Producer: John Pechulis
Locations: Reading, Catawissa, and Penn Branches…
Timeframe: 1940s – 1970s
Length: 1 hour
Sources: many
See steam and Diesel from the late 1940s into the early 1970s in Volume 2. Freight and passenger trains. Starts in New Jersey and goes West to Pennsylvania. Also, enters the Coal Regions in PA.
Additional action on Lehigh Valley. Catawissa branch. East Penn branch. Reading Iron Horse Rambles.
A single DVD-R. Detailed Chapter Menu. Maps are included. One preview.
Mike Bednar has the narrative. Good details on locations, trains, and years.
JPM excels at vintage film restoration. This show is a stellar example. Audio is train sounds. Good levels. Great colors on the film. Sharp black and white footage.
To some highlights…
Begins with action at Port Reading, NJ. This GP7 runs light. The 611 was a Mike favorite.
A tour of the Reading facilities at Reading.
This Alco RS-3 lash-up is at Birdsboro. Check the newer paint scheme on the 2nd engine. FYI: W&N is a predecessor line, Wilmington and Northern. Yes, I looked it up.
A steam-powered excursion. Scenic Catawissa branchline. Tamaqua to West Milton. At Norca, a long bridge crosses the Susquehanna River.
Bethlehem to Catasaqua. Starts on Jersey Central Rails. The CNJ 104 into Bethlehem Station. Often, these had Reading powered steam.
The Star in 1973 GP30 3808 and C-630 5302 on a Coal move. Note the renumbered GP30.
F7A and Alco FA with Anthracite exit the yard.
Pennsylvania Geeps are borrowed during a 1960 strike.
East Penn Yard Steam in color.
Beaucoup trains travel through East Penn Yard. Steam and diesel power. It’s definitely a highlight.
Farm Yard More Steam. LV Interchange here.
Smaller Reading Steam is frequently seen around the yard areas.
GP30 trio 5508, 5511, 5515. Haul freight at Allentown.
As far as caboose action. Plentiful. It’s nearly the red caboose show. Nice Baldwin switcher in this scene.
Railfanning the Reading Volume 2
An outstanding Reading show!
Checks all the boxes. Heavy on freight. Enough passenger trains. Varied equipment, locations, and years covered.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 