Reading Terminal Train Station Photography Circa 1984

[@jacktaggart2489]

I had the good fortune to ride the 'Last Train Out of the Reading Terminal'. It was sponsored by the National Railway Historical Society. I got off at my neighborhood station Elkins Park. The train proceeded to Lansdale, then returned to North Broad Street for those wanting to complete the excursion. It was a memorable trip and everyone was very congenial. The blue and white MU cars were utilized. The car in which I rode had those very comfortable and cozy twin seats. Thanks for the great memories and excellent art work.

[@MrTrashcan1]

It was magical growing up with a real railroad terminal like this and a sad day when it closed. When I could, I rode the Reading downtown from Cheltenham station. When I was a child we would pick up my father at Fox Chase station. In those days, that line was not electrified and the rush hour trains were passenger cars pulled by diesel locos. Very cool.

[@robertbennie7889]

In the late forties My dad took me on the train with him to PHL. I was introduced up close to the heavy breathing of the huge coal fired steam engines, the baggage handlers dragging steel-wheeled carts, the awesome Reading Terminal Market (tasty memories), down the block to the Horn and Hardart automat, a walk to Wanamakers and Gimbels. Everywhere seemed to have the aromas of soft pretzels, hot dogs, roasted chestnuts and, in the terminal, coal smoke. In following years when I flew into PHL on my way to Pottsville, I always scheduled a stop at the Terminal Market to reminisce and munch out.

[@lennyhendricks4628]

thanks so much for posting. The Reading and the Reading Terminal were part of my childhood and young adulthood.

[@naddyt6520]

Great! Just stumbled upon This Great Photos great mood! Great choice of music as well. Cheers!

[@waltereturner]

Thank you for sharing these incredible photographs, or in my opinion works of art. Each one tells a story that almost makes you feel like you are there!

[@RonHartmanNet]

Thank you for your comment. I appreciate that!

[@19brittani]

just found this. memories, i remember the ticket windows and the gates to the trains. the shed roof caught on fire and that was that. the reading terminal market is great too. SHOP, EAT, DRINK, its a really good place to see philly folks...

[@MrCarlRosen]

Wow! Excellent and lively photos. Each photo came across as not just a display of the terminal and the trains but of the living who depended on them to move them from home to work and back. As the son of an LIRR commuter, the train was more than a mode of transportation it was a way of life. Same thing for the Reading and SEPTA. Great shots!

[@RonHartmanNet]

Thanks for watching!

[@PotentialAutist42069]

its so cool to me that you can still ride on ssome of those same silverliners today that have been running since the 1970s. too bad they closed that station.

[@marlostanfield9463]

I was a little kid taking the trains at reading terminal....

[@trainluvr]

I just made it there a few times before it closed. At least Philadelphia got a truly integrated regional rail network out of the deal. So many people can live without ever needing to own a car, making Philadelphia a place more resilient long term in the face of energy decline.

[@RonHartmanNet]

I agree. The center city tunnel really tied the regional rail system together. Too bad to lose the Reading Terminal as a train station, but it did make the system more efficient for riders.

[@davidmontgomery8938]

Nice work on the tune

[@josephheston9238]

Just think, the Reading Blues outlasted the MP54s. Not only that, they ventured on the Pennsy Paoli line (the Main Line). I bet the Pennsy founders were turning over in their graves when that happened.

[@PaHillLL]

Thanks for posting this

[@tomod4173]

I remember having a few drinks at the bar every so often, miss the Reading Terminal, I guess the shed is still there, moved out of the area in 2001.

[@WWIIREBEL]

The shed is now a Convention center with a few details to show its history as a train shed.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Convention_Center

[@kathiejohns1418]

Wow,it had changed a lot from the 60's version I remembered!Sort of cleaned up & orderly!With seats?

[@RonHartmanNet]

The waiting area photos were taken after the station had closed for good. That might explain why things look so clean!

[@williamrowen10]

Great material for the foamers....

[@robertdavenport5457]

Missed seeing the mass of humanity at the gates before they were opened for rush hour boarding or the mass confusion when the train was not at it's normal gate. Remembering the RR police blowing the whistle at 8 AM to remind the overnight guests that it was a new day.

[@RonHartmanNet]

The station sure had a lot of personality.

[@Deejayboy]

I remember the waiting area, the trains and tracks. Traveled that so many times. Not great photography. More like art. Really good art. You should blow them up and sell prints.

[@RonHartmanNet]

Thanks so much for your comment. I have printed all of them and displayed some here and there. Offered to put together a show at PA Convention Center, Reading Railroad Museum, etc, but didn't go anywhere. Glad you enjoyed them.

[@thefateofslate9095]

This is insane, i didnt even know that reading terminal held electric trains. I thought as soon as steam stopped running there they closed

[@RonHartmanNet]

Yes, electric trains ran out of there for decades. They also used some RDCs and a Push-Pull diesel train in the terminal for the few outlying lines that were never electrified. I'm not old enough to remember the steam trains.

[@lennyhendricks4628]

As far as Reading Steam, I rode on 3 Iron Horse Rambles (1959-1964 fantrip excursions with Reading commuter cars pulled by T-1 4-8-4's 2100, 2102 and 2124. 2101 also survived and was American Freedom Train 1 as well, as the Chessie Steam Special 2101). But I am too young to recall regular service steam. I was born in 1952. Most of the electrified lines were electrified in the early 30's so they co-existed with passenger steam for about 20 years. Oh, by the way, the T-1 4-8-4's were too heavy to operate into Reading Terminal. They were built as freight engines with 70" drivers. Some 70" 4-8-4's were passenger engines as were the Norfolk and Western J class.

[@IcelanderUSer]

I wonder if anyone has any footage of a train pulling into the headhouse. Now a little dreaming. I would love for reading terminal to be reopened as a train station. Instead of far away thirtieth station it would be nice to have a second station with daylight and more. Pulling into London in one of their sheds is such a great feeling. Some day I hope.

[@WWIIREBEL]

I wish they never shut it down to begin with as well. I used to ride the Reading to the terminal alot when i was a kid. I still remember the sights and smells, the crowds and the old blue Reading MU's. I miss those days so much,lol.

[@IcelanderUSer]

WWIIRebel I believe it. It would be a wonderful entry to the city from the airport. Imagine all airport trains leave or arrive from reading terminal. Or special trains to from NY that take the West Trenton line. It could be a NJ Transit service. Yes closing it was sad. I know 30th Street station is a great station and all but there’s something special with a train shed. Besides it’s in a great location.

[@billscott7050]

I hope this reply isn't 3 years too late. I have watched this video several times in the past and am occasionally drawn back to it as I was today. This time I paid a little more attention to the comments and as far as anyone having any footage of a train pulling into the headhouse the nearest thing I can find is a video posted by fmnut at kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmjXYmmgr5mkqq8 This is entitled Reading's Mainline and has good stuff. However what really tops it for me and I cannot find any duplications anywhere else is at the end. From 23:03 to 23:14 is a few seconds of open window on-train footage (I'd love to find more of this but oh how scarce!). Then from there to the very end, but without sound is a train approaching the Reading Terminal headhouse. I was in Reading Terminal many times, always just for trainrides, to buy Iron Horse Ramble tickets or to actually board. When just looking for a train ride I'd check out the equipment first. If a Silverliner, no.

[@IcelanderUSer]

@@billscott7050 I’ve never lived in Philly so I’m not too sure about the connection and how it led to the closing of the reading terminal. I wonder if trains that ended at RT now actually continue on to Pennsy stops beyond Suburban station. If not I see no reason why trains couldn’t terminate at RT today. Like I said before RT would be a perfect station for regional lines to NYC and poconos, Jersey shore, etc.

[@billscott7050]

@@IcelanderUSer Thanks for your response. Sorry for being a little late. Yes the idea was to connect the ex-Reading and PRR lines so they would come in from one and out on the other. The replacement station downtown and underground was called Market East but I think it's been renamed Jefferson Station. You are correct that the next station west is Suburban. I too mourn for the past. As you probably know Reading did offer NYC service in connection with Jersey Central. The last remaining trains were the Wall Street and Crusader. The final connection to NYC was via ferry. As for the Jersey shore Pennsy's track was the more ideal, and of course service to Atlantic City still remains from 30th St Philadelphia via NJ Transit. However it is not to be compared with the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines from 1933 to 1976 of which the Reading Company had 1/3 interest.

[@bryancooper2699]

What is this area used for now? I loved those old MU cars painted in SEPTA livery.

[@RonHartmanNet]

The closed station was incorporated into the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The original shed span still stands. The Head House exterior on Market Street was restored to it's 1890's look and is quite striking.

[@zappahart2]

Reading terminal market!!

[@crusinscamp]

+Bryan Cooper If you ever go to the convention center, look at the floor. They patterned the floor to sort of "echo" the rail lines where they were in the old Reading Terminal. Ron, thanks for the pictures. Our family went through Reading Terminal many times when I was young, headed for an adventure in "The City". I fondly remember the old EMUs "ratcheting out" as the motorman changed transformer taps accelerating from a standstill.

[@railworksamerica]

Why did reading terminal stop being used?

[@RonHartmanNet]

A connecting tunnel was built underneath center city, that joined the old Reading lines with the Penn Central ones. Trains would then go straight thru downtown, instead of going to dead end terminals. Reading Terminal was one floor above street level, so it wasn't usable for the new connection.

[@thekinglkatana9782]

I'm just saying this as of what if alright if Reading Terminal was still open right but the tunnel still exist though in the food court still exists but just imagine if Reading Terminal still exist as a station

[@marlostanfield9463]

Septa cudda still made that as a station....