddock | ||||
| 11 | McKeesport McKeesport, Pennsylvania McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census... |
McKeesport | ||||
| McKeesport McKeesport, Pennsylvania McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census... & Port Vue Port Vue, Pennsylvania Port Vue is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,798 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Port Vue is located in western Pennsylvania along the Youghiogheny River near its confluence with the more navigable Monongahela River... |
Bridge over Youghiogheny River Youghiogheny River The Youghiogheny River , or the Yough for short, is a tributary of the Monongahela River in the U.S. states of West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania... |
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| 16 | Port Vue Port Vue, Pennsylvania Port Vue is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,798 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Port Vue is located in western Pennsylvania along the Youghiogheny River near its confluence with the more navigable Monongahela River... |
Port Vue | Interchange With B&O Baltimore and Ohio Railroad The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which... . B&O had trackage Rights over P&LE to West Pittsburgh. |
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| 19 | Boston | |||||
| 22 | Greenock | |||||
| 25 | Dravo | |||||
| 27 | Buena Vista Buena Vista, Pennsylvania Buena Vista is an unincorporated community in Elizabeth Township Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, located just outside of Pittsburgh. Its ZIP code is 15018. For a time, Buena Vista served as a mining town.... |
Buena Vesta | ||||
| 33 | West Newton | |||||
| 37 | Cedar Creek | |||||
| 41 | Wickhaven | |||||
| 46 | Kier | |||||
| 49 | Sand Rock | |||||
| 53 | Dickerson Run | |||||
| 56 | Crossland | |||||
| 58 | Connellsville Connellsville, Pennsylvania Connellsville is a city in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA, 57 miles southeast of Pittsburgh on the Youghiogheny River, a tributary of the Monongahela River. It is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. In 1890, 5,629 people lived in Connellsville, which was a borough at that time... |
Connellsville | Interchange With B&O Baltimore and Ohio Railroad The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which... , WM, and NW |
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Monongahela Branch
The Pittsburgh, McKeesport & Youghiogheny Railroad also followed the Monongahela RiverMonongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
to Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Brownsville is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States, officially founded in 1785 located 35 miles south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River...
.
| State | Milepost | City | Station | Lat/long | Old Telegraph Call Letters | Connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
16 | Port Vue Port Vue, Pennsylvania Port Vue is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,798 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Port Vue is located in western Pennsylvania along the Youghiogheny River near its confluence with the more navigable Monongahela River... |
Buena Vesta Junction | |||
| 18 | Glassport Glassport, Pennsylvania Glassport is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately south of Pittsburgh and the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers where they form the Ohio River... |
Glassport | ||||
| 20 | Pollock | |||||
| 22 | Elizabeth Elizabeth, Pennsylvania Elizabeth is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on the east bank of the Monongahela River, where Pennsylvania Route 51 crosses, upstream of Pittsburgh and close to the county line. The population was 1,493 at the 2010 census... |
Wylie Elizabeth | ||||
| 27 | Bunola | |||||
| 31 | East Monongahela Forward Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Forward Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,376 at the 2010 census. The township is named after Walter Forward, U.S... |
Monongahela | ||||
| 33 | Manown | |||||
| 34 | Sunnyside | |||||
| 36 | Sheppler | |||||
| 40 | Monessen Monessen, Pennsylvania Monessen is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,669 at the 2000 census. In 1940, 20,257 people lived there. In 1990 the population was 13,026. Steel-making was a prominent industry in Monessen, which was a Rust Belt borough in the "Mon Valley" of... |
Monessen | ||||
| 42 | East Charleroi | |||||
| 43 | Belle Vernon | |||||
| 45 | Fayette City Fayette City, Pennsylvania Fayette City is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 714 at the 2000 census. It is served by the Belle Vernon Area School District.... |
Fayette City | ||||
| 50 | Newell | |||||
| 54 | Brownsville Junction | JCT with Monongahela Railway Monongahela Railway The Monongahela Railway was a coal-hauling short line railroad in Pennsylvania and West Virginia in the United States. It was jointly controlled originally by the Pennsylvania Railroad, New York Central subsidiary Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with NYC... |
History
The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad was the creation of William McCreeryWilliam McCreery
William McCreery may refer to:*William McCreery , U.S. Representative from Maryland*William McCreery , U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania*William B. McCreery, former mayor of the City of Flint, Michigan State Treasurer and diplomat...
, a prominent Pittsburgh businessman, merchant, and railroad builder. McCreery had suffered at the hands of Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
in a business that had a loss or failed. The Pennsylvania Railroad at the time used discriminatory rates which became a hot issue in Pittsburgh. On May 11, 1870 McCreery and ten other people filed Articles of Association with Pennsylvania Secretary of State. The stated length of the railroad was for 57 miles (91.7 km). After 2 years the starting group was not very successful at raising the required funds and in 1877 many of the directors were succeeded by a new group of Pittsburgh businessmen. The new group was James I Bennett, David Hostetter, James M. Baily, Mark W. Watson, and James M. Schoonmaker, all influential.
In the spring of 1877, the first rails were laid down in Beaver Falls, which had the largest population other than Pittsburgh. The other reason for this was around February 1877 Jacob Henrici of the Harmony Society
Harmony Society
The Harmony Society was a Christian theosophy and pietist society founded in Iptingen, Germany, in 1785. Due to religious persecution by the Lutheran Church and the government in Württemberg, the Harmony Society moved to the United States on October 7, 1803, initially purchasing of land in Butler...
had business there. Henrici would also become a director in 1877. On July 6, 1877, McCreery resigned and Bennett was elected to president with Jacob Henrici becoming a director. Henrici was the key due to his Harmony Society ties which was a communal religious group founded in 1805. In 1880, William Henry Vanderbilt
William Henry Vanderbilt
William Henry Vanderbilt I was an American businessman and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family.-Childhood:William Vanderbilt was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1821...
's Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, sometimes referred to as the Lake Shore, was a major part of the New York Central Railroad's Water Level Route from Buffalo, NY to Chicago, primarily along the south shore of Lake Erie and across northern Indiana...
bought stock to the tune of $200,000 in the P&LE. The P&LE would stay in the Vanderbilt's system until Conrail. Also in 1877, an agreement between the P&LE and the Atlantic & Great Western (Erie) and the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway was reached for routing traffic at Youngstown
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
Ohio. The final track laying between Pittsburgh and Youngstown was on January 27, 1879. At the opening in 1879, the P&LE was a poorly-built, single track line. Fortunately for the railroad it was an immediate success and money was soon available for improvements.
South Penn and Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad
In 1881, the P&LE became linked with the notorious South Pennsylvania Railroad
South Pennsylvania Railroad
The South Pennsylvania Railroad is the name given to two proposed but never completed Pennsylvania railroads in the nineteenth-century. Parts of the right of way for the second South Pennsylvania Railroad were reused for the Pennsylvania Turnpike....
(South Penn). This would lead to William Henry Vanderbilt
William Henry Vanderbilt
William Henry Vanderbilt I was an American businessman and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family.-Childhood:William Vanderbilt was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1821...
to control of the P&LE as a link in the South Penn and the building of the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad. Vanderbilt did this by buying Henry W. Oliver
Henry W. Oliver
Henry W. Oliver was an American industrialist.-Biography:Henry W. Oliver was born in Ireland in 1845. Two years later his family settled in Pittsburgh. Oliver began working at the age of thirteen as a messenger boy for the National Telegraph Company in Pittsburgh. Oliver worked at various jobs...
's and the Harmony Society's stock in the P&LE. Then Vanderbilt, aided by Andrew Carnegie, advanced the PM&Y all of the funds to build to Connellsville, Pennsylvania and then lease it to the P&LE for 99 years. The PM&Y in the end was the only part of the South Penn that was built, but it would be an important part of the P&LE. The PM&Y opened in 1883 and leased to the P&LE in 1884.
Concurrently in 1883, to get the P&LE ready for the expected new business due to the South Penn linkage, the McKees Rocks shops were built.
Vanderbilt and the "Little Giant"
The company came under more formal control in the 1887 by the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
. Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway's president, John Newell, took over as president of the P&LE in 1887. Under Newell, Reed and Colonel Schoonmaker; the P&LE would become the "Little Giant". From 1887 to 1927, the P&LE would became a heavy duty railroad, with double track all the way from Pittsburgh to Youngstown.
The P&LE operated as an independent subsidiary, even after New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
merged to form Penn Central.
PM&Y and the Monongahela Railway
The making of coke in Connellsville had been a big part of P&LE traffic, but by the early 1900s it had lessened. The development of by-products distillation processing of coke had moved to the Pittsburgh area. The P&LE then extended up the Monongahela River to Brownsville, Pennsylvania in 1901. The Pennsylvania Railroad at the same time had extended to Brownsville. Both the PRR and the P&LE had plans to extend even further up the river into West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
coke fields. Most likely due to the South Penn, after they decided to work together by using the Monongahela Railway
Monongahela Railway
The Monongahela Railway was a coal-hauling short line railroad in Pennsylvania and West Virginia in the United States. It was jointly controlled originally by the Pennsylvania Railroad, New York Central subsidiary Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with NYC...
. The Monongahela Railway then was extended south to Martin, Pennsylvania reaching the Kondike Coke fields. Later in 1915 it reached Fairmont, West Virginia
Fairmont, West Virginia
Fairmont is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. Nicknamed "The Friendly City". The population was 18,704 at the 2010 census...
.
Conrail and CSX
When Conrail was formed, the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad again became an independent Road because P&LE was owed $15.2 million by Penn Central, and operated as such until its merger into CSX.
Starting in 1934, the B&O bought trackage rights over P&LE from McKeesport to New Castle. The B&O's route through Pittsburgh had excessive grades and curves. In the last years of the P&LE, CSX used the line more than P&LE leading to the merger. Most of the online customers had long been gone, with only the main line still intact. In 1992 the company was taken over by CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
. The CSX designated the P&LE as a new subsidiary, the Three Rivers Railway
Three Rivers Railway
The Three Rivers Railway is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation. This line used to host Amtrak's Three Rivers passenger trains connecting Chicago and New York City until service ended in 2005....
. However, in 1993, CSX leased the TRR, and there is currently no de facto distinction between the former P&LE and any other portion of CSX's system.
Company officers
Presidents of the railroad were as follows:- William McCreeryWilliam McCreeryWilliam McCreery may refer to:*William McCreery , U.S. Representative from Maryland*William McCreery , U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania*William B. McCreery, former mayor of the City of Flint, Michigan State Treasurer and diplomat...
1875-1877 - James I. Bennett 1877-1881
- Jacob Henrici 1877-1885
- John Newell 1887-1896
After Newell the presidency would be held by the president of the NYC with the active management of the local vice president.
Vice Presidents:
- James H. Reed 1892-1896
- Colonel James M. Schoonmaker 1886-1927
- James B. Yohe 1917-1919 WW1 Supervisor 1920-1929 V.P.
- Curtis M. Yohe 1929-1953
- John F. NashJohn Francis NashJohn Francis Nash was an American railroad executive. From 1953 to 1956 he was a vice president for the New York Central Railroad, in charge of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. After his tenure there, he led the Lehigh Valley Railroad....
1953-1956
With Nash the active management went back to the president.
- John W. Barriger IIIJohn W. Barriger IIIJohn Walker Barriger III was an American railroad executive; he successively led the Monon Railroad, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad and the Boston and Maine Railroad...
1956-1964 - Curtis D. Buford 1965-1969
- Henry G. Allyn, Jr 1969-1993?
Pittsburgh Terminal
The P&LE's Pittsburgh Terminal can be seen in the lower right. Pittsburgh Terminal was the Station/headquarters, train shed and freight houses. In the photo the long train shed is along the river leading to the tall building which is the station/headquarters with the roof of the freight house to the right of the train shed. The headquarters at the bottom of the Monongahela InclineMonongahela Incline
The Monongahela Incline, built by John Endres in 1870, islocated near the Smithfield Street Bridge in Pittsburgh. It is the oldest continuously operating funicular in the USA. It is also one of two surviving inclines from the original 17 passenger-carrying inclines built in Pittsburgh starting...
in Pittsburgh has been converted into a shopping center, Station Square
Station Square
Station Square is a indoor and outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex located in the South Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
. The passenger station has been placed on a list of historic edifices, spruced up and converted to a restaurant.
Shops and Yards
Gateway YardThe Youngstown Gateway Yard
Gateway Yard
The Gateway Yard of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad,located in Youngstown, Ohio, opened in the fall of 1957 and remained in operation until CSX took over the P&LE and closed the yard in 1993. Gateway served as a place to sort and classify freight cars as well as an interchange with the...
was a major hub location on the railroad, until the creation of Conrail. Gateway Yard
Gateway Yard
The Gateway Yard of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad,located in Youngstown, Ohio, opened in the fall of 1957 and remained in operation until CSX took over the P&LE and closed the yard in 1993. Gateway served as a place to sort and classify freight cars as well as an interchange with the...
was opened in October of 1957, to be a modern hump yard. The yard was approximately 200 acre (0.809372 km²) stretching for a distance of just over 5 miles (8 km) from Lowellville, Ohio to Center Street in Youngstown, Ohio. Gateway Yard was made up of three principal yards, and an assortment of smaller, special purpose yards. The principal yards were arranged linearly, with the eastern limits of the Departure Yard in Lowellville. The Hump Yard was located in Struthers in the center of the facility, and the Receiving Yard was to the west. The special purpose yards were "Diesel Servicing Facilities", "Gorilla Park" and "Interchange" yards. The "Interchange" yard was made up of six tracks, four were for interchange to and from the B&O Railroad and two of which were for general use. The other interchange with was with New York Central Railroad which was a direct interchange. The western yard limit was the end of track for the P&LE. Beyond the western end of the Yard was the NYC mainline that continued to Ashtabula, Ohio
Ashtabula, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,962 people, 8,435 households, and 5,423 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,775.9 people per square mile . There were 9,151 housing units at an average density of 1,211.8 per square mile...
. The yard was constructed when the P&LE was under the control of the New York Central Railroad. Conrail routing most of the traffic around P&LE facilities in the area. After the 1993 CSX take over of P&LE, Gateway Yard was closed and most tracks have been removed. The yard tower still stands but has been heavily vandilized. The Gateway Yard Tower November 2008
McKees Rocks
The McKees Rocks Yard facility was home to a yard, Major Locomotive Rebuilding and general maintenance, as well as Freight Car Repair and Maintenance. On the Western most end of the McKees Rocks yard, the P&LE interchanged with the PC&Y. However the PC&Y facilities are just behind the P&LE Locomotive facilities in the main yard, and trackage from the PC&Y crosses the P&LE Mainline at this point, servicing several local businesses in the Bottoms section of McKees Rocks, finally making the previously mentioned interchange. Most of the McKees Rocks facilities are still in place being used by various Freight Car rebuilding companies. The Locomotive Facility still has the PITTSBURGH AND LAKE ERIE LOCOMOTIVE SHOPS sign proudly displayed on its side, and if you look close enough, you can see where the old New York Central Ovals were.
In 1904, P&LE built the O'Donovan Bridge for easier automobile access from Island Avenue to The Bottoms without crossing the railroad tracks. This was replaced in 1931 by the McKees Rocks Bridge, which extended to Ohio River Blvd. but still provided access to The Bottoms via Helen Street exit.
The McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation has plans to adaptively reuse the building.
College
The College Hill
College Hill (Beaver Falls)
College Hill is a neighborhood located in the northern section of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States. Geneva College is located in the community, and is the namesake of College Hill.-History:...
neighborhood of Beaver Falls had a small yard located just below Geneva College
Geneva College
Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in...
along the Beaver River
Beaver River (Pennsylvania)
The Beaver River is a tributary of the Ohio River in Western Pennsylvania in the United States with a length of approximately 21 mi . It flows through a historically important coal-producing region north of Pittsburgh...
. There was also a small roundhouse on the property, plus the College Hill Station
College Hill Station
The College Hill Station is a former train station located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, USA. The structure was built by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad to help transport goods and passengers in and out of the neighborhood of College Hill in Beaver Falls...
. Today, only the station remains.
Subsidiaries
- Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad (Leased 1888 and merged in 1965)
- Pittsburgh, Chartiers and Youghiogheny Railroad (1/2 P&LE, 1/2 CR)
- Mahoning State Line Railroad (Leased 1885)
- Monongahela RailwayMonongahela RailwayThe Monongahela Railway was a coal-hauling short line railroad in Pennsylvania and West Virginia in the United States. It was jointly controlled originally by the Pennsylvania Railroad, New York Central subsidiary Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with NYC...
(1/3 P&LE, 1/3 B&O, 1/3 CR(PR)) - Montour RailroadMontour RailroadMontour Railroad is a former short line railroad company operating passenger and freight service on standard gauge track in southwestern Pennsylvania...
- Lake Erie and Eastern Railroad (1/2 P&LE, 1/2 CR)
- Youngstown and Southern Railway
External links
- Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Historical Society
- The Family Tree of North American Railroads
- P&LE 1960 system map
- Headquarters building
- Finding Aid to Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Company Records at the Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
- Photographs from the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Company Collection