Really great film footage of action on the READING during a colorful period of railroading. The images are so clear and I thank the film makers for preserving these beautiful images. Many thanks for this video!! Mike
This video brings back memories as a youngster seeing the Reading handle traffic on the Catawissa branch thru the namesake town into Rupert yard crossing over the Susquehanna river & at the time Penn Central on trus bridge that still stands to this day. Ran freight traffic from rupert towards Danville pa alongside rt.11 thru danville out to rt.54 where it crossed the hiway westward to Milton pa. Crossing the PC at Montandon thru Lewisburg points west.
Probably the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever seen on UA-cam. Like the scene of the big GE rounding curve “8 and Sand” engineer hanging out of the window.
The EL Bloomsburg branch passed by the Rupert yard towards the town north northeastward up along the Susquehanna river to Scranton. Both were very busy lines prior to the '72 Agnes flood that tore up both operations!
Thanks for sharing. I grew up in the 70s, but I remember the tail end of Reading operations as a company, especially the Bethlehem branch in philly. Loved the iron ore trains to Bethlehem steel and coal trains bringing anthracite to the Delaware river, to be shipped somewhere, because back then I didn't know it was going overseas.
"Smokey Alcos" is the way I remember the old RS-2s and 3s on the MILW and C&NW in my teens and early 20s living in the Milwaukee area in the ''50s-'60s. I didn't like them in those days, though I loved the FAs and PAs, but funny how nostalgia changes your opinions in your old age! It's nice to be train-watching in the days before graffiti and with cabooses bringing up the rear---as it should be. Stay safe.
@@oldenweery7510 I can remember the Erie Lackawanna also had Alco pwr when the rail line (Bloomsburg branch) my late aunt & grandmother lived in a upstairs apartment next to the tracks when i was 10. Anytime a freight moved north or south thru town i'd get to the nearest window & watch them pass by usually an alco unit leading. Of course some EMD or GE would also lead too.
Thanks for the sights and sounds. Loved the ending. Wished there were more shots of period freight cars before railroad consolidations. Were they not filmed or just edited out?
Not filmed. Remember, film was on 50 foot rolls. Each lasted under 4 minutes, and was relatively expensive. Very few railfans shot the whole train before video cameras came along.
If a person was lucky enough to get hired by the railroad as a brakeman and to be able to ride in the caboose and get paid for it wow! But I guess after a while it gets to be pretty routine and on hot and very humid days it is not so much fun riding in those cabooses!
@ timestamp 9:15 the 5301 (i believe # is correct?) the trucks have a different width. The first wheel seems farther apart than rear two wheels? Anyone catch that? Cool video fm!
These were "Trimount" trucks. The uneven axle spacing accommodated two traction motors in the wider spacing. These were the "standard" truck on the C630. RDG 5300-5306 had these, while 5307-5311 had the optional "Hi Ad" or high adhesion trucks with all motors facing the same direction. The uneven spacing was common on most early 3 motor trucks with the exception of EMD's Flexicoil.
Sooo classic , and wonderful to see NO GRAFFITI on the cars...
Thank you ALL for the contributions !!
Really great film footage of action on the READING during a colorful period of railroading. The images are so clear and I thank the film makers for preserving these beautiful images. Many thanks for this video!! Mike
This video brings back memories as a youngster seeing the Reading handle traffic on the Catawissa branch thru the namesake town into Rupert yard crossing over the Susquehanna river & at the time Penn Central on trus bridge that still stands to this day. Ran freight traffic from rupert towards Danville pa alongside rt.11 thru danville out to rt.54 where it crossed the hiway westward to Milton pa. Crossing the PC at Montandon thru Lewisburg points west.
Absolutely amazing!!!!! From start to finish!!!! Especially the Alco C630 paired with a GE 30C!!
I really hope this sums it up, Excellent, Excellent footage of the Reading Lines and freight consist’s. Again, Thank you.
Lived nowhere near the Reading, but still really enjoyed watching this! Makes me long for the era when you had all that variety of motive power.
Probably the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever seen on UA-cam. Like the scene of the big GE rounding curve “8 and Sand” engineer hanging out of the window.
Pretty neat to see all those old roadnames on the freight cars again I remember seeing while train watching back in those days.
The EL Bloomsburg branch passed by the Rupert yard towards the town north northeastward up along the Susquehanna river to Scranton. Both were very busy lines prior to the '72 Agnes flood that tore up both operations!
Priceless. Loved every second of it.
Even a few Cotton Belt boxcars. All in the days before everything is covered in graffiti.
Thanks for sharing. I grew up in the 70s, but I remember the tail end of Reading operations as a company, especially the Bethlehem branch in philly. Loved the iron ore trains to Bethlehem steel and coal trains bringing anthracite to the Delaware river, to be shipped somewhere, because back then I didn't know it was going overseas.
Great footage. Loved the new GP40-2’s
I loved the new GP30’s!
I truly enjoyed this film, nice work ! 👽
Loved the reading lines video. Obviously shot in and around Berks County main line plus branch line ops!
Real nice videos. You are to be congratulated for having the forethought to video way back then. Great job. I wish I'd thought of doing that, lol
This was way before video, it's silent film with dubbed in sound.
Man I truly enjoyed watching this video! Find some more please! 👽
Absolutely terrific, loved the Mertztown Local as my Pappy lived there and worked for the READING , also the Arco runaround intact, wonderful memories
Thank you. The old anthracite roads really tried.
Those were the days!
Very nice!
Fantastic!
Very Cool Mr. FMNUT
Then add them smokey alco centuries plus the other EMD road pwr & not least 4get the caboose way before the EOT that replaced it!
"Smokey Alcos" is the way I remember the old RS-2s and 3s on the MILW and C&NW in my teens and early 20s living in the Milwaukee area in the ''50s-'60s. I didn't like them in those days, though I loved the FAs and PAs, but funny how nostalgia changes your opinions in your old age! It's nice to be train-watching in the days before graffiti and with cabooses bringing up the rear---as it should be. Stay safe.
@@oldenweery7510 I can remember the Erie Lackawanna also had Alco pwr when the rail line (Bloomsburg branch) my late aunt & grandmother lived in a upstairs apartment next to the tracks when i was 10. Anytime a freight moved north or south thru town i'd get to the nearest window & watch them pass by usually an alco unit leading. Of course some EMD or GE would also lead too.
Nice !!
Thanks for the sights and sounds. Loved the ending. Wished there were more shots of period freight cars before railroad consolidations. Were they not filmed or just edited out?
Not filmed. Remember, film was on 50 foot rolls. Each lasted under 4 minutes, and was relatively expensive. Very few railfans shot the whole train before video cameras came along.
If a person was lucky enough to get hired by the railroad as a brakeman and to be able to ride in the caboose and get paid for it wow! But I guess after a while it gets to be pretty routine and on hot and very humid days it is not so much fun riding in those cabooses!
@ timestamp 9:15 the 5301 (i believe # is correct?) the trucks have a different width. The first wheel seems farther apart than rear two wheels? Anyone catch that? Cool video fm!
These were "Trimount" trucks. The uneven axle spacing accommodated two traction motors in the wider spacing. These were the "standard" truck on the C630. RDG 5300-5306 had these, while 5307-5311 had the optional "Hi Ad" or high adhesion trucks with all motors facing the same direction. The uneven spacing was common on most early 3 motor trucks with the exception of EMD's Flexicoil.
@@fmnut thank for the info!!!
Nice
So not sure where else to ask this but will you be doing videos on Interurban stuff?
I have a few. Mostly around the Philadelphia area. More depends on my access to original source materials.
i want to see more sd45 7600, jaaa
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