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The '''Pennsylvania Railroad''', chartered in 1846, was one of the most important lines in the [[Railroad history]] of the United States. For many years was the largest corporation in the world, with a peak of 10,000 miles of tracks in heavily industrialized parts of the east, and 250,000 employees.
The '''Pennsylvania Railroad''', chartered in 1846, was one of the most important lines in the [[Railroad history]] of the United States. For many years was the largest corporation in the world, with a peak of 10,000 miles of tracks in heavily industrialized parts of the east, and 250,000 employees.
==Herman Haupt==
==Herman Haupt==
Herman Haupt played the leading role in the early development and growth of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 1847-56. His work on original surveys, tracklaying, and bridge building operations led to his promotion to chief engineer. He fought for reduced freight tonnage taxation (to allow for competition with canal traffic) and he influenced the extension of track throughout the Midwest.
Herman Haupt played the leading role in the early development and growth of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 1847-56. His work on original surveys, track-laying, and bridge building operations led to his promotion to chief engineer. He fought for reduced freight tonnage taxation (to allow for competition with canal traffic) and he influenced the extension of track throughout the Midwest.
==J. Edgar Thomson==
==J. Edgar Thomson==
see [[J. Edgar Thomson]]
see [[J. Edgar Thomson]]
==Tom Scott==
see [[Tom Scott]]
==Alexander Cassatt==
The presidency of Alexander Cassatt, 1899-1906, saw the Pennsylvania reach its historic peak. Cassatt did not expand the mileage but deepened it, with quadruple tracks in the areas of heaviest traffic. Cassatt brought the line to New York City, purchased the Long Island Railroad, and started a tunnel that opened into the magnificent Pennsylvania Station in 1910.
==Penn Station==
==Penn Station==
It built Pennsylvania Station, one of the great urban stations in 1910; it was demolished in 1963. Construsction involved major tunneling, a great bridge across the East River, and development of an electric train system. While the station building was demolished in 1963, the transportation complex of which it was a part remains, and [[Amtrak]] restored a nearby building for its new Penn Station.
It built Pennsylvania Station, one of the great urban stations in 1910; it was demolished in 1963. Construction involved major tunneling, a great bridge across the East River, and development of an electric train system. While the station building was demolished in 1963, the transportation complex of which it was a part remains, and [[Amtrak]] restored a nearby building for its new Penn Station.
==1922 strike==
==1922 strike==
The management of the Pennsylvania Railroad took the lead in fighting the 1922 strike of the national union of railroad shopmen who maintained railroads' rolling stock. Penn management assumed leadership of the industry in dealing with the strike, which began on 1 July 1922, by dispatching crews of their own loyal shopmen to help other railroads keep their equipment rolling and by leading a campaign among railroad executives to head off some lines from negotiating with the union. Penn management also resisted the Harding administration's attempt to conciliate between the shopmen and the railroads. By September 1922 the strike was effectively broken, but it was not until 1928 that the union canceled the strike order. Penn management was successful, but at a considerable financial cost.<ref> Colin J. Davis, "Strategy for Success: The Pennsylvania Railroad and the 1922 National Railroad Shopmen's Strike." ''Business And Economic History'' 1990 19: 271-278. 0894-6825 </ref>
The management of the Pennsylvania Railroad took the lead in fighting the 1922 strike of the national union of railroad shopmen who maintained railroads' rolling stock. Penn management assumed leadership of the industry in dealing with the strike, which began on 1 July 1922, by dispatching crews of their own loyal shopmen to help other railroads keep their equipment rolling and by leading a campaign among railroad executives to head off some lines from negotiating with the union. Penn management also resisted the Harding administration's attempt to conciliate between the shopmen and the railroads. By September 1922 the strike was effectively broken, but it was not until 1928 that the union canceled the strike order. Penn management was successful, but at a considerable financial cost.<ref> Colin J. Davis, "Strategy for Success: The Pennsylvania Railroad and the 1922 National Railroad Shopmen's Strike." ''Business And Economic History'' 1990 19: 271-278. 0894-6825 </ref>
The railroad brought in famous designer Raymond Loewy, who streamlined the GG-1, S-1, and K4S locomotives and upscaled the interior decoration of its rolling stock and stations.
The railroad brought in famous designer Raymond Loewy, who streamlined the GG-1, S-1, and K4S locomotives and upscaled the interior decoration of its rolling stock and stations.
==Merger into Penn Central==
==Merger into Penn Central==
In 1968 it merged with the rival [[New York Central]] into the Penn Central Transportation Company, which went bankrupt in 1970. The railroad continued to operate and today its historic track is largely operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway.
By 1950 the Pennsy was America's largest transportation enterprise, with $3 billion in assets, and 10,100 miles of track stretching from Philadelphia to St. Louis. Only three industrials were larger (General Motors, Standard Oil of New Jersey, and U.S. Steel). The New York Central system had assets of $2.6 billion in a system based just north of the Pennsylvania lines, with considerable overlap.
Financially, however, the Pennsy had high operating costs, and was barely surviving in the face of competition from trucks. Passenger traffic made up 20% of the business, and had very high operating costs, especially in suburban commuting runs. The threat from automobiles was ominous.
In 1968 the Pennsy merged with the rival [[New York Central]] into the Penn Central Transportation Company, which went bankrupt in 1970. The railroad continued to operate and today its historic track is largely operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway.
==see also==
==see also==
* Jenks, Leland H. "Early History of a Railway Organization." ''Business History Review'' 1961 35(2): 153-179. 0007-6805
* Jenks, Leland H. "Early History of a Railway Organization." ''Business History Review'' 1961 35(2): 153-179. 0007-6805
* Orr, John W. ''Set Up Running: The Life of a Pennsylvania Railroad Engineman, 1904-1949.'' (2001). 376 pp.
* Orr, John W. ''Set Up Running: The Life of a Pennsylvania Railroad Engineman, 1904-1949.'' (2001). 376 pp.
* Salsbury, Stephen. ''No Way to Run a Railroad: Untold Story of the Penn Central Crisis'' (1981)
* Sobel, Robert. ''The Fallen Colossus.'' (1977). 370 pp. on the Penn Central
* Sobel, Robert. ''The Fallen Colossus.'' (1977). 370 pp. on the Penn Central
* Ward, James A. ''J. Edgar Thomson: Master of the Pennsylvania'' (1980). 265 pp.
* Ward, James A. ''J. Edgar Thomson: Master of the Pennsylvania'' (1980). 265 pp.