▁April ▁ 1 ▁of ▁that ▁year ▁the ▁company ▁began ▁operating ▁several ▁rail ro ads ; ▁others ▁were ▁acquired ▁later . ▁April ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 7 1 : ▁Pitts burgh , ▁Fort ▁Wayne ▁and ▁Chicago ▁Railway ▁- ▁main ▁line ▁direct ▁from ▁Pitts burgh , ▁Pennsylvania ▁to ▁Chicago ▁April ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 7 1 : ▁Er ie ▁and ▁Pitts burgh ▁Rail road ▁- ▁main ▁line ▁from ▁Pitts burgh ▁north ▁to ▁Er ie , ▁Pennsylvania ▁April ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 7 1 : ▁Indian apolis ▁and ▁V inc ennes ▁Rail road ▁( mer ged ▁into ▁the ▁V and alia ▁Rail road , ▁PR R - owned ▁but ▁not ▁Pennsylvania ▁Company ▁operated , ▁January ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 0 5 ) ▁April ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 7 1 : ▁Lawrence ▁Rail road ▁( mer ged ▁into ▁the ▁Y L & P ▁June ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 8 7 ) ▁April ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 7 1 : ▁New ▁Castle ▁and ▁Be aver ▁Valley ▁Rail road ▁( mer ged ▁into ▁the ▁P Y & A ▁January ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 0 6 ) ▁December ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 7 1 : ▁Cleveland ▁and ▁Pitts burgh ▁Rail road ▁- ▁branch ▁of ▁P F W & C ▁to ▁Cleveland , ▁Ohio ▁January ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 7 3 : ▁Columb us ▁and ▁Sh el by ▁Rail road ▁( mer ged ▁into ▁the ▁J M & I ▁November ▁