The Reading The Reading RailroadRailroad

By: Paul GangewereBy: Paul Gangewere

History History

The railroad was The railroad was originally started in originally started in 1833 as the 1833 as the Philadelphia and Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. Reading Railroad.

The original railway The original railway was constructed from was constructed from town of Pottstown, town of Pottstown, thru Reading and thru Reading and down to Philadelphia.down to Philadelphia.

History Continued…History Continued…

The RR was one of the very first The RR was one of the very first railroads in the United States railroads in the United States

The reason for its construction was The reason for its construction was to transport anthracite coal from to transport anthracite coal from north east Pennsylvania to north east Pennsylvania to Philadelphia. Philadelphia.

* Picture of the Spring Garden St. Station on the Reading Viaduct.

History continued…History continued…

As profits increased, so did the expansion As profits increased, so did the expansion of the railroad. The purchased and leased of the railroad. The purchased and leased other railroads in the Schuylkill River other railroads in the Schuylkill River Valley and Pennsylvania Coal Region.Valley and Pennsylvania Coal Region.

At one point in time the RR was one of the At one point in time the RR was one of the largest corporations in the world. (net largest corporations in the world. (net worth of $170 million)worth of $170 million)

Once coal decreased in price and need the Once coal decreased in price and need the railroad depended highly on the travel of railroad depended highly on the travel of Americans to make some profit.Americans to make some profit.

Bankrupt Bankrupt In1971, the railroad had to file for In1971, the railroad had to file for

bankruptcy.bankruptcy. The railroad began to get less and less The railroad began to get less and less

money for there transportation of coal money for there transportation of coal due to the new way of power, oil. due to the new way of power, oil.

They were forced by the government to They were forced by the government to continue to operate money-losing jobs continue to operate money-losing jobs and transports.and transports.

The railroad began selling off some of its The railroad began selling off some of its property to try to recover from property to try to recover from bankruptcy. bankruptcy.

This is a map to show the routes of the Reading Railroad

Historical SignificanceHistorical Significance

This was a very important company This was a very important company that benefitted the coal industries. that benefitted the coal industries.

It helped a good number of families It helped a good number of families travel up and down the northern travel up and down the northern east coast. east coast.

It created numerous job It created numerous job opportunities. opportunities.

E. Paul GangewereE. Paul Gangewere

My great My great grandfather was a grandfather was a very important very important part to the Reading part to the Reading Rail Road. Rail Road.

He became the He became the president in 1960-president in 1960-1964.1964.

He help and He help and designed the new designed the new locomotive, in his locomotive, in his era, called the T-1. era, called the T-1.

Picture of the T-1 locomotive

The T-1 LocomotiveThe T-1 Locomotive

Was created to make the long journeys to Was created to make the long journeys to the mid-west. the mid-west.

This locomotive was very fast an able to This locomotive was very fast an able to reach speeds of 140 mph even with a 1,000 reach speeds of 140 mph even with a 1,000 ton train. ton train.

They were very high on They were very high on

maintenance and that’s ismaintenance and that’s is

caused the train to be scraped caused the train to be scraped

and they switched to a more and they switched to a more

reliable train.reliable train.Photo of the T-1