The P&LE Railroad

Starting in 1875, the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad transported coal, coke, iron ore, and limestone to the steel mills. Called the "Little Giant," it made great profits by moving vast tonnage over short distances. It connected the coal fields of Connellsville to Pittsburgh industries, then headed west to Youngstown, Ohio, to access Lake Erie transportation. One of the short lines controlled by the P&LE was the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad, most of which is now the trail. The P&LE headquarters in the Pittsburgh Terminal on the city's South Side featured a grand passenger station, a large train shed, and freight houses. When heavy industry declined in the 1980's, the P&LE went out of business, but the Pittsburgh Terminal was converted into an elegant centerpiece of a major commercial redevelopment. The rail corridor between Connellsville and Port Vue was purchased and converted for trail use in the 1990's.

Boston, Pennsylvania · United States