A year ago, my grandson and I purchased a Lionel New York Central steam loco for our O Gauge layout. This year he wanted a New York Central diesel loco. We purchased an Atlas-O GP that is decorated with New York Central System/P&LE markings. I believe P&LE statnds for Pittsburgh & Lake Erie. I'm guessing that the P&LE was a smaller rail line taken over by New York Central.

Can anyone out there share a brief history of the rail lines involved in the P&LE and the New York Central System? Are there are more than just these two lines involved? I'd like to learn more, and add any other appropriate road names to the roster of rolling stock.

Thanks for any information!

This is probably a good place to start your quest for info on the P&LE.

BBB

You are a great grandfather!

Another railroad that fell under the New York Central System umbrella was the Boston & Albany. There have been engines and, I believe, cabooses issued in the B&A roadname. I'm not certain about rolling stock, however.

Here is the Wikipedia entry for the P&LE:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P...6_Lake_Erie_Railroad

And if you are ever in Pittsburgh, the former P&LE site is now Station Square with lots of shopping and dining to be had.

Andy

Thanks for the info - very interesting reading to be sure.

I think I will continue to look for P&LE rolling stock and see what I can put together. What other road names would have been represented on the P&LE tracks in western PA?

On P&LE tracks, just about anything. The B&O had running rights over the P&LE mainline between Pittsburgh and Youngstown, OH, so B&O engines and cars would look right at home. Other railroads whose equipment would likely have turned up with some frequency would be the Erie, Akron Canton & Youngstown, Nickel Plate and so on.

Honestly, when it comes to freight trains, you really can't go wrong by including equipment from just about any of the North American railroads of the era you are modeling.