Pennsylvania Company

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Pennsylvania Company
Pennsylvania Lines, 1913.png
Pennsylvania Company.jpg
Lines operated by the Pennsylvania Company just before its demise in 1918
Overview
Reporting markPRR
LocalePittsburgh, PA to Chicago, IL
Dates of operationApril 1, 1871–January 1, 1918
SuccessorPennsylvania Railroad
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The Pennsylvania Company, later known publicly as the Pennsylvania Lines (west of Pittsburgh) was a major holding company. It included the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway, the PRR's main route to Chicago. It also owned but did not operate the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (Pan Handle Route), another line to Chicago. It merged back into the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1918.

History[]

The Pennsylvania Company was incorporated April 7, 1870 in Pennsylvania as a holding company with a broad charter. It was organized June 1, with president William Thaw of the PRR. Tom Scott replaced Thaw as the president January 20, 1871. On April 1 of that year the company began operating several railroads; others were acquired later.

  • April 1, 1871: Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway - main line direct from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Chicago
  • April 1, 1871: Erie and Pittsburgh Railroad - main line from Pittsburgh north to Erie, Pennsylvania
  • April 1, 1871: (merged into the Vandalia Railroad, PRR-owned but not Pennsylvania Company operated, January 1, 1905)
  • April 1, 1871: (merged into the June 1, 1887)
  • April 1, 1871: (merged into the January 1, 1906)
  • December 1, 1871: - branch of PFW&C to Cleveland, Ohio
  • January 1, 1873: (merged into the JM&I November 18, 1881)
  • January 1, 1873: Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis Railroad (merged into the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway, PRR-owned but not Pennsylvania Company operated, October 1, 1890)
  • January 1, 1873: Lake Erie and Louisville Railroad (merged into the JM&I June 26, 1890)
  • January 1, 1873: (began operating itself October 1, 1890)
  • January 1, 1873: (merged into the JM&I April 10, 1882)
  • May 1, 1873: ; (merged into the June 16, 1887)
  • May 1, 1873: Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan Rail Road (merged into the November 28, 1877)
  • May 1, 1873: ; ; (merged into the May 23, 1891)
  • November 10, 1873: (merged into the May 1, 1878?)
  • September 28, 1880:
  • October 3, 1881: (reorganized February 1, 1884 as the non-PRR )
  • August 7, 1882: (merged into the June 16, 1887)
  • January 8, 1884: ;
  • August 18, 1884: (merged into the June 1, 1887)
  • June 1, 1887: (merged into the August 1, 1887)
  • June 16, 1887: (merged into the August 1, 1887)
  • August 1, 1887: ;
  • October 15, 1887:
  • October 15, 1888: (merged into the February 5, 1901)
  • May 23, 1891: (merged into the July 1, 1911)
  • January 1892: (merged into the January 1, 1904)
  • January 8, 1892: (merged into the January 1, 1899)
  • September 16, 1895: Calumet River Railway (merged into the February 5, 1901)
  • January 1, 1900: (merged into the July 1, 1911)
  • August 1, 1900: Western New York and Pennsylvania Railway (only 51.492 miles (83 km), formerly the from New Castle, Pennsylvania to Stoneboro, Pennsylvania plus branches)
  • July 1, 1910:
  • July 1, 1911: Toledo, Columbus and Ohio River Railroad
  • July 1, 1912:

The Pennsylvania Company operated the from September 16, 1870, to February 4, 1871.

On January 1, 1918, soon after the United States Railroad Administration took over all U.S. railroads, all Pennsylvania Company leases were transferred to the PRR. On March 1, 1920, when the lines were returned to the PRR, they were separated into four regions - the , , and .

The Pennsylvania Company, however, stayed around as a holding company, and was reincorporated in Delaware on December 12, 1958, and reorganized December 16. Its new purpose was to diversify into real estate and other fields, and the company lasted through the 1968 PRR merger into Penn Central Transportation.

In 1973 or 1974 several subsidiaries were created - the Pennrec Company for theme park investments (including Six Flags Great Adventure and ), the Penn Orlando Company, and Penn Arlington, Inc. (which bought Six Flags Over Texas from the ).

External links[]

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