Central Railroad of Pennsylvania (1891–1918)

The Central Railroad of Pennsylvania was a short-lived railroad company operating in the state of Pennsylvania from 1891 to 1918. Incorporated in 1891, it primarily served to transport anthracite coal from the mines of the Wyoming Valley to various markets. The railroad's main line stretched through parts of Luzerne and Schuylkill counties.

While it operated independently for a time, the Central Railroad of Pennsylvania eventually fell under the control of larger railroad systems, a common fate for many smaller railroads during this period. It was acquired by the Philadelphia & Reading Railway (later Reading Company).

Its physical assets, including trackage and rolling stock, were absorbed into the Reading system and integrated into their existing operations. Therefore, the Central Railroad of Pennsylvania ceased to exist as a separate entity after its acquisition and merger into the Reading Company. Its contribution lies primarily in facilitating the transportation of coal during a crucial period of industrial expansion in Pennsylvania.