Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway Co. - 1868/69 dated Railroad Check

Railroad Check with 2 cents imprinted revenue. The Columbus, Chicago and Indiana Central Railway (CC&IC) was established on February 12, 1868, following the merger of the Columbus and Indiana Central Railway and the Chicago and Great Eastern Railway. The completion of the main line section from Marion to Anoka on March 15, 1868, resulted in the rerouting of the main line, while the old route through New Castle and Richmond was designated as a branch line. The CC&IC’s main lines connected major cities like Columbus, Chicago, and Indianapolis, with branches extending from near Logansport, Indiana, southeast to Richmond, Indiana, and west to Effner, Indiana.

In late 1868, the Erie Railway made an offer to lease the CC&IC, but the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway's proposal was more favorable and was accepted. The lease was finalized on February 1, 1869, after a formal offer on January 22, 1869. Later, on December 1, 1869, the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway leased the Little Miami Railroad, effective retroactively from February 23, 1870. This lease also included the Columbus and Xenia Railroad, Dayton and Western Railroad, Dayton, Xenia and Belpre Railroad, and the Richmond and Miami Railway’s branch to Richmond, Indiana. This strategic move provided the Pennsylvania Railroad with crucial access to Cincinnati, further solidifying its transportation network in the region.