Central
Railroad of Pennsylvania - (en)
The Central Railroad of Pennsylvania was an attempt by the Central
Railroad of New Jersey to avoid certain New Jersey taxes on their
Pennsylvania lines. The tax dodge failed, and CRP operations were merged
back into those of the CNJ.
History
Most of the Pennsylvania extension of the CNJ was built by the Lehigh and
Susquehanna Railroad, leased to the CNJ in 1871 as their Lehigh and
Susquehanna Division. By the 1940s the CNJ wished to avoid certain New
Jersey taxes on its Pennsylvania lines. The Easton and Western Railroad, a
short branch west of Easton, was renamed to the Central Railroad of
Pennsylvania and all Pennsylvania leases, primarily the L&S, were
transferred to it. The new company began operations August 5, 1946.
Around the same time, the CNJ logo was changed from "Central Railroad
Company of New Jersey" to "Jersey Central Lines". The
arrangement was struck down by the courts, and in 1952 CRP operations were
merged back into the CNJ. In 1972 the CNJ's Pennsylvania lines would be
sold to the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
