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Prior to 1852 any railroad in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had to be constructed to a gauge of 4 feet 10 inches. At the request of the New York Central and the New York and Erie this law was repealed late in 1852 (standard gauge and 6 foot respectively). However the law that replaced it required that any railroad passing through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had to change gauges within the state. Thus any freight passing through had to be transloaded by Pennsylvania workers. And any passengers must change cars (looks like a ploy for Hotels and Restaurants). At this same time the State of Ohio required that railroads within its borders be 5 feet gauge. After 1852 "Ohio" gauge was permitted as far east as the city of Erie. So prior to 1852 if you traveled westward from New York you traveled on either standard or 6 foot gauge to the Pennsylvania State line. There you changed into new cars and traveled the few miles through the city of Erie to the Ohio State line where you again changed cars. After 1852 you only needed to change at Erie. When Lincoln passed the law making 4 foot 8 and one half inches standard the problems went away slowly.
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