In 1906, Franklin began work at
Pennsylvania Railroad as a clerk. In 1933, he became vice president in charge of traffic. In 1937, he was elected to the board of directors. He later worked at freight offices in
Baltimore,
York,
Toronto,
Pittsburgh and
Atlanta. He received the
Distinguished Service Order,
Legion of Honour and the
Distinguished Service Medal for his service during
World War I. He helped establish the
Port of Philadelphia and a multi-million dollar pier at Greenwich Point in Philadelphia. in
Philadelphia was commissioned during Franklin's PRR presidency. In 1938, Franklin returned to Pennsylvania and became director. During
World War II, he was advisor to the Secretary of Navy. He was appointed executive vice president of Pennsylvania Railroad in 1947. He served as president of the Pennsylvania Railroad from June 16, 1949, to May 31, 1954. He continued as a director until 1959. He was president of the American Trading Company of New York City, an import-export firm, for ten years. ==Personal life==