Opened in 1862, the Oil Creek Railroad revolutionized the shipment of oil from the oil fields near Titusville to Corry, a hub for major rail lines. The 27-mile line made dangerous and wasteful waterway transport, as well as labor-intensive horse-drawn wagons, obsolete. It also brought thousands of fortune seekers to the region. From its beginning it enjoyed an extraordinary volume of business and became one of the most profitable lines in the nation.