Exploring the Abandoned Reading Perkiomen Branch

The Perkiomen Branch linked Allentown with Philadelphia, connecting the mainline between Reading and Allentown with the mainline between Philadelphia and Reading. It was never considered a mainline itself, despite it’s ability to function as a through route, with the Reading favoring two other more heavily built routes linking the regions. The line relied primarily on local freight and passenger business and was operated as a branch line.
In 1972, Hurricane Agnes devastated the region, damaging portions of the route. With the Reading already struggling, the decision was made to abandon the affected segment between Oaks, PA, and Pennsburg, leaving a small portion between Perkiomen Junction and Oaks to link with a former PRR industrial track (itself a former mainline) which crossed the Perk via a diamond at Oaks, and the segment from Emmaus (near Allentown) to Pennsburg.
Today the segment between Perkiomen Junction and Oaks remains in place and is technically still operated by Norfolk Southern, however it has been inactive for over a decade, along with the former PRR industrial track, and is heavily overgrown. The Pennsburg to Emmaus section is now operated by the East Penn Railway and sees semi-daily freight use. The segment between Oaks and Pennsburg has mostly been converted into a trail.

[@axander9212]

As someone who lives in Oaks, I appreciate seeing history. Very refreshing, as so much history is wiped out in this poor town.

[@davidng2336]

Amazing that the equipment have survived this long. But they are definitely in need of restoration.

[@youmadbro742]

Hello! I use to work for ESPN and the line goes from pennsburg to emmaus PA for interchange. Lots of activity on the line still! Just yesterday they did a high and wide load of a very large transformer. The line has two very active customers and two that come once or twice a year for transload.

[@HighIronProductions]

Yes, I'd like to get them on video, but am unfamiliar with when they typically run. Any recommendations on when and where to catch them?

[@youmadbro742]

@@HighIronProductions they run almost daily starting at 8am until done. The crew will go to interchange about once a week. Mon-fri the crew that does the perk also runs the Quakertown branch. I'd go out to the pennsburg station around 7am and see if the blue conrail locomotive is there wait and see

[@DelcoImagery]

I've been to 95% of the places you have been its insane!! (I'm from Philly)

[@nonewherelistens1906]

Nice tour. My old stomping grounds when I used to live in Schwenksville.

[@evanf1293]

reminds me of how I felt when I found out a tourist line I visited twice as a kid shut down when I revisited Hawaii last year. BTW the tourist line was called the Sugar Cane train. They originally were gonna reopen but at this point with the engines on sale, I can see the place being torn up eventually in the future.

[@samanthab1923]

It’s always sad when a tourist line closes. Glad some others in PA are reopening.

[@evanf1293]

@@samanthab1923 Um the only tourist line in PA that's been reopened in the last few years is the East Broad Top, I'd count Colebrookdale too but that's one been open since 2014.

[@samanthab1923]

@@evanf1293 That’s the one I was thinking off. It was a big one & I was sad when it closed. I know Jim Thorpe is big business now but they had their go around with the town for a while & shut down. The more the merrier 🚂

[@scottmorehouse]

We don’t need another rail trail… we need the train and connections reinstated

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Only a 5 minute drive from my place. I often set aside time to check the engines out. Such a shame to see em rotting away especially after the speeder got hit by some idiot driver.

[@DelcoImagery]

Yea I hear ya I go there some times and it’s just sad to see them in that shape.. it’s weird that someone left their pop tarts behind in the cab of the yellow switcher.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

I saw those engines at the Oaks Center in 2019. In rough external shape certainly but oddly enough they didn't seem to have been subject to any vandalism. Quite surprising in this day and age.

[@OriginalBongoliath]

"Like Trains?" You're god damned right I do!!

[@christianm.multicolorfilms5575]

Very cool!

[@DelcoImagery]

@High Iron Productions where did you find that old caboose

[@v12productions]

Very well shot! What camera are you using?

[@HighIronProductions]

Thanks! Using the Sony A7III - had it for about 2 years, love it.

[@v12productions]

@@HighIronProductions Cool! That's a great camera!

[@scottpool4777]

Impressive nowadays if you like a caboose and such like that you’ll wonder what the heck you know but I know different I worked at Conrail I close down company for 20 years railroader by heart breaks my heart seriously💔

[@1940limited]

The Reading Rambles once ran over this branch in the early 60s, including the double header.

[@Ih8kone]

3:25 Is that a miniature railway?

[@DelcoImagery]

Yes! It’s the Pennsylvania Live Steamers.

[@JJinspo124]

When I am older I want to form a trust to save those engines do you know who owns them or are they abandoned

[@steamgent4592]

They belong to the Neilson who owns the tracks they sit on that entire shopping area/expo center as well as Shanondell and the old George Washington Country club I believe it's Chadwicks now on Egypt Rd. All that stuff is his as well as Oaks station.

[@SuperCookieGaming_]

@@steamgent4592 Neilson who? do they have any plans to restore them?

[@steamgent4592]

@@SuperCookieGaming_ Neilson is a real estate tycoon he owns that entire complex down there the expo center shopping centers etc. Also Shannondell and the old George Washington Country club think it's Chadwicks now. Owns the oaks train station too. He loves Trains and Carousel organs, pipe organs, calliope's, and those player pianos that have the drums n stuff like the Red Caboose Motel used to have supposedly has one of the world's largest collections of those. Back when he bought that stuff he wanted to restore it and run it on that short section of what was left of the Reading Perkiomen branch using the Witcom and Steamtown #1 that old Porter. But it never happened turned out to be too expensive plus the track would've need to be rebuilt and it was just a short distance not really worth bothering with for that expense.

[@emmafulop6048]

that fucked up hurricane agnes!

[@jefftherailroadenthusiast8889]

Where was that small railroad at with the signals and switches.

[@HighIronProductions]

This is the Pennsylvania Live Steamers: www.palivesteamers.org/

[@1940limited]

@@HighIronProductions It's closed to the public.

[@justinodonnell3793]

Need more time to read text.