Rare early view of United States Steel Corporation’s McKeesport Connecting Railroad 0-4-0 steam locomotive E. C. Converse taken at the steel company’s National Tube Works. This plant located in McKeesport, Pa. would come to reign as the world’s largest pipe making plant until the 1980s.

Jack Polaritz Collection
 

Built between McKeesport and Belle Vernon, Pa., the McKeesport and Belle Vernon Railroad was the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie’s entry into the upper Monongahela River Valley. The Board members for the P&LE were also that for the M&BV, which was actually a vehicle used to construct the line for the P&LE while avoiding excessive liabilities in the building process.

Jack Polaritz Collection
 

This was the “official” paint scheme to be used for the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie’s two passenger locomotives after the line became independent in 1976.

Jack Polaritz Collection
 

P&LE Mikado steam locomotive No. 193 is being re-railed at Fallston, Pa. after becoming a victim of a landslide while hauling a train eastbound on the main line here. Eventually an electrified fence was installed at this location that tripped signals to alert crews and stop trains if there were landslides.

Mikde Petterson photo
 

View looking eastward from the very tip of the Pittsburgh, Chartiers & Youghiogheny Railroad on the western side of Neville Island, adjacent to the back channel of the Ohio River.

Jack Polaritz Collection

Closer view of the railroad buildings on the western side of Neville Island.

The section of the PC&Y line located at the western tip of Neville Island was put up for
abandonment in 1976 after decades with no usage.