The final volume of Albert J. Churella's landmark series, The Pennsylvania Railroad,
concludes the story of the iconic transportation company, covering its
long decline from the 1930s to its merger with the New York Central
Railroad in 1968.
Despite some parallels with World War I, the
experience of World War II had a substantially different impact on the
Pennsylvania Railroad. The introduction of new technologies, personnel,
and commuter routes had significant effects on this giant of American
transportation. The recession of 1958 sparked a period of decline from
which it and many other railroads struggled to fully recover.
The Pennsylvania Railroad: The Long Decline, 1933-1968 provides
an unparalleled look at the final years of this legendary company,
which in its prime was the largest corporation in the world, with a
budget second only to that of the US federal government.
