Pennsylvania Lines West of Pittsburgh. Executive Dept.

Prior to 1920 the Pennsylvania Railroad Company maintained a separate organization to manage its lines west of Pittsburgh and Erie, Pa., under the title of "Pennsylvania Lines West of Pittsburgh" and known informally as "Pennsylvania Lines" or simply "Lines West". The Lines East and Lines West organizations were united only by a common president. Technically, the Lines West organization was not part of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company proper, and all officers held multiple appointments from the various subsidiary companies which actually owned the property that made up Lines West, chiefly the Pennsylvania Company and the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago, & St. Louis. The bulk of these subsidiaries were managed as a single unit by a joint staff headquartered in Pittsburgh. On March 1, 1920, the separate Lines East and Lines West staffs were abolished and replaced by a system of four operating regions all controlled by a single headquarters staff at Philadelphia.

The General Office Dept. consisted of the vice presidents and the office of the secretary. The vice presidents were numbered in order of seniority. The same duties, which were assigned on the basis of personal expertise, would follow an incumbent as he moved up the promotional ladder.

From the description of Records, 1893-1919 (bulk 1903-1912). (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122516268