Pennsylvania Lines West of Pittsburgh. St. Louis System. Office of General Superintendent.

The St. Louis System of the Pennsylvania Railroad's Lines West organization was created on January 1, 1917, for the purpose of operating the railroad lines of the former Vandalia Railroad Company and its affiliates. These consisted of a main line running from Indianapolis to St. Louis and branches to Vincennes, Ind., Peoria, Ill., and South Bend, Ind. It was divided into the St. Louis, Michigan, Vincennes and Peoria Divisions. Upon the abolition of the Lines West organization on March 1, 1920, the bulk of these lines became part of the PRR's Southwestern Region.

The General Superintendent was the chief operating line officer at the "System" level. However, upon the formation of the St. Louis System, it was placed under the jurisdiction of I. W. Geer, General Superintendent of the adjoining Southwest System, based at Columbus, Ohio. Geer had separate sets of staff officers, one for the Southwest System and one for the St. Louis System.

With the imposition of USRA control in 1918, the two Systems were completely separated, and the Indianapolis and Louisville Divisions were transferred from the Southwest System to the St. Louis System. Thomas B. Hamilton was appointed General Superintendent of the St. Louis System with offices at Indianapolis. Hamilton had been General Manager of the Vandalia Railroad from 1914 to 1917. Upon its absorption into the Lines West organization, Hamilton was named Resident Vice President at St. Louis. Following the dissolution of the St. Louis System, Hamilton was appointed General Manager of the Northwestern Region at Chicago.

From the description of Records, 1913-1920 (bulk 1918-1920). (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122355326