We all know about the Erie Canal which opened in 1825. It was a huge success, connecting the Ohio country to eastern ports and giving New York a commercial advantage over its rivals. In reply, Pennsylvania built its own system of canals. Every single river I fly over on this trip once had a canal alongside it. I had no idea that there were so many canals in this country. We soon forgot them, smitten by our new love, the steam locomotive.

Unfortunately for the Pennsylvanians, the Alleghenies barred an all-water route, so they built the Allegheny Portage Railroad that carried canal boats over the highest bits. It operated for twenty years, from 1834 to 1854 before the Pennsylvania Railroad finally reached Pittsburgh (in 1852, so late!). The canals and portage railroad you see here cut the freight time from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia from 23 days to 5.

My brother Jay and I visited the Allegheny Portage Railroad in the trike. See that account here.