Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad Co. - 1950's-70's dated Railway Stock Certificate

Railroad Stock. Extremely ornate stock with superb engraving of a steam locomotive with coal car. American Bank Note Co. Absolutely of the greatest quality!!! Available in Brown, Olive or Blue. Please specify color.

The Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad Company (C&P) was initially chartered on March 14, 1836, by a group of businessmen with the ambitious goal of connecting the port of Cleveland on Lake Erie with the industrial mills of Pittsburgh. Initially known as the Cleveland, Warren and Pittsburgh, the project encountered significant financial challenges and underwent a reorganization in 1845, leading to its more widely recognized name. Construction of the line was a lengthy endeavor that spanned over a decade. The first section, stretching from Cleveland to Wellsville, Ohio, officially opened in 1852, effectively disrupting the existing canal-based passenger traffic between the two regions. By 1856, the line had successfully reached Rochester, Pennsylvania, becoming a crucial link for transporting iron ore and other raw materials.

Throughout the mid-19th century, the C&P emerged as one of the most heavily traveled routes in the nation, even accommodating President Abraham Lincoln during his inaugural tour. However, its independence was relatively short-lived. In 1871, the company was leased to the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) for an unprecedented 999 years. Under PRR management, the line continued to serve as a vital artery for the transportation of coal and ore to Pittsburgh’s steel mills well into the 20th century. Following the decline of the PRR and the subsequent Penn Central merger and bankruptcy, the C&P assets were eventually absorbed into Conrail in 1976. Today, a significant portion of the historic line is operated by Norfolk Southern.