Montour Iron Works, Danville, PA. circa 1855.


Hand-colored lithograph, drawn from nature by James Queen. Drawn on stone by F. von Lahr. Printed by P.S. Duval and Co.'s Steam Lithography Press, Philadelphia, PA, circa 1855.
Full Size

On October 8, 1845, the Montour Iron Works produced the first iron T-rail made in the United States. Using local anthracite coal floated there on the North Branch of the Pennsylvania Canal, Montour soon produced more rails than any other American mill.

Courtesy of The Palmer Museum of Art, Pennsylvania State University, Partial Gift and purchase from John C. O'Connor and Ralph M. Yeager