Penn Central RR computer system failure

In 1968 two once-powerful railroads, the New York Central and Pennsylvania, merged to become the Penn Central (along with the New Haven RR). Soon after their railroad freight train operations fell apart and the Penn Central was bankrupt. At the time it was the biggest corporate bankruptcy ever.

Several books were written to explain what went wrong. Some blame was placed trying to merge the two imcompatible computer systems from the PRR and NYC. One book, "The Wreck of the Penn Central" mentions this in some detail. However, these books may not be totally accurate in this area.

A freight train requires a lot of paperwork. In those days, most freights consisted of individual cars going to a variety of destinations. At major intermediate points, the train would be broken up, freight cars sorted, and new trains dispatched. Each car on a train must be properly routed to its ultimate destination. When the Penn Central failed, freight cars became lost which obviously upset the shipper quite a bit (he wanted his goods delivered).

The sorting of a freight car--moving a car to a specific train in a marshalling yard is complex in itself. Some automation was available in 1968. Supposedly, one new automated yard (near Albany NY) didn't work out very well.

Freight trains used information processing equipment from very early on--the New York Central was an early customer of Herman Hollerith's pioneer punched cards. Railroads also used teletypes to forward train consist information.

Would anyone be accurately familiar with some of the specifics of the PC's computer failure? Did they in fact try to merge two incompatible systems? Were system failures really a contributor to the bankruptcy? How sophisticated were their systems in 1968 (computers generally weren't that fancy back then like today)?

Thanks.

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