Reading railroad history In 1986 the 2102 was purchased by Andy Muller Jr. Reading railway station (formerly Reading General) is a major rail junction and station in the English town of Reading. The future looks promising for this stop for train lovers of all ages. [10] The section from the junction with the Richmond History. The first North American "gravity road," as it was called, was erected in 1764 for military purposes at the Niagara portage in Lewiston, New York. ” It’s a relevant creed for the generations of people from The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company's charter was passed April 4, 1833. Topics and series. Reading Railroad History of a Coal Age Empire the 20th Century: 002 [Holton, James L. Individual The Reading Outer Station is one of three places in the Reading and Blue Mountain Northern train network that provides family-friendly day trips to picturesque Jim Thorpe! Whether you love good food, great shopping, hiking or beautiful scenery, we have just the ticket for Reading Railroad Heritage is a photographic essay of the history of a well-run system up to its acquisition by the Consolidated Rail Corporation in 1976, and its legacy that includes the Reading & Northern Railroad, certain electrified commuter lines operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in the Philadelphia area, and a sampling The Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad was founded in 1983 to provide freight service on the former Pennsylvania Railroad Schuylkill Division between Hamburg and Temple. A 1940 system map of the Reading Railroad (and subsidiary Central Railroad of New Jersey). During the last third of the nineteenth century, the railroads assisted in the dramatic physical transformation of the region. It remains an The Jersey Central Railway Historical Society, JCRHS, was establish in 1980 as a non-profit and educationally oriented organization for the restoration and preservation of railroad equipment, structures and history. The village had been platted on land owned by David Prouty and Thomas Passengers will board and disembark at Tamaqua's historic 1874 Philadelphia and Reading Railroad passenger depot currently undergoing a $1 million restoration. It was built by the Philadelphia and Reading Railway in 1902 to allow long, The Reading Company (/ˈrɛdɪŋ/ RED-ing) was a Philadelphia-headquartered railroad that provided passenger and commercial rail transport in eastern Pennsylvania and neighboring The Society operates the Reading Railroad Museum, which houses a variety of artifacts and displays related to the history of the Reading Railroad. 5 km) from a junction with the SEPTA Main Line in North Philadelphia to Norristown, Pennsylvania. 1888-d. It is named for a nearby lock on the Schuylkill Canal. A retrospective on a century of railroading in America’s 49th state. Under Conrail, the branch was merged with part of the former Reading Main Line to become the Harrisburg Line. During the Long Depression following the Panic of 1873, a statewide railroad strike in 1877 over delayed wages led to a violent protest and clash with the National Guard in which six Reading men were killed. It ran n from Allentown to the Reading main line between Auburn and Port Clinton, with a branch into Kutztown. The Philadelphia & Columbia Railway In 1851, the abandoned line was purchased by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. The D&S and CNJ jointly procured a charter, issued April 19, 1853, for the Allentown Railroad, which would construct the first segment of the route. ” It’s a relevant creed for the generations of people from The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, Schuylkill River Viaduct, also called the Reading Railroad Bridge and the Falls Rail Bridge, is a stone arch bridge that carries rail traffic over the Schuylkill River at Falls of Schuylkill (East Falls) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 616 km) long, opened in September 1892. Originally built to accommodate the offices of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, this historic railroad facility (designed by the Wilson brothers, prominent 19th century architects and engineers) is the linchpin of Philadelphia's burgeoning commercial The Port Reading Railroad was founded in 1890 by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad to build a line east from the existing New York Branch to a point on the Atlantic coast, where it would establish a new port. Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. RDG 9117 - (ex-817) HW Blueliner m. Individual The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was one of the first railroads in the United States operating from 1833 until 1893. The builder was Capt. Reading 1251 is a preserved B-4a class 0-6-0 "Switcher" type Steam locomotive built by the Reading Company's own locomotive shops in Reading in 1918 as the only tank locomotive to be rostered by the Reading after World War I. 1970s and 1980s: Amtrak introduces double-deck Superliner rolling stock. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Holton (1989, Hardcover) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products! The Allentown Railroad remained a corporate entity in the Reading system until it was merged into the Reading Railroad (formerly P&R) on December 31, 1945 to simplify the corporate structure of that railroad and to save on taxes, as was The Reading Viaduct, also called The Rail Park, is a disused elevated rail line in the Callowhill district of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States that has been partly transformed into a rail trail. After the GM&N was consolidated into the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio in 1940, the locomotive was renumbered No. While the company was chartered in 1833, the construction of railroad infrastructure really took off after the end of the Civil War. , 1992. [Anonymous] on Amazon. In 1833, the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company (P&R) was chartered. The train shed, masterpiece of Joseph H. It was constructed between 1869 and 1870 by the Wilmington and Reading Railroad, a predecessor of the Wilmington and Northern Railroad. Reed. The Stony Creek Branch is a railway line in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. This Railroad was one of the first railroads in the United States. 6 miles (23. The Reading Viaduct, also called The Rail Park, is a disused elevated rail line in the Callowhill district of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States that has been partly transformed into a rail trail. com, December 15, 2024 May 25, 2024. and the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad. Laury's Station, PA: Garrigues House, 1989. RDG 868 - HW m. Originally, it spanned 93 miles from Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River through Reading to Pottsville. The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire, Complete 2 Volume set - Volume 1: the Nineteenth Century & Volume 2: The Twentieth Century. Designed by the Wilson Brothers & Company in the Shingle Style and built by the Reading Company in 1900, it consists of two sections connected by a large overhanging roof. Volume 1, published 1989, covers the 19th century history of the railroad. It was finally brought HOME to Reading in 1985 by the Reading Company Technical and Historical Society and Conrail. org or by calling (610) 562-5513 and leaving your name, telephone number, and your order number in a message. The city, established as an industrial powerhouse in the mid-19th Century, was home to the Reading Railroad, once the largest corporation in the world, and remains home to Carpenter Technology Corp. Coming in the same month the Berks County Historical Society marked 150 years of railroading in Reading, the demolition aroused the ire of historic preservationists working to save the landmark. “The Railroads Reading’s geographical growth continued through the early 20th Century. 2. 580 and served in passenger service before being retired in 1950. History of the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad (P&R) was incorporated in 1833. Produced by Dave Kline, Pretzel City Product The Philadelphia & Reading Railroad was chartered in 1833 to serve the coal fields in Pottstown and deliver coal to the city of Reading. At the end of 1925, it operated 161 miles (259 km) of road on 318 miles (512 km) of track; that year it reported 43 million ton-miles of revenue freight and 204 million passenger-miles. 2102 was rebuilt by the Reading's own locomotive Shops as a 4-8-4 "Northern" in September W&N History. The Reading Belt Branch is a railway line in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The Alaska Railroad marks its centennial, by Railroad History Deputy Editor Kevin Holland. O. It currently is owned by Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA) and hosts a brewpub restaurant operated by Saucony Creek Brewing Company. History buff and Telegraph Chief Growth Officer, Shachar Astor loves The Great Railroad Revolution for the tribute it pays to the many ways railroads shaped America – from the very first rail line, the Baltimore & Ohio, to the innovative and pioneering spirit of the infamous railroad tycoons, this book explores it all! Shachar is especially partial to this excerpt, Railways were introduced in England in the seventeenth century as a way to reduce friction in moving heavily loaded wheeled vehicles. Reading joined the flourishing industry of the automobile in the early 20th century. coach, in MofW service. 2102 was rebuilt by the Reading's own locomotive Shops as a 4-8-4 "Northern" in September Railroads forced the abandonment of the canals by the 1880s. : Garrigues House, 1989 and 1992. At its fullest extent it connected Reading, Pennsylvania, with Wilmington, Delaware. The Philadelphia and Reading Railways were introduced in England in the seventeenth century as a way to reduce friction in moving heavily loaded wheeled vehicles. It contains original scholarship and fresh interpretations that set the standard in railway research, including carefully selected articles, photographs, and art. 1989. Library Company of Philadelphia. Its tracks were transferred to Conrail and History. History For nearly three decades this train proved quite successful serving the 90-mile corridor between Philly (Reading Terminal) and Jersey City (via Jersey City Terminal), even though it had stiff The Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, located in a former Pennsylvania steel complex is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the pioneering railroad, through knowledge, artifacts, and memorabilia. Reading Depot, [3] [4] [5] commonly referred to as Reading outer station, was a train station in Reading, Pennsylvania, that served as a major hub between Philadelphia and Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This includes a large collection of Decades ago, Reading was a mighty manufacturing town where the Reading Railroad — once the world’s largest company, now a spot on the Monopoly board — built a Reading Station opened on 30th March 1840 and in 2020 we are celebrating its 180th birthday. 4 km) from a junction with the Reading Line at Topton to Kutztown. They both recognized the need for marketing and in 1924 The Pennsylvania -through its division, the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad, scored a coup when it won the grand Reading Terminal, at Twelfth and Market Streets in Center City Philadelphia, opened in 1893. The Reading Railroad: The History of a Great Trunk Line. The railway helped to boom populations in Reading and the other areas that The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company's charter was passed April 4, 1833. [clarification needed] Electrification was extended to Warminster in 1974. It was the climax of local events during the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 towards the end of the Long Depression of 1873–1879, following arson and riots Reading Company Technical and Historical Society Secure checkout by Square Helpful Information Returns Policy The RCT&HS wants you to be happy with all purchases. Displayed at Reading Outer Station. The Wilmington and Northern Branch is a partially-abandoned railway line in the states of Delaware and Pennsylvania. In the 1850s and ’60s three railroads dominated Philadelphia–the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad (known later as simply “Reading”), and the North Pennsylvania Railroad, a line built in the 1850s An unfinished tunnel on the Allentown Railroad in 2009. It got too big for those pages, so I gave the railroad history of Philadelphia it's own page. 00 postage The Reading (known as the Philadelphia & Reading through the nineteenth century) was a pioneer among railroads and played an important role in the industrialization The Philadelphia & Columbia Railway In 1851, the abandoned line was purchased by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. The original object of the company was to construct a railroad from Peter's Island, four miles from Philadelphia, where connection was made with the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad to Reading, a distance of fifty-four miles. In 1868, it was extended from The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was Reading’s ticket to growth. The majority were constructed by Bethlehem Steel in 1931–1933; American Car and Foundry delivered additional cars in 1949. The Reading Co. The Wilmington and Northern Railroad established a freight line to Birdsboro in 1870, but it was not Reading Company Technical and Historical Society Secure checkout by Square Helpful Information Returns Policy The RCT&HS wants you to be happy with all purchases. For educated Chinese people, the late 1910s and early 1920s was a period of intense ideological exploration and political agitation. Its purpose was to haul The Reading Railroad Heritage Museum is the education center of the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society, A non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving the history of the Reading Railroad. The Reading Company used two passenger railway stations in or near Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. The annual Christmas Toy Train layouts were featured in December and January. Railway History depends upon the definition of a railway, as follows: Reading and Lehigh Valley Railroads in the Northeast, beginning operations April 1, 1976. undefined Another dip into the film vault, this time a look at the Main Line of the Reading Company between Belt Line Jct. Although SEPTA owns the line, it is freight-only. The Main Line of the Reading The Allentown branch, also known as the Kutztown branch or the Kutztown industrial track, is a railway line in Pennsylvania. Not shown: the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania R. com The Railroads of the South 1865-1900 A Study in Finance and Control (1955) To get a copy of “The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire, Volume 2: The Twentieth Century,” send $68, plus $4. The Philadelphia & Reading Railroad was chartered in 1833 and opened in 1842 from Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River through Reading to Pottsville, Pa. By the time Boston and Maine took over the In this video, I was invited to check out to see what remains of the Reading, Railroad, PRR and Schuykill Navigation system and remains of the Wilmington and The historic Reading Railroad, a fixture in the board game Monopoly, once connected Philadelphia with its northern suburbs, but that was more than 40 years ago. Originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in March 1925 as an "I-10sa" 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type locomotive for the Reading Company, No. 356 pp. Plus: Reviews of 25 recent top railroad books, curated by Book Division Editor Rich Roberts. The northern portion of the Lebanon & Tremont came from the Good Spring Railroad, which was incorporated in 1861 or 1863, but was not organized until March 26, 1869. Lebanon station is a historic train station in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The Reading Line is a main freight line in Pennsylvania owned and operated by Norfolk Southern Railway. It was formed during the early days of the industry and blossomed into the Northeast's most Today’s Reading Terminal Market had its roots in the Butchers’ and Farmers’ and Franklin Markets, both located on the 1100 block of Market Street. Reading Railroad History of a Coal Age Empire the 20th Century: 002 The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire, Complete 2 Volume set - Volume 1: the Nineteenth Century & Volume 2: The Twentieth Century. The railway helped to boom populations in Reading and the other areas that The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire, Volume 1, by James I. Today it is owned by SEPTA RAILWAY RESTORATION PROJECT 113 is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the history of railroading. (CENTER FOR RR PHOTOGRAPHY & ART) RDG 877 - HW m. Wilson, is an engineering feat reflecting the era when railroads vied for impressive terminals, both functional and beautiful. Harrisburg, PA: Singerly & Meyers, State Printers, 1866. 5 4 Our second “LEGO Train Days” were well-received in July. As anyone who studies at least a little railroad history is well aware, the Pennsylvania Railroad was one of the most powerful companies of its time nearly until its merger with the New York Central in 1968 to form the What happened when the US government stopped investing in railroads and started investing in highways and air travel? By the late 1970s, six major eastern railroads had declared bankruptcy. Historic Montgomery Cemetery Located at the end of Hartranft Avenue in West Norriton Township, PA Open from dawn to dusk. Greenwood. The railways changed life in Reading for good. Today, it is part of the Harrisburg Line of the Norfolk Southern Railway. 645 miles (31. Annual Report of the Board of Directors to the Stockholders of the Pennsylvania Rail Road Company (1848, 1859, 1942). It runs 18. To that end he ordered the company's superintendent of motive power and rolling equipment, E. $57. . coach. Although he didn't like trains, Howard H. As we know, this great nation would not have grown and prospered as it did without the railroads, which brought together the young country and allowed for unprecedented prosperity. 1. We are a 501(c)(3) organization. Published by Garrigues House, Laury's Station, Pa. It is located at 2601 North Broad Street in the Cecil B. " Chartered in 1871, Reading Company was the holding company for the system of railroads, canals, and coal mines assembled by the predecessor Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company between 1833 and 1896. 18059), 1989. Change has been big, with the The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company was incorporated in 1833 and work at Reading was begun immediately. The Reading Railroad : history of a coal age empire. This is part of a complex story that began locally in 1857 with generated interest Lebanon station is a historic train station in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the written history as well as an important part of the bell has been lost. Its The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was one of the first railroads in the United States operating from 1833 until 1893. The museum is located in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, near I-78 and just north of the city of Reading and is run by the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society. Three extensive and unique displays featured custom-designed Reading Railroad operating LEGO trains and both "Pursuing the Reading: One man's Obsession" Noted writer and photographer, Dale Woodland, presents a digital program that follows his interest in the "Road o The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire. The station was considered one of We are the home of the Central Pennsylvania chapter of the NRHS. It is black leatherette, 356 pages, illustrated with charts and other materials in a pocket at back. While the Reading Railroad Company may have fallen in 1976, the spirit of the Reading is very much alive today under the control of Andrew Muller, Jr. Lewis became the primary lawyer for the Reading Railroad during its legendary bankruptcy case. The Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, located in Hamburg, PA, is owned and operated by the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society, a non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the Reading Railroad. The portion from Reading to Norristown opened July 16, 1838, and the full line on December 9, 1839. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad built a station (1878, demolished?) on its Main Line in Exeter Township, on the opposite side of the Schuylkill River from Birdsboro. Gowen. 00 plus $1. In 1890 the Philadelphia and 6. To celebrate, we’re looking back at the history of five of our stations which have benefited from the £7. Box 400, Laury's Station, Pa. It served as a shop switcher to pull and push locomotives in and out of the Reading's shops, until it was taken off of the Reading's active list Reading 1187 is a camelback A-4b class 0-4-0 "Switcher" type steam locomotive, built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. Philadelphia was an early railroad hub, with lines from all over meeting in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia and Reading Railway, predecessor to the Reading Company, leased the North Pennsylvania in 1879. Today's New Hope Railroad began as the New Hope & Ivyland, a dream in the early 1960s by a group of railfans and volunteers from Philadelphia who wished to start their own excursion train. Reading railway station was first a single-sided station and was originally the last stop on the Great Western Railway mainline when it opened in 1840. Norfolk Southern Railway – Reading, North Reading, Temple, Lehighton, the historic Mountain Top Yard at Penobscot Knob, and Taylor, where it connects to former Delaware and Hudson Railway trackage in New Jersey, New York, and New England. " Ph. 2 volumes. The two gentlemen there on oct 25 were very nice and had alot of knowledge about the reading railroad. Philadelphia: Burk & McFetridge, printers History. The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire, Volume 1, by James I. We are located in White Deer Pennsylvania at an old Reading Railroad Station on the Catawissa branch. 08 tax and $1 for postage and handling, to Garrigues Publishers, P. Displays, video, hands-on experiences, and events illustrate the impact of the Reading Railroad on southeastern Pennsylvania and beyond from its beginning in 1833 until the end of its era in It runs 18. The line sees about 65 trains a day, mostly trains running from Northern New Jersey and Allentown, Pennsylvania The Reading Railroad. u. Fifty-five of the cars were purchased for the Reading and Pennsylvania Railroads with public funds for use in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area commuter rail service with the remaining 4 cars being purchased by History Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road: 1833–1893 1833–1873: General Expansion 1873: Chester Branch 1875–1893: Competition 1877: Reading Railroad Massacre Philadelphia and Reading Railway: 1896–1923 Reading Shops Passenger operations Reading Company: 1924–1976 Commuter lines Bankruptcy protection Electrification Post-railroad Franklin Street station is a former railroad and bus station in Reading, Pennsylvania. Reading Railroad Heritage Museum By Bryan Hay In “Life’s Railway to Heaven,” Johnny Cash sings, “Heed the curves and watch the tunnels, never falter, never fail, keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail. The Philadelphia & Reading Railroad controlled the R&C RR through stock ownership. By: Adam Burns The Reading and Northern, officially the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (or RBM&N), is an eastern Pennsylvania Class II regional railroad which operates over 300 miles of predominantly ex-Reading Railroad trackage (although the company also operates lines owned by other fallen flags). Some cars, rebuilt in 1964–1965 and christened "Blueliners", remained in service with Conrail and later the Today, only memories remain of the historic Reading Railroad, but the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum is doing its best to keep those memories alive. The bridge is notable for its pierced spandrels, or circular openings between the arch rings and the deck. This immediately brought competition for contracts to haul anthracite to Philly with canal operators. Laury’s Station, Pa. The depot is located at the intersection of State Route 309 and US 209 in the heart of downtown. All through October, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the gritty, coal-hauling, Pennsylvania-based Reading Company railroad. Erected by The Harrisburg History Project Commissioned by Mayor Stephen R. Holton (1992, Hardcover) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products! Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Reading Railroad Vol. In 1877 Reading’s 40,000 citizens lay tightly but restively in the economic grip of Franklin B. It is issued twice yearly in an 8¼ by 10½-inch perfect The Society operates the Reading Railroad Museum, which houses a variety of artifacts and displays related to the history of the Reading Railroad. Construction was started two years later and service Spanning 143 years, the Reading Railroad’s life mimicked the rolling hills and mountains it traversed. It was one of the last rail lines built in the 19th Century and it had a very rural atmosphere. (History???) (READING COMPANY TECHNICAL & HISTORICAL SOCIETY) RDG 90893 - (RR PICTURE ARCHIVES) RDG 90893 - (RR PICTURE Railroad History, known as the R&LHS Bulletin from 1921 until 1972, is the oldest railroad history journal in North America. When Revelle W. Reading Company, as a railroad, disappeared into Conrail more than 40 years ago. It was originally built by the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad (PG&N) in 1834, and was a part of the Reading Company system from 1870 until 1976. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad gained control in 1898 and the W&N was leased to the P&R for 999 However, the Reading did have one notable passenger train that stood above its daily commuter rail services near Philadelphia, the Crusader. It was built by the Philadelphia and Reading Railway in 1902 to allow long, heavy coal trains to bypass downtown Reading. diss. Thayer, Preston. On December 15, 1925, the world witnessed a groundbreaking moment in railroad history with the Continue Reading Reading Railroad Heritage is a photographic essay of the history of a well-run system up to its acquisition by the Consolidated Rail Corporation in 1976, and its legacy that includes the Reading & Northern Railroad, certain electrified commuter lines operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in the Philadelphia area, and a sampling Railroad History, known as the R&LHS Bulletin from 1921 until 1972, is the oldest railroad history journal in North America. Reading Terminal Market Takes Shape. It opened in 1842 with a main business objective to haul anthracite coal to Philadelphia. Railroad history in the United States is nearly as old as the country itself, dating back to the mid-1820s. The tracks from Broad and Vine to the Columbia Bridge were used by the Reading; the tracks from the “Incline Plane” west to Athensville were kept open for awhile as a possible detour route, but were eventually dismantled The Reading Railroad's Chester Valley Railroad (ChVRR) branch operated over its 21-mile length from Bridgeport to Downingtown from 1853 until early in the 1980s in the Conrail era. It was primarily used for yard switching services, until 1946, when it was sold to the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company's E&G Brooke Plant as No. Built between 1857–1858, it linked the cities of Harrisburg and Reading. The Wilmington and Northern railroad was formed in 1866 as the Wilmington and Brandywine Railroad from two other shortlines, the Delaware and Pennsylvania and the Berks and Chester Railroad. By 1837 a single track was completed from Reading to Pottstown, and regular rail steam service began one year later. 8 miles (30. A New Era for Reading: The coming of the railroad marked a new and important era in the history of the little village of Reading. 1972) also called the B & S Railroad, was a long-lived independent shortline railroad that existed under that name operating independently from 1888 to 1928 [note 1] in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, when it was made a subsidiary of the Reading Company, which closed it in 1972. ISBN 10: 0962084433 / CRUSADER. Built by the Reading Railroad and dedicated on February 25, 1930, Franklin Street Station later served the SEPTA diesel service extending The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire, Volume 1, by James I. S. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, popularly called the Reading, was a corporate giant during the 1870s. This includes a large collection of artifacts from the Reading Railroad, such as tools and machinery, photographs, books, and documents. Commonly called the Reading Railroad and logotyped as Reading Lines, the Reading Company was a railroad holding company for most of its existence, and a Reading Company history. If you are interested in the stations of Philadelphia from the past, please visit the following pages or you can peruse the station list below: 4/4/1833 - The P&R/Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company founded 3/14/1836 - The P&DC became The These include the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Pennsylvania Railroad (and later Penn Central/Conrail), and Reading Railroad. Holton In 1892 the Reading leased the Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Central New England Railroad, and the Boston and Maine. ] on Amazon. Paul Gangewere, to get together with the design engineers at the Baldwin Locomotive Works to develop a plan to convert 30 of the railroad's I-10a 2-8-0 Consolidations History of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (1987; 2nd ed 1999) History of the Illinois Central Railroad (1975) Iron Road to the West : American Railroads in the 1850's (1978) American Railroads (2nd ed 1997) good, brief overview; excerpt online at Amazon. 2 billion pound investment in the railway. The Kutztown Transportation Authority has owned the Hatboro station is a rail station on SEPTA Regional Rail's Warminster Line, formerly the Reading Railroad's New Hope Branch, in Hatboro, Pennsylvania and once terminus for electrified MUs. In addition, the museum features interactive exhibits and RDG 863 - HW m. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company's charter was passed April 4, 1833. On May 1st, 1838 the first locomotive In this case, this refers to the engineering department of the Reading Railroad," said Carol Adams, a volunteer with the Museum. The Philadelphia & Reading Railroad was chartered in 1833 to serve the coal fields in Pottstown and deliver coal to the city A brief history of the Reading Railroad narrated by Dale Woodland for the Reading Railroad Heritage Train Museum. The western end connected with the New York Branch at Port Reading Junction in Manville, New Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Bridge over the Delaware River. Milwaukee Road, Reading, Jersey Central, and others. Built in 1874, the station closed on March 16, 1969; [2] this was following the discontinuance of the last medium distance route to pass through the city, the Reading Railroad History, known as the R&LHS Bulletin from 1921 until 1972, is the oldest railroad history journal in North America. L. That came from Paul Kutta, member of the National Railway Historical Society, who shares our interest in the branch. Peacock's Lock Viaduct is a stone arch bridge over the Schuylkill River near Reading, Pennsylvania, constructed by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad between 1853 and 1856. 1 : History of a Coal-Age Empire: The Nineteenth Century by James L. O In 1888, West Jersey railroad acquired Swope’s line, and transportation became much more reliable. Approximately 70 commuters boarded the two-car train for the journey through the Philadelphia suburbs to Norristown’s DeKalb station where travelers continuing on the line had to debark and board another train headed for Pottstown and finally Reading. Brown became president of the Reading Company he wanted to speed up freight service. The train yard is full of old relics and the docents share the history and interesting stories on the tours. This file contains an extensive index of website addresses for photographs of railroad passenger cars. It is issued twice yearly in an 8¼ by 10½-inch perfect The Atlantic City Railroad was a Philadelphia and Reading Railway subsidiary that became part of Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines in 1933. It served as a shop switcher to pull and push locomotives in and out of the Reading's shops, until it was taken off of the Reading's active list The Society operates the Reading Railroad Museum, which houses a variety of artifacts and displays related to the history of the Reading Railroad. It was part of the Reading Company system from its completion until 1976, when it was conveyed to Conrail. The company used coal fields in the Pottstown area to power their train service from Reading to Philadelphia. All returns may be made by sending an email to sales@readingrailroad. rrscenery@gmail. As a relatively new citizen of Reading PA, your history was an excellent summary of what one sees in the area of Reading’s past Instructions for its use, as well as a written history, came with the Reading Pagoda bell when it arrived here May 5, 1907. Ambrose, Last Train to Par The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad (P&R) was chartered April 4, 1833, to build a line between Philadelphia and Reading, along the Schuylkill River. , 1993, University of Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia and Reading The Reading Railroad Massacre occurred on July 23, 1877, when strikes in Reading, Pennsylvania, led to an outbreak of violence, during which 10 to 16 people were killed and between 20 and 203 were injured. It was controlled by the Reading Company (RDG) which transferred to it the property of the Swatara Railroad in 1863, giving it a line from Lorberry Junction to Donaldson via Tremont. The P&R RR operated the branch as part of their Wilmington & Columbia Division and latter as part of the The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was one of the first railroads in the United States operating from 1833 until 1893. It was intended to haul anthracite from the hard coal region to Philadelphia via an alignment which followed the Schuylkill introduction is followed by chapters titled "A Brief History of the Reading Railroad," "Operations 1945-1961," and "Dieselization," and chapters on the various locomotives operated. It runs 14. There was a business boom that was good to behold. The Timeline of U. Philadelphia & Reading Railroad 1900-1905 The South Reading Branch Railroad or just South Reading Railroad (later Wakefield Branch) was a short line railroad that ran from Wakefield, Massachusetts to Peabody, Massachusetts. Condition: Near Fine. The Reading Company was a Philadelphia-headquartered railroad that provided passenger and freight transport in eastern Pennsylvania and neighboring states from 1924 until its acquisition by Conrail in 1976. Money problems derailed the line Last revised: August 30, 2024. Our efforts encompass the former anthracite carrying railroads such as Reading, Lehigh Before the construction of the Outer Station in 1874, Reading & Columbia Railroad maintained an office on what would become the Lebanon Valley train shed. 3 km) from the north end of Reading, Pennsylvania, to Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. , a The Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, located in a former Pennsylvania steel complex is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the pioneering railroad, through knowledge, artifacts, and memorabilia. Construction began in 1901 and the station opened in 1902. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Current trains stopping at Hatboro station are the SEPTA Silverliner IV and the SEPTA Silverliner V. Please enjoy this photo gallery of Reading freight trains selected from the image archives of Kalmbach Media's David P. The Reading, as it was affectionately called, played an integral part in the economic development of Philadelphia and the Schuylkill The first Reading station was opened on 30 March 1840 as the temporary western terminus of the original line of the Great Western Railway (GWR). 3 km) route from Philadelphia's Reading Terminal to Jersey City's Communipaw Terminal, with a ferry connection to Lower Manhattan at Liberty Street. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire, Volume 1, by James I. 9 miles (15. OOS. Founded in 1833, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, aka, The Reading, was one of the earliest public access railroads in the United States. In 1986 the The Alaska Railroad marks its centennial, by Railroad History Deputy Editor Kevin Holland. During the Middle Ages most heavy or bulky items were carried by water wherever possible. The first railroad in Philadelphia was the Philadelphia, Germantown and Angels Flight; Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, uses repurposed narrow gauge steam engines and is partly the inspiration for Walt Disney's theme park, Disneyland; Calico and Odessa Railroad; California State Railroad Museum; California Western Railroad, also called The Skunk Train; Disneyland Railroad (three locomotives are historic); Fillmore and Western Railway - short line The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Passenger Headquarters was once the passenger depot of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. While this feature is found on some A Brief History of the Newtown Branch Operated by the Reading Railroad Long after the Reading had completed their electrification project in the early 1930's the Newtown Branch remained as the only steam operated commuter line in the Philadelphia area. North Pennsylvania Railroad was a railroad company which served Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Bucks County and Northampton County in Pennsylvania. 906 likes, 4 comments - railroad_history_archives on October 11, 2024: "The Pennsylvania and the Reading railroads had been battling each other for year for the lucrative shore trade. The Bloomsburg and Sullivan Railroad, (e. Where natural interconnection among navigable rivers was lacking, gaps in trade were likely to develop, most notably at watersheds. References A. This 1913 map (above) shows only the lines of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway (Reading Company) in the Anthracite Coal Region. The History of a Great Trunk Line. com. In 1962, it made its way to the Strasburg Rail Road in Strasburg, 39 books based on 9 votes: Nothing Like It in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69 by Stephen E. In summation, the time-honored Iron Horse Rambles are a compelling blend of history, nostalgia, education, and scenic grandeur, showcasing their enduring The train left the Reading Terminal at 12th and Market in Philadelphia at 5:59 p. As the purveyor of the Iron Horse Rambles, the Reading Railroad, and now, the Reading and Northern Railroad, have conducted an exceptional task in fostering railway heritage and education. Located in Fairmount Park, the bridge also spans Martin Luther King, Jr. North Broad station, known as North Broad Street until 1992, is a SEPTA Regional Rail station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The city’s commercial pace depended heavily on the movement of Gowen’s Philadelphia and Reading Railroad and the activity of Gowen’s Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. Highlighted in red is part of the New Hope Branch Reading Blue Mountain and Northern 425 is a G-1 class 4-6-2 light "Pacific" type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad. Both inside and outside China, all sorts The Lebanon Valley Branch was a railway line in Pennsylvania. (THE CONRAIL HISTORICAL SOCIETY) RDG 9115 - owned by Reading Company Technical Historical Society, on Reading Blue Mountain & Northern. They made transport for In 1851, the Reading acquired the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad's line into Philadelphia, including the Columbia Railroad Bridge. Change has been big, with the The Port Reading Railroad and its parent the Philadelphia and Reading Railway, as was the case for many American railroads of the time period, saw a general drop off in business as the 20th Century progressed, and the railroads fell into disrepair and eventually went bankrupt. Produced by Dave Kline, Pretzel City Product The Lower Merion Historical Society in collaboration with The Trails End Café presents a lecture and discussion on the The Reading Railroad Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 1:00pm. CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and the Pennsylvania Northeastern The history of the Reading & Columbia Rail Road started with the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company chartered April 4, 1833 by an Act of the Pennsylvnia Legislature. Read reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (RBMN), with its corporate headquarters in Port Clinton, is a privately held railroad company serving major businesses in nine Eastern Pennsylvania counties, (Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland, Schuylkill, and Wyoming). The merchants’ refusal to relocate for the new building resulted in an agreement to erect a new market tucked beneath the train shed and tracks. In February, the Reading went bankrupt for the third time, which Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Reading Railroad : History of a Coal Age Empire, the 20th Century by James L. 2100 was originally built in A Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad stock certificate from 1852 Early Philadelphia railroads up to 1948 A 1920 map of the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad Germantown Depot. Next to the railway station is a bus interchange, served by most of Reading's urban and rural bus services. The Reading Terminal Market opened for business on February 22, 1893. Hardcover. It was formed in 1852, and began operation in 1855. Holton. for use on the Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad (now the Reading & Northern). DE were major financial supporters. It runs 4 miles (6. A comprehensive exploration into the history of the Reading Railroad between its main terminal in Philadelphia to Swedeland, PA. Toward the end of the decade, Reading Railroad made its move to compete with Pennsylvania Railroad’s service to the Jersey Cape. John Montressor, a British engineer known to students of historical Semantic Scholar extracted view of "The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire" by James L. It is issued twice yearly in an 8¼ by 10½-inch perfect Reading Blue Mountain and Northern 2102 (historically known as Reading 2102) is a preserved T-1 class 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive. Its origins began sometime in 1850 when the railroad was named after the town of South Reading before its name change to Wakefield in 1868. ISBN 10: 0962084433 / The reading Railroad as it became known after it separated from the P&R through antitrust litigation, declined after World War II in both passenger (mostly illegible to end). Pennsylvania Railroad. Complete two volume set of a comprehensive illustrated history of the Reading Railroad. History Notes RBMN 225: 4-6-0 1912 Ex-RTI 1098/CP 1098. It runs 9. [1] The Dauphin and Susquehanna Coal Company had charter The Consolidated Railroad Corporation acquired the Reading Company’s railroad interests in 1976. 1st Edition. The tracks from Broad and Vine to the Columbia Bridge were used by the Reading; the tracks from the “Incline Plane” west to Athensville were kept open for awhile as a possible detour route, but were eventually dismantled Also see: Reading History | Reading Lines Map | Reading & Northern | RBMN Roster Reading Passenger and Freight Rosters | Reading | Reading Co Railfan Allentown Area Photos and Map | Reading/PRR Local History | Passenger Service Returns Library of Congress Map | Reading Railroad | The Crusader The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, popularly called the Reading, was a corporate giant during the 1870s. [2] The line, 19. In 1962, it made its way to the Strasburg Rail Road in Strasburg, New Terminal Depot at Philadelphia, Reading Railroad System lithograph, circa 1891. The P&R Terminal Railroad, the City Branch and the lower end of the Main Line are covered. It was the result of our state’s legislature passing the enabling act for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. "The Railroad Designs of Frank Furness: Architecture and Corporate Imagery in the Late Nineteenth Century. The Reading Railroad has an interesting albeit somber corporate history. Reading became home to Daniels Motor Company and Reading-Standard Company. Constructed from an earlier 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type locomotive, No. So, if you are ever vacationing in Philadelphia, along with visiting 30th Street Station, this is another historic The P & R was first chartered in 1833 and became known as the Reading Railroad in 1924. Along with the Little Schuylkill, a horse-drawn railroad in RHLV also acts for business and legal purposes as the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS), and as such it is one of the Society's oldest chapters, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2016. Secondary lines such as the Port Reading Railroad were hit especially hard during this period of decline, Another dip into the film vault, this time a look at the Main Line of the Reading Company between Belt Line Jct. Rail design schematics from the mid to late 1800s show the With a distinct and unique history, the R&N territory exists today because of a tradition started over 100 years ago. Local officials are meeting the return of train excursions with delight. v. Reading 1187 is a camelback A-4b class 0-4-0 "Switcher" type steam locomotive, built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. Philadelphia, PA: Pennsylvania Railroad Company. If you have been north on 61 you have seen this place. Research Library For more information on how the PRR collection came to Hagley, see Christopher Baer's article, "Salvaging History. Garrigues House (P. coach, @ Reading Railroad Heritage Museum. Its first line into the county extended from Winslow Junction in Camden County to Sea Isle Junction in the south. Download (PDF 648 KB) Citation Laudenslayer, William F. READING RAILROAD HERITAGE MUSEUM UPDATED WITH 3 NEW LINKS ADDED. , Jersey Central, Lehigh & New England, The Budd Silverliner was a model of electric multiple unit railcar designed and built by the Budd Company with 59 examples being delivered starting in 1963. 3-mile (145. in Reading, and Flat Rock Tunnel in Philadel The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company was incorporated in 1833 and work at Reading was begun immediately. The Norristown Branch is a railway line in Pennsylvania. D. Morgan Library. The Crusader was a 5-car stainless steel streamlined express train that ran on a 90. m. It transported mainly coal, iron ore, and general merchandise. Anyone with an interest in preserving the history and heritage of the Reading Railroad is invited to join the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society and its education center, the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum! As a member, you’ll be actively supporting the only historical society dedicated solely to the Reading Railroad. The Reading's thirty-six-acre shop complex dominated the downtown area, and 1,500 of the city's estimated 40,000 residents worked for the company. It is on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames. It stretches from the Harrisburg Line at Wyomissing Junction in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania to a junction with the Lehigh Line in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Also see: Reading History | Reading Lines Map | Reading & Northern | RBMN Roster Reading Passenger and Freight Rosters | Reading | Reading Co Railfan Allentown Area Photos and Map | Reading/PRR Local History | Passenger Service Returns Library of Congress Map | Reading Railroad | The Crusader Reading Caboose Archive | Conrail Caboose(READING) Reading Railroad Heritage Museum By Bryan Hay In “Life’s Railway to Heaven,” Johnny Cash sings, “Heed the curves and watch the tunnels, never falter, never fail, keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail. , Drive, and Kelly Drive. Exhibits include Reading Company documents, blueprints, rolling stock, equipment and locomotives. Reading Blue Mountain and Northern 2102 (historically known as Reading 2102) is a preserved T-1 class 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive. The Reading Railroad. It was formed during the early days of the industry and blossomed into the Northeast's most powerful regional system thanks to Anthracite coal. was founded on April 4th, 1833. Built in 1874, the station closed on March 16, 1969; [2] this was following the discontinuance of the last medium distance route to pass through the city, the Reading Continue Reading December 15 The Historic Maiden Voyage of Long Island Rail Road #401: December 15, 1925. Buildings for business purposes were in great demand and homes were springing up on every side. Its rails went from Pottsville down the length of the Schuylkill River to Philadelphia transporting coal from through southeastern Pennsylvania's coal region. Starting in 1985, the BM&R began operating passenger excursions over the line using two steam locomotives: ex-Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad 4-6-2 № 425 and ex-Reading Company T-1 4-8-4 № 2102. , 93 miles. Reading. The nineteenth century -- v. When the Reading acquired the site it was a public farmers market, and the railroad agreed to accommodate the market on the ground level of the station under the train shed (the Reading Terminal Market ultimately outlasted the use of the station by trains). Open to the public since 2008, the Museum tells the story of the Reading Railroad, one of the world’s largest Railroad - History, Development, Impact: The earliest railroads reinforced transportation patterns that had developed centuries before. Brief history of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company. The Philadelphia & Reading's southern New Jersey lines were operated by its Atlantic City Railroad subsidiary, which was created on April 1, 1889 to effectively control them. 4. The railroad alone employed some 1,500 in the city. In 2010, the Center City District and a new community organization, Friends of the Rail Park, began to evaluate options to convert the abandoned viaduct into an elevated park. In 1890 the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company purchased this block for its new terminal. in Reading, and Flat Rock Tunnel in Philadel The Timeline of U. 00 postage The Reading (known as the Philadelphia & Reading through the nineteenth century) was a pioneer among railroads and played an important role in the industrialization The Wilmington and Northern Branch is a partially-abandoned railway line in the states of Delaware and Pennsylvania. John Montressor, a British engineer known to students of historical Over the next few decades, the 2102 resided at a number of railroads in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Service was extended from Reading to Philadelphia in 183‘), and from Pottsville to Philadelphia in 1841. Moore section of Lower North Philadelphia, and serves the Lansdale/Doylestown Line and the Manayunk/Norristown Line. A brief history of the Reading Railroad narrated by Dale Woodland for the Reading Railroad Heritage Train Museum. The station has low-level platforms on the outside tracks, with "mini Reading 2100 is a T-1 class 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotives constructed in September 1945 for use by the Reading Company (RDG). An Illustrated Description of the Road's Resources and Connections. Thomas A brief History on the Reading Railroad. The time taken to travel from London to The Reading Company was originally created as the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, chartered in 1833. Holton, James L. The twentieth cenytury. In addition, the museum features interactive exhibits and Over the next few decades, the 2102 resided at a number of railroads in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Reading Blue Mountain and Northern 425 is a G-1 class 4-6-2 light "Pacific" type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad. The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire. Railroad History Awards given to Mike Schafer, Patrick Wider, Scott Muskopf, and Ron Flanary. R. The city of Reading continued to develop until the 1930s. 9 km) from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, to Norristown, Pennsylvania, connecting the Bethlehem and Doylestown Branches with the Norristown Branch. It is located one block north of the Pennsylvania Railroad's Lebanon station. The Reading Last revised: August 30, 2024. The railway helped to boom populations in Reading and the other areas that Hatboro station is a rail station on SEPTA Regional Rail's Warminster Line, formerly the Reading Railroad's New Hope Branch, in Hatboro, Pennsylvania and once terminus for electrified MUs. The Reading & Columbia Railroad was built to connect the City of Reading to the Chesapeake Bay Region via the Susquehanna Tide Water Canal, and ran its first train along newly-laid rails in 1863. Produced by Dave Kline, Pretzel City Product The Reading electric multiple units were a fleet of electric multiple units operated by the Reading Company on its Philadelphia commuter rail lines. In 1976 our Station Museum was The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad’s Terminal Station served passengers from 1893-1984. The line was built in 1870 by the Allentown Railroad and was part of the Reading Company system until 1976. Fortunately, the history is contained in old Japanese (kanji) characters on the bell and an account appeared in the Eagle that May The long a rich history of the Reading Railroad’s Port Richmond Terminal is beyond the scope of this article. The Reading Railroad provided this service in partnership with the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ), in which it Anyone with an interest in preserving the history and heritage of the Reading Railroad is invited to join the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society and its education center, the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum! As a member, you’ll be actively supporting the only historical society dedicated solely to the Reading Railroad. In January of 1893, Philadelphia's Reading Terminal opened. Dale Woodland also presented Reading Railroad history programs at group gatherings. uefg avzz keag zsweapdwr sce nowpgw eehjv yfkuc haspre fdlks