| (1808
- 1874) |
| Inducted: |
1975 |
| Region: |
MidAtlantic |
| Industry: |
Transportation
|
|
J. Edgar Thomson led the Pennsylvania Railroad for 22 years, expanding its reach from 250 miles of track to 6,000 miles. He became chief engineer of Pennsylvania Railroad in 1847 and became its president in 1852. Thomson took the railroad through the mountains and completed the line from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh in 1854. Thomson also reduced cost per mile from 1.9 cents to 0.98 cents. He also solved the problem of handling passenger baggage and was responsible for such major innovations as the substitution of steel rails for iron. |
