Repository

Heinz History Center

Title

Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Company Records

Creator

Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Company

Collection Number

MSS 0705

Extent

0.5 linear feet (1 boxes)

Date

1916-1955

Abstract

The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Company (PLE) was chartered in 1875 in Pittsburgh, Pa., and began rail operations in 1879. The PLE capitalized on the industry of the region, transporting coal, coke, iron ore, and steel products from Connellsville, Pa., to Youngstown, Oh. The Pennsylvania and Lake Erie Railroad Company Records include PLE employment records which were administered through the United States Railroad Administration between 1916 and 1955.

Language

The material in this collection is in English.

Author

The guide to this collection was written by Alex J. Toner.

Sponsor

This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.

Publisher

Heinz History Center

Address

1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad (PLE) was chartered in 1875 in Pittsburgh, Pa. The organization was unable to raise enough capital to begin actual construction of the line until 1877, when William H. Vanderbilt purchased a substantial amount of PLE stock which encouraged additional external investment. The PLE began rail operations in 1879. Vanderbilt soon became a majority stockholder, with the PLE becoming tied to his New York Central System as an independent subsidiary in 1883. The PLE operated from the banks of the Monongahela and Ohio rivers on Pittsburgh's Southside and extended to Youngstown, Oh. The rail line capitalized on the industry of the region, transporting coal, coke, iron ore, and steel products. The PLE was often referred to as the "Little Giant," due to the amount of tonnage it hauled in proportion to the total mileage of the line. Through several mergers and acquisitions the PLE would extend its lines south to Connellsville, Pa., accessing that region's coal production. The PLE name was discarded when it became a subsidiary of CSX Transportation in 1993.

Scope and Content Notes

The Pennsylvania and Lake Erie Railroad Company Records include employment records of the railroad which were administered through the United States Railroad Administration between 1916 and 1955. The collection contains only records of surnames beginning with the letters A and B, as well as M through P. These consist of employment applications, transfer and termination documents, and physical examination forms. They contain standard identification information, change of job activities, reasons for termination, and physical condition results of employee vision, color sense, and hearing tests.

Conditions Governing Access

Folder 11 contains social security information and is restricted to researchers.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift from Chip Zelch in 2003.

Archives accession # 2003.0231

Preferred Citation

Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Company Records, 1916-1955, MSS 0705, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Alex J. Toner on 01/13/11.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Related Materials

Pittsburgh and Lake Erie R.R., Harold H. McLean. HE2791 P691 f., Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center.

Subjects

Corporate Names

• Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Company

Geographic Names

• Pittsburgh (Pa.)
• Youngstown (Oh.)

Other Subjects

• Railroads---Pennsylvania

Container List