Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad - A Tribute
by Thomas K. Kraemer
The
Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad has celebrated over 100 years of
continuous service as a notable transporter of bulk raw materials
between the Great Lakes and Pittsburgh. From its humble beginnings in
1869 as a local coal hauler, through its growth and development as a
respectable railroad system, to its inclusion as a part of the Canadian
National Railway in 2004, the “Bessemer” has earned its place in
American railroad history. With over 250 photos, maps, and historic
images, this book presents a colorful and personal tribute to the
B&LE focusing on its last three decades as an independent carrier,
and beyond. The tour begins at the railroad’s headquarters in
Greenville, Pennsylvania, works its way north to the shore of Lake
Erie, then follows the route south through Butler to its industrial
destination of Pittsburgh. In addition, the book features Bessemer’s
remarkable Western Allegheny Branch that was operating with classic EMD
cab units into the 1990s. The author also takes a brief look at some
B&LE “ghosts” that survive to this day.
