Lake Erie, Franklin and Clarion Railroad Co. - 1910-1950's dated Railway Stock Certificate

Railroad Stock. Outstanding, large, impressive vignette of two steam trains, side by side. Great stock for framing. Quite special and Rare!!!

The Lake Erie, Franklin and Clarion Railroad (LEF&C), a prominent short line in western Pennsylvania, was established in 1913 through the consolidation of several smaller railroads. Despite its ambitious name, the railroad never reached either Lake Erie or Franklin on its own tracks. However, it briefly accessed Franklin via trackage rights in the 1920s. At its peak in 1924, it operated approximately 80 miles of track, but for much of its later history, it functioned as a 15-mile connection between Clarion and Summerville, Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Clarion, the “Little Giant” was remarkably profitable for most of its existence, surviving the Great Depression and remaining independent while many larger neighbors were absorbed into major systems.

The railroad’s survival was closely tied to the region’s industrial output, primarily coal, which served as its primary revenue source. It also transported sand for Clarion’s glass plants, finished glass bottles, lumber, and brick from Summerville. The LEF&C was well-known among rail enthusiasts for its disproportionately large fleet of freight cars, often painted in a distinct yellow, and its transition from steam locomotives to EMD diesel switchers in the mid-20th century. However, the decline of local coal mines in the 1980s eventually rendered the line unsustainable. Following the closure of its final coal loader, the railroad ceased operations on January 5, 1993, and its tracks were subsequently removed and converted into a hiking trail.