The Pennsy was offically chartered by the Pennsylvania State Legislature on April 13,1846 to build a railroad from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh as a replacement for the troubled canal system between the two cities. From the start it was a race against time to raise $3,000,000 and have at least 30 miles of track under contract by July 30, 1847; otherwise the B&O Railroad, seeking to extend it’s trackage into Pennsylvania, would be granted activation. Pennsy met the challenge and went on to develop what became known as “The Standard Railroad of the World.” Pennsylvania’s keystone logo would come to symbolize the leader in America’s transportation system. Unfortunately, after World War II, the Pennsylvania lost passengers and freight revenue due to recessions, mine closures and alternate methods of transportation. On February 1, 1968, the Pennsy merged with New York Central to form Penn Central. Today, most of it’s track is part of Conrail.