PRR Architectural Drawings at the Pennsylvania State Archives
The largest and primary source of architectural information about PRR (Pennsylvania Railroad Company) Bridges and Stations is:
PRR/ VP of Operation / Chief Engineer / ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS AND MAPS, [ca. 1818-1970 (bulk: 1883-1965)]. (297 cu. ft.) {#286m.254} Grouped by record type and thereunder by geographical location, these architectural drawings and supporting maps were prepared by the Chief Engineer of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company circa 1818 to 1970. Only the period from 1883 to 1965 is extensively covered, however. The drawings relate primarily to facilities in the states of Pennsylvnania, Ohio, New York, New Jersey and Delaware. This series is arranged into three sub-groupings: drawings of physical facilities, drawings of bridge related structures, and maps . The drawings consist of linen and mylar tracings, blueprints, and photocopied paper duplications. Each drawing generally includes an identifying template containing the company name, brief description, date, number, size, and signature of engineers; location; measurements; scale; identification of associated drawings; illustrations; and other descriptive information related to structural specifications and construction. The facilities depicted in these drawings are diverse: ticket and post offices; boiler, engine, power, freight, bunk, pump, battery, oil, and store houses; baggage, lunch, and storage rooms; stairways, platforms, and walkways; towers; freight and passenger stations; silos; storage, toilet, locker, scale, and office buildings; awnings; stables; yards; culverts, ducts, and piping; cesspools; machine and welding shops; coal storage plants; ash dumps; and so forth. The structures are primarily stations, engine houses and signal towers. Drawings of bridge-related structures include highway, overhead, plate girder, foot, arsenal, undergrade, and draw bridges; piers; trestles; decks; spans; and so forth. The maps relate to construction sites and locations connected with the architectural structures mentioned above. They consist of the same materials as the drawings, in addition to several types of published materials. This series deals primarily with facilities in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Unfortunately, most of this series remains unprocessed and is not searchable by archives staff at this time , although search room visitors are welcome to browse through the containers. However, some of the boxes, containing drawings of stations affiliated with the Reading Railroad , have been completely inventoried (part 1) (PDF, 480 K) (part 2) (PDF, 398 K). (The Athenaeum in Philadelphia also holds drawings of Reading RR structures--those designed by the Wilson Brothers.)
The following series also contain scattered information on PRR BRIDGES:
PRR / President / Presidential Correspondence of A.J. Cassatt and James McCrea, ca 1899-1913. (59 cu. ft.) {#286m.40}
PRR / President / Presidential Correspondence of Samuel Rea, 1913-1925. (92 cu. ft.) {#286m.47}
PRR / President / Presidential Correspondence of W.W. Atterbury, 1925-1935. (43 cu. ft.) {#286m.50}
Lewisburg Bridge Company / Minute Books of Stockholders' Meetings, 1921-1943. (.1 cu. ft.) {#286m.991}
Lewisburg Bridge Company / Stock Ledger and Ledger, 1867-1919. (.1 cu. ft.) {#286m.992}
Lewisburg Bridge Company / Treasurer's Day Books, 1816-1907. (.2 cu. ft.) {#286m.993}
Lewisburg, Centre and Spruce Creek Railroad / Lewistown and Tuscarora Bridge Company Minute Book, 1857-1893. (.1 cu. ft.) {#286m.998}
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad / Agreements, Leases and Mortgage, 1847-1886. (.12 cu. ft.) {#286m.1239}
The following series also contain scattered information on PRR STATIONS:
PRR / Controller / World War II Improvements, Emergency Facilities Ledgers, 1941-1944. (1.8 cu. ft.) {#286m.30}
PRR / President / Presidential Correspondence of A.J. Cassatt and James McCrea, ca 1899-1913. (59 cu. ft.) {#286m.40}
PRR / President / Presidential Correspondence of Samuel Rea, 1913-1925. (92 cu. ft.) {#286m.47}
PRR / President / Presidential Correspondence of W.W. Atterbury, 1925-1935. (43 cu. ft.) {#286m.50}
PRR / President / Presidential Correspondence of M.W. Clement, 1935-1949. (152 cu. ft.) {#286m.54}
PRR / President / Clement / Eastern Region Coordinating Committee Files, 1933-1936. (9 cu. ft.) {#286m.52}
PRR / President / Correspondence of J.M. Symes, President and Chairman of the Board; A.J. Greenough, President; and S.T. Saunders, Chairman of the Board, 1954-1967. (225 cu. ft.) {#286m.58}
PRR / VP of Finance / Treasurer / PRR System Corporation.: Information on Capital Stock, Funded Debt and Equipment Trust, 1950-1952. (.1 cu. ft.) {#286m.215}
