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Reading Railroad Steam Roster: Post 1900

Published: October 10, 2024

By: Adam Burns

The Reading Railroad, formally known as the Reading Company, occupies a legendary place in American railroad history, particularly as an iconic symbol of the industrial vigor that defined the northeastern United States.

Founded in 1833 as the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, its original mission was to transport anthracite coal from the rich mines of northeastern Pennsylvania to the bustling markets of Philadelphia. It rapidly established itself as a critical lifeline for the coal trade, which was then the bedrock of American energy needs.

By the latter 19th century, it had grown into one of the world’s largest corporations, exemplifying the peak of industrial capitalism. The company capitalized on vertical integration by controlling not just rail lines, but also mines and canals, enhancing its dominance in the coal industry.

To handle its significant anthracite coal traffic, the Reading relied on large wheel arrangements in the modern steam era such as 2-10-2s, 4-8-4s, and even 2-8-8-2s (which worked helper service along the northwestern lines west of Reading, Pennsylvania).

For general freight service the Reading utilized heavy 2-8-0s, notably the Class I-9s, while 2-8-2s worked fast freights.  Interestingly, the railroad purchased all of its new engines only from Baldwin while the Reading Shops built more than 600 itself between 1845-1948.

Its last new engines were a group of ten 4-6-2s (Class G-3) completed in 1948.  Its most famous were the thirty T-1 4-8-4s, #2100-2129, which were built using the boilers of former I-10sa consolidations.

From a historical perspective - during the very early 20th century - the Reading was known for its large fleet of Camelbacks - the famous centercab steam locomotives equipped with very large fireboxes to burn culm, a byproduct of anthracite coal.

The Reading’s passenger services also made significant contributions to its eminence. It was famed for its punctuality and service, particularly around Philadelphia.  The Crusader, a stainless-steel, steam powered streamliner introduced in the 1930s, became a hallmark of luxury and speed, drawing significant patronage during its time.

However, the mid-20th century challenged the Reading with financial difficulties exacerbated by declining coal demand and fierce competition from trucking and other railroads.

These pressures ultimately culminated in bankruptcy in 1971, a fate shared with numerous railroads in the northeast. In 1976, its operations were absorbed into Conrail, marking a shift from private enterprise to public sector solutions for rail transport.

Despite ceasing operations, the legacy of the Reading endures, immortalized in American culture through its place on the Monopoly board, and its influence persists in regional transit through SEPTA and other rail networks that continue to use its historic infrastructure.

A Reading 4-8-4 (T-1) assists a westbound coal drag passing the massive slag pile at Locust Summit, Pennsylvania, circa 1950. American-Rails.com collection.

Switchers

Freight Locomotives

Passenger Locomotives

Articulated Designs

Resources

• Bernet, Gerard. Colorful Memories of Reading's Shamokin Division. RAE Publishing, Inc., 1999.

• Drury, George H. Guide To North American Steam Locomotives: Revised Edition. Waukesha: Kalmbach Books, 2015.

• Morrison, Tom. American Steam Locomotive In The Twentieth Century. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2019.

• Schafer, Mike. Classic American Railroads, Volume III. Osceola: MBI Publishing, 2003.