Coming in 2022 is the second of two planned books on the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad in Allegheny County. The city of Pittsburgh had the potential to be a major industrial center but for the freight discrimination imposed by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Every new rail outlet built to offer an alternative to the Pennsy was eventually taken over by that company. The only route left was a narrow corridor along the Monongahela River threading through steel mills, lead works, glass factories, and other industries. Pittsburgh yearned for independent rail service but was unable to secure it until William McCreery, John Dravo, James Bennett, Jacob Henrici and the Harmony Society, and others banded together to found and construct the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie. Building on four miles of trestle work through South Side—at times into the Monongahela River—to get to McKees Rocks, the P&LE eventually reached Youngstown, OH where connections were made with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern (New York Central) and the Atlantic & Great Western (Erie), 68 miles from the Steel City.

Growing to over 200 miles of mainline, the P&LE hauled so much tonnage in iron ore, steel, bituminous coal, coke. oil, and limestone that it became the largest revenue per ton mile railroad that ever operated in America.

Volume II of this series will start with the extensive P&LE shops and yards at McKees Rocks plus Neville Island, Groveton, Coraopolis, Stoops Ferry, Glenwillard and South Heights. This title is printed on 80# Sterling Premium gloss paper as a Smyth-sewn oblong laminated hardcover with an additional protective gloss film lamination. And as usual, all Depot Square Publishing books are proudly manufactured in America.