The New York Central Railroad Company came into existence as a corporate entity in 1858, by the consolidation of ten railroad corporations existing under the laws of the State of New York. Seven of these were at the time owners of roads in active operation, the road of one was in process of construction and nearly completed, and two were organized with routes established but with no construction commenced. Even a short railroad involved in its construction an amount of expense which severely taxed the financial resources of the times. The strain of reconstructing the entire track was inescapable. Yet the story of the first twenty years of steam railroading is of thrilling inter est. The solution of great problems is always attended with pain and toil. No industry has ever presented as many and as great problems as those which for a full hundred years have been developed by steam transportation. This work outlines the history, progress, and promise of the New York Central Railroad and the challenges that were faced by the pioneers and how they dealt with them. This is a true marvel of railroading history.