Railroad Empires

The Pennsylvania and the New York Central railroads helped to develop central Pennsylvania as the largest source of bituminous coal for the nation. By the late 19th century, the two lines were among America’s largest businesses and would soon become legendary archrivals. The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) first arrived in the 1860s. Within a few years, it was sourcing as much as four million tons of coal annually from Centre County and the Moshannon Valley and would continue do so for another quarter century.

The Spokane & Inland Empire Railroad started as a streetcar line, used largely for real estate development, and grew into a regional electric railway noted for its cutting edge technology and elegant sense of style. Jay P. Graves and the other men connected with the railroad, created land improvement companies designed to provide luxury resorts, as well as plan small towns. Within a few years, the rail lines would stretch from Spokane to Coeur d'Alene, and Hayden lakes to the east, with another line heading south through the Palouse, splitting at Spring Valley, to Colfax, and Moscow.