The Death of the Pennsylvania Railroad | Success, Conservatism, and Arrogance | History in the Dark

The Pennsylvania Railroad was once the highlight of American railroading. Blessed with a location in the economic powerhouse of the northeastern United States, they saw immediate success and rose to become the largest railroad in the world at its peak. But during the decline in traffic following World War II, the Pennsy's corporate leaders refused to adapt to a changing landscape. This resulted in an ill-fated merger with New York Central to become Penn Central, followed by the implosion of both companies.

0:00 - Intro
1:03 - The Beginning
9:17 - Success and Electrification
13:37 - Self-Inflicted Decline
17:13 - The Merger
19:16 - The End

"The Pennsylvania Railroad (reporting mark PRR), legal name The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, also known as the "Pennsy", was an American Class I railroad that was established in 1846 and headquartered in Philadelphia. It was named for the commonwealth in which it was established. At its peak in 1882, the Pennsylvania Railroad was the largest railroad (by traffic and revenue), the largest transportation enterprise, and the largest corporation in the world."

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#history #truestory #documentary

[derekthelehighvalleyfoamer]

Oh how the mighty have fallen. The Pennsylvania Railroad, the Standard Railroad of the World, became complacent with old-school tech, just like Baldwin.

[kennethross]

It wasn't just the PRR & NYC management that had a hard time getting along - when the merger was announced to the rank-and-file, employees at both railroads were stunned. They had been "trained" to dislike the other railroad for decades, so the idea of joining forces with their biggest rival was just unconscionable to them. In the grand scheme of things, it probably didn't matter anywhere near as much as the tussle in the board room, but it couldn't have helped.

[asteroidrules]

The Pennsy was a railroad of contrasts, much of their business management was on the conservative side, playing a long game and avoiding big gambles when it came to their routes, but almost obsessively trying things that others were unwilling or uninterested in doing when it came to locomotive engineering, hence why they were one of few American railroads to use belpaire fireboxes, duplex locomotives, a direct-drive steam turbine, the "holy terror" fleet of almost 600 I1 decapod coal haulers, as well as some of the finest streamlining to ever grace the world's rails.

[aj]

Love it! I always look forward to your videos! Did you know that Charles Carroll, signer of the declaration of independence, was a railway man as well? I believe he helped start the B&O

[ValleyThrills]

Would you eventually do documentaries for:
New York Central
Great Northern
Northern Pacific
Santa Fe
Denver & Rio Grande Southern
Virginia & Truckee
Rio Grande Southern
Colorado & Southern
and my favorite (Southern Pacific)

[MrCateagle]

You missed that their final management committed a major act of civic desacration by selling the air rights over thei NYC station and allowing that magnificent building to be destroyed.

[andrewbowen]

Darkness in your brilliant Penn Central video, you said they devirted maintenance, didnt know if was that bad, rocking wagons, rails sinking into the rail bed full of water, you was right, they may as well set it on fire.
Then claim it off the insurance.

[southernhobbies]

If only he would colab with hyce and do a drg&w history that would be epic!

[DrRacer]

*"I would have waited an eternity for this."*

[Straswa]

Great video Darkness! Very insightful.

[richarddrum]

Among many other aspects which ruined the Pennsy and other major railroads, was the interstate highway system as trucking siphoned away a lot of the freight and both bus and airlines siphoned away the passenger traffic. I had the opportunity growing up in Newark, NJ to ride on Pennsy MU’s and watch many GG-1’s blazing through the landscape.

[RileyjamesLovebontempo]

PRR's mainline used the MARC Trains Camden Line as PRR also took over B&O RR's and the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad down to the Potomac Yard in Virginia south of Union Station in Washington D.C.

[trainglen]

A great video on the Standard Railroad of the US.

[richardjayroe]

Wait if the B&O was void, then why did the sandpatch grade still exist?

[the_mississippian_railfan]

Growing up in Pittsburgh I was a HUGE Pennsy fan when I was like 8 I Grew out of it but the PRR Is just such a nostalgic thing for me I very well recall watching videos of PRR K4's and GG1's On a rainy day then going down to the old PRR Main in downtown. the P&LE and SOU Took the Pennsy's sport for me but I still got a sweet spot for it.

[christiancurrao]

A very well done documentary on one of the greatest railroads in the history of the nation.

I am very curious as to where you got the footage from 14:57 to 15:09; I am a tower operator for Amtrak and instantly recognized it as ZOO, one of the towers I am qualified to work. I have never been able to find footage of the model board when it looked that way. I would LOVE to see the rest of that.

[GreatNW]

You aughta do the rio grande next, they have a complex history and are technically still around as union pacific.

[jonathanng]

Still do not understand why they merged as they covered pretty much the same area.

[tyrikuntamed]

I respect Alfred E Pearlman as a businessman but I still hate him for getting rid of the steam engines

[RileyjamesLovebontempo]

Penn Alp's along the Cassleman River in Grantsville Maryland was built as pre canal town that was built to service C&O Canal, but it never reached location along Alt. U.S. 40 as C&O Canal was to have followed Cassleman to along old U.S. 219 to merge onto the B&O RR up to Pittsburg now Pittsburg to meet what the PA Canal built the C&O from 2nd Avenue at Saline Street at Panther Hollow Junction to pull onto Try Stret to use canal tunnel under Grants Hill to reach todays AMTRAK, Greyhound Link Bus Stations at the dried up Canal. As C&O's sake was to service the Chesapeake & Ohio Valleys.