New York Central Railroad Stock Certificate - 1920s to 1930s - Eastern United States

The New York Central Railroad Company was founded in 1853, connecting the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions of the US with New York City. In 1867, Cornelius Vanderbilt won control of the company, later combining The New York Central with his own New York and Hudson River Railroad companies. Vanderbilt would continue successfully acquiring and expanding the New York Central Railroad Company across the East Coast and Midwest, eventually reaching over 10,000 miles of track. The portrait on these certificates features the image of Cornelius Vanderbilt. The New York Central began to decline after World War II. The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) heavily regulated rates charged by the industry. The nascent automobile industry and airline travel became fierce competition. The oversaturated railroad industry struggled to share the remaining traffic, and many merged as a result. Eventually, the New York Central Railroad would merge with the Pennsylvania Railroad, forming Penn Central.