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South Heights station

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article South Heights station, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 28 November 2025
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad
Company typeRailroad
IndustryRail transport
FoundedMay 11, 1875; 151 years ago (1875-05-11) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
FounderWilliam McCreery
Defunct1992
FateLost independence
SuccessorConrail (indirectly)
Headquarters
Pittsburgh
,
United States
Area served
Pennsylvania, Ohio
Key people
William McCreery, James I. Bennett, David Hostetter, James M. Baily, Mark W. Watson, James M. Schoonmaker, John Newell
ProductsFreight rail transport (coal, coke, iron ore, limestone, steel)
OwnerNew York Central Railroad (from 1887)
ParentNew York Central system (until Conrail formation in 1976)

The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad (P≤ ), often referred to as the "Little Giant," was founded on May 11, 1875, with its main office situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its tracks extended eastward from Pittsburgh to Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and westward towards Youngstown, Ohio. The railroad did not directly access Lake Erie until the creation of Conrail in 1976. The P&LE earned its moniker by transporting a disproportionately high volume of freight compared to its relatively small network—covering only about one tenth of one percent of the total U.S. railroad mileage while moving roughly one percent of the country's freight tonnage. This remarkable productivity was largely due to its service to Pittsburgh’s steel industry, carrying heavy bulk materials such as coal, coke, iron ore, limestone, and steel. The eventual downturn of the steel sector resulted in the P&LE losing its independence in 1992.

By 1970, the P&LE managed of road on of track (excluding subsidiaries PC&Y and Y&S), reporting revenue freight ton-miles of 1,419 million, a decline from 2,437 million recorded in 1944.

P&LE Route Overview

The P&LE grew through the acquisition of smaller railroads along its primary route, extending northward to Youngstown and southward to Connellsville. This system enabled efficient transport between Pittsburgh’s steel production areas and both the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway corridors.

Division of the P&LE

The initial Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad line connected Youngstown, Ohio (Haselton) with 24th Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, near the Jones and Laughlin Iron Works, commencing operations in 1879. The passenger terminal for Pittsburgh was situated on the southern bank of the Monongahela River at the base of the Smithfield Street Bridge.

Following the left downstream bank of the Monongahela River, the P&LE reached the Golden Triangle, where the river merges with the Allegheny River to form the Ohio River. From there, it proceeded northwest along the Ohio River’s left bank toward an area near Beaver, Pennsylvania, crossing via the Beaver Bridge. The route then traced the course of the Beaver River southward past New Castle, Pennsylvania, continued along the Mahoning River heading west-northwest into Ohio near Lowellville, ending at a junction with the New York Central at Haselton.

Mileage measurements are taken westbound from the P&LE Terminal located in Pittsburgh. Eastward beyond this station, the original line extended over , linking near 24th Street in Pittsburgh’s South Side Flats with both the Monongahela Connecting Railroad and Pittsburgh, McKeesport & Youghiogheny (PM&Y).

36 West Ellwood Junction Station Branch line to Ellwood City, Pennsylvania - College Hill (Beaver Falls) College Hill Station College Yard - Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Beaver Falls - New Brighton, Pennsylvania New Brighton - Fallston, Pennsylvania Fallston - Beaver, Pennsylvania Bridgewater - Beaver & Monaca Crossing Beaver Bridge over Ohio River - 24 Monaca, Pennsylvania Monaca - Aliquippa, Pennsylvania West Aliquippa - 20 Aliquippa, Pennsylvania Aliquippa Station - 18 Economy, Pennsylvania West Economy Station - 16 South Heights, Pennsylvania South Heights Station - 15 Glenwillard, Pennsylvania Glenwillard - 14 Crescent Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Stoops Ferry - 11 Moon Township, Pennsylvania Kendall - 9 Coraopolis, Pennsylvania Coraopolis Interchange with Montour Railroad - 8 Robinson Township, Allegheny County Montour Junction Station Montour holds trackage rights over P&LE to Coraopolis - 4 McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania McKees Rocks Facilities including yard, locomotive and freight car shops; junction with Pittsburgh, Chartiers and Youghiogheny Railway (PC&Y) - 2 West End (Pittsburgh) Interchange with P&WV West End - 0 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania P&LE Pittsburgh Terminal Terminal located near Smithfield Street Bridge
State Milepost City Station Lat/long Old Telegraph Call Letters Connections and notes
OH 64 Haselton Connection with NYC
Youngstown Youngstown Connection with Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
East Youngstown East Youngstown
60 Struthers Struthers Junction for LE&E and Y&S
Lowellville Junction
56 Lowellville Lowellville
State line between Ohio and Pennsylvania
PA Robinson Robinson
52 Edinburg
Coverts-Crossing
48 New Castle New Castle (Mahoningtown)
New Castle Junction Branch leading to New Castle, Pennsylvania
West Pittsburg West Pittsburg Station B&O has trackage rights over P&LE to Port Vue
Newport Newport
41 Wampum Wampum
Rock Point


Youghiogheny Branch

Beginning operations in 1882, the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad (PM&Y) ran from Pittsburgh's 24th Street to Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The line traced the Monongahela River to McKeesport before following the Youghiogheny River onward to Connellsville.

Distances along this P&LE subdivision were calculated from the passenger terminal located near the Smithfield Street Bridge.

State Milepost City Station Lat/long Connections and notes
PA 0 Pittsburgh P&LE Pittsburgh Terminal Initial path of the Pittsburgh and Beck's Run Railroad (origin)
Pittsburgh South Side Connection with MCRR at 20th & 24th Streets
4 Pittsburgh Williamsburg
5 Pittsburgh Becks Run Terminus of Pittsburgh and Becks Run Railroad
6 Homestead Homestead
Munhall Crossing of Monongahela River via P&LE Munhall Bridge
8 Rankin Rankin
10 Braddock Braddock
11 McKeesport McKeesport Bridge spanning the Youghiogheny River
16 Port Vue Port Vue Interchange with B&O, which held trackage rights over P&LE to West Pittsburgh.
17 Port Vue Sinn
18 Dead Man's Hollow Flemming Industrial siding serving Union Sewer Pipe Company
19 Boston
22 Greenock
25 "Stringtown" "Dravo" "Location of Methodist church fire attributed to passing trains" ""
"27" "Buena Vista, Pennsylvania" "Buena Vesta" "" ""
"33" "" "West Newton" "" ""
"37" "" "Cedar Creek" "" ""
"41" "" "Wickhaven" "" ""
"46" "" "Kier" "" ""
"49" "" "Sand Rock" "" ""
"53" "" "Dickerson Run" "" ""
"56" "" "Crossland" "" ""
"58" "Connellsville, Pennsylvania" "Connellsville Union Passenger Depot" "" "Interchange point with Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Western Maryland Railroad, and Norfolk and Western Railroad"

Monongahela Branch

The PM&Y also stretched along the Monongahela River corridor reaching Brownsville, Pennsylvania.

State Milepost City Station Lat/long Old Telegraph Call Letters Connections and notes
PA 16 Port Vue, Pennsylvania 'Belle Vernon Junction'
'18' 'Glassport, Pennsylvania' 'Glassport'
'20' 'Pollock'
'22' 'Elizabeth, Pennsylvania' 'Wylie Elizabeth'
'27' 'Bunola'
'31' 'Forward Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania' 'Monongahela'
'33' 'Manown'
'34' 'Sunnyside'
'36' 'Sheppler'
'40' 'Monessen, Pennsylvania' 'Monessen'
'42' ' ' 'East Charleroi' ' ' ' ' ' '
'43' 'Belle Vernon'
45 Fayette City, Pennsylvania Fayette City
50 Newell
54 Brownsville Junction JCT with Monongahela Railway


History

The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad was established by William McCreery, a notable Pittsburgh entrepreneur and railroad developer. McCreery had suffered financial setbacks due to unfair rate practices imposed by the Pennsylvania Railroad, a significant challenge in Pittsburgh during that era. On May 11, 1870, McCreery, along with ten associates, submitted Articles of Association to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State for a proposed railroad line spanning . After encountering difficulties in raising capital over two years, a new leadership team emerged in 1877, featuring prominent Pittsburgh figures such as James I. Bennett, David Hostetter, James M. Baily, Mark W. Watson, and James M. Schoonmaker.

Track installation began in Beaver Falls during the spring of 1877, selected for its population size and commercial connections through Jacob Henrici of the Harmony Society, who joined as a director that year. On July 6, 1877, McCreery stepped down; Bennett assumed the presidency while Henrici served as director. Henrici’s ties to the Harmony Society played a crucial role in advancing the railroad’s progress. In 1880, William Henry Vanderbilt’s Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway invested $200,000 in P&LE shares, bringing P&LE under Vanderbilt’s New York Central system until the advent of Conrail. That same year, arrangements were finalized with the Atlantic & Great Western (Erie) and Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway to channel traffic through Youngstown, Ohio. The final segment connecting Pittsburgh and Youngstown was completed on January 27, 1879. Although initially constructed as a modest single-track line with limited quality, P&LE rapidly achieved financial success that allowed for subsequent enhancements.

South Penn and Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad

In 1881, P&LE established a connection with the ambitious South Pennsylvania Railroad (South Penn), integrating it into Vanderbilt’s extensive network through control of P&LE and development of the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad (PM&Y). Vanderbilt acquired shares from Henry W. Oliver and the Harmony Society to strengthen his influence. Backed by Andrew Carnegie’s support, Vanderbilt financed PM&Y’s construction to Connellsville, Pennsylvania; this line was leased to P&LE for a term of 99 years. Although much of South Penn remained unfinished, PM&Y became an essential element of P&LE’s system. PM&Y commenced operations in 1883 and was leased to P&LE in 1884. Simultaneously, P&LE developed the McKees Rocks shops in 1883 to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic resulting from this strategic alliance.

Vanderbilt and the "Little Giant"

By 1887, formal control of the company passed to the New York Central Railroad, which appointed John Newell—the president of Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway—as head of P&LE. Under the leadership of Newell, Reed, and Colonel Schoonmaker, P&LE earned its moniker "Little Giant," transforming into a robust railroad featuring double tracks between Pittsburgh and Youngstown by 1927. Despite these changes, it continued operating as an independent subsidiary even after the merger of New York Central with the Pennsylvania Railroad into Penn Central.

PM&Y and the Monongahela Railway

As coke production declined in Connellsville early in the 20th century, P&LE redirected efforts toward distilling coke by-products near Pittsburgh. In 1901, it extended its line along the Monongahela River reaching Brownsville, Pennsylvania—running parallel to expansion efforts by Pennsylvania Railroad. Both railroads cooperated through the Monongahela Railway to gain access to West Virginia’s coke fields, extending southward to Martin, Pennsylvania, and ultimately reaching Fairmont, West Virginia by 1915.

Conrail and CSX

When Conrail was established, the P&LE remained autonomous because of a $15.2 million debt owed by Penn Central, continuing independent operations until CSX Transportation (CSX) acquired it in 1993. Since 1934, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) had trackage rights over P&LE from McKeesport to New Castle, preferring this route due to its easier grades compared to B&O’s Pittsburgh line. In P&LE’s later years, CSX increasingly made use of its tracks before incorporating it as a subsidiary named the Three Rivers Railway. CSX then leased operations of TRR, effectively assimilating P&LE into its network. The stretch from New Castle, PA to Youngstown, OH was abandoned in favor of parallel B&O routes.

Company officers

Presidents included:

Following Newell’s tenure, the presidency was held by the NYC president while local management duties were assigned to vice presidents.

Vice Presidents:

Later presidents:

Pittsburgh Terminal and P&LE passenger trains

The P&LE’s passenger station in Pittsburgh was situated on the south bank of the Monongahela River near the Smithfield Street Bridge, serving as the railroad’s headquarters, passenger depot, and freight warehouse complex. The freight house’s roof remains visible adjacent to the terminal train shed. The original P&LE headquarters building at the base of the Monongahela Incline has been repurposed into the shopping center known as Station Square, while the passenger station itself is a historic landmark now converted into a dining establishment.

From 1910 through 1930, P&LE operated approximately 50 daily passenger trains along its 65-mile route between Pittsburgh and Youngstown. Thanks to through-ticketing agreements with the Erie RR and parent New York Central, travelers departing Pittsburgh could access coaches or sleepers bound westward to Toledo, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, and northward to Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto, Albany, and Boston. Additionally, P&LE maintained frequent daily service between Pittsburgh and Connellsville.

In 1934, Baltimore & Ohio RR secured trackage rights over P&LE tracks. B&O’s Chicago-New York trains—including the Capitol Limited, Columbian, and Ambassador—ran along P&LE lines between New Castle Junction and McKeesport, with stops at Pittsburgh’s South Side Terminal. This arrangement continued until Amtrak assumed control of national passenger rail service in 1971.

P&LE also operated commuter rail services into Pittsburgh. By 1964, it offered one round-trip between Youngstown and Pittsburgh alongside additional trips between Beaver Falls and Pittsburgh. By 1968, service had been reduced to a single daily roundtrip linking College Hill, Beaver Falls, Aliquippa, and the Pittsburgh Terminal. Attempts to eliminate this last commuter train in 1978 faced strong resistance; with state backing, P&LE sustained operations until July 12, 1985, when dwindling ridership forced discontinuation.

The PATrain commuter line continued utilizing portions of P&LE track until 1989.

Shops and yards

Gateway Yard

Prior to the establishment of Conrail, the Youngstown Gateway Yard served as a key rail facility. Commissioned in October 1957 as a state-of-the-art hump yard, it extended roughly and over from Lowellville to Center Street in Youngstown, Ohio. Gateway Yard was composed of three principal yards aligned consecutively: the Departure Yard to the east near Lowellville, the centrally located Hump Yard in Struthers, and the Receiving Yard on the western side. Additionally, it included smaller specialized sections such as Diesel Servicing Facilities, Gorilla Park, and Interchange yards. The Interchange yard featured six tracks—four dedicated to B&O Railroad interchange operations and two for general purposes—and provided a direct connection to New York Central Railroad. The yard’s western extremity linked with the NYC mainline heading toward Ashtabula, Ohio. Constructed under New York Central’s control of P&LE, Gateway Yard experienced decline after Conrail redirected traffic flows. After CSX acquired P&LE in 1993, Gateway Yard was closed and most tracks dismantled; although the tower remains standing, it has suffered extensive vandalism.

McKees Rocks

The McKees Rocks Yard was utilized for locomotive overhaul, routine maintenance, and freight car repairs. At its western boundary, P&LE connected with PC&Y, whose facilities were situated just behind P&LE’s locomotive shops. PC&Y tracks crossed the P&LE mainline to serve local industries before reaching the interchange point. Most infrastructure at McKees Rocks has been removed, with plans underway to develop a regional CSX intermodal terminal on the site.

In 1904, P&LE constructed the O'Donovan Bridge to enhance automobile access from Island Avenue to The Bottoms without requiring track crossings; this bridge was replaced in 1931 by the McKees Rocks Bridge, which connects to Ohio River Boulevard via Helen Street.

The McKees Rocks Community Development Corporation intends to repurpose the remaining building through adaptive reuse initiatives.

College

Located in Beaver Falls’ College Hill neighborhood below Geneva College along the Beaver River, a small yard once operated featuring a roundhouse and College Hill Station. Currently, only the station building remains.

Subsidiaries

See also

References

  • December 1992 Trains provides details regarding the CSX acquisition.

External links

Related profiles

PPittsburgh and Lake Erie RailroadNNew York, Chicago and St. Louis RailwayNNickel Plate RoadEErie and State Line Railroad
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