CSX Transportation Historical Society

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Reading & Northern - West Cressona, Schuylkill Haven, and Port Clinton, PA 07-11-2017

Rail Fan Adventure --

1. Former Reading depot and Conrail yard office at West Cressona PA. R&N evidently uses it for MofW or signals.
Former Reading depot and Conrail yard office at West Cressona PA. R&N evidently uses it for MofW or signals.

2. Putting property to work, Reading & Northern has built a trans-load facility at West Cressona. Those RBMN hoppers are evidently stored. 07-11-2017.
Putting property to work, Reading & Northern has built a trans-load facility at West Cressona. Those RBMN hoppers are evidently stored. 07-11-2017.

3. R&N Cressona transload. View 2.
R&N Cressona transload. View 2.

4. The Schuylkill Haven depot is now the headquarters of Reading & Northern / Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern’s passenger operations. The nearest track has been removed from Reading and Conrail days. Schuylkill Haven Heritage Trail.
The Schuylkill Haven depot is now the headquarters of Reading & Northern / Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern’s passenger operations. The nearest track has been removed from Reading and Conrail days. Schuylkill Haven Heritage Trail.

5. Schuylkill Haven Reading depot informational plaque. Click here for a larger image.
Schuylkill Haven Reading depot informational plaque.

6. Looking west toward West Cressona and Pottsville. R&N depot. Schuylkill Haven PA.
Looking west toward West Cressona and Pottsville. R&N depot. Schuylkill Haven PA.

7. RBMN acquired these two F7As from the Southern Railroad of New Jersey. RBMN 251 in this New York, Ontario & Western scheme is ex-Bessemer & Lake Erie 728. Schuylkill Haven PA.
RBMN acquired these two F7As from the Southern Railroad of New Jersey. RBMN 251 in this New York, Ontario & Western scheme is ex-Bessemer & Lake Erie 728. Schuylkill Haven PA.

8. Former Southern Railroad of New Jersey 250 is ex-B&LE 727. Hopefully we will see these vintage F-units on the R&N in the future. RBMN F7a 250. Schuylkill Haven PA.
Former Southern Railroad of New Jersey 250 is ex-B&LE 727. Hopefully we will see these vintage F-units on the R&N in the future. RBMN F7a 250. Schuylkill Haven PA.

9. Schuylkill Haven crossing tower informational plaque. Click here for a larger image.
Schuylkill Haven crossing tower informational plaque.

10. A model of C&O H-8 1625 in Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern’s ticket office!!!
A model of C&O H-8 1625 in Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern’s ticket office!!!

11. R&N depot. Schuylkill Haven PA.
R&N depot. Schuylkill Haven PA.

12. R&N depot. View 2. Schuylkill Haven PA.
R&N depot. View 2. Schuylkill Haven PA.

13. We went on down the river to Reading & Northern’s headquarters at Port Clinton. R&N appreciates the coal companies that load anthracite coal on their system. R&N coal co signs.
We went on down the river to Reading & Northern’s headquarters at Port Clinton. R&N appreciates the coal companies that load anthracite coal on their system. R&N coal co signs.

14. RBMN SD50 5033, lettered for the Lehigh Gorge run, switches Port Clinton yard.
RBMN SD50 5033, lettered for the Lehigh Gorge run, switches Port Clinton yard.

15. Reading had a tower here that controlled the junction of the Pottsville “main line” and the line to Tamaqua and eventually Williamsport (Newbury Jct.). It was quite a plant in its day. The signal bridge is a holdover. RBMN 5033. View 2. Port Clinton PA.
Reading had a tower here that controlled the junction of the Pottsville “main line” and the line to Tamaqua and eventually Williamsport (Newbury Jct.). It was quite a plant in its day. The signal bridge is a holdover. RBMN 5033. View 2. Port Clinton PA.

16. Most of the yard is around the curve to the east toward Reading. Looks like a SD50, SW1500 or MP15 and a GP39RN (GP30) at the shop. RBMN 5033 3057 2531. Port Clinton PA.
Most of the yard is around the curve to the east toward Reading. Looks like a SD50, SW1500 or MP15 and a GP39RN (GP30) at the shop. RBMN 5033 3057 2531. Port Clinton PA.

17. SD50 (ex-UP) drags out another cut of cars. RBMN 5033. View 3. Port Clinton PA.
SD50 (ex-UP) drags out another cut of cars. RBMN 5033. View 3. Port Clinton PA.

18. I visited Reading Anthracite’s office in Pottsville. More on that later. RBMN 5033. View 4. Port Clinton PA.
I visited Reading Anthracite’s office in Pottsville. More on that later. RBMN 5033. View 4. Port Clinton PA.

19. RBMN SD50s 5017-5014 arrive with an eastbound freight from the Tamaqua-Jim Thorpe side with 11 cars. The engineer on 5033 had advised me that this train was coming and that Molino would be a good shot. It is, but my foolin’ around finding a place to park caused us to miss it. Port Clinton PA.
RBMN SD50s 5017-5014 arrive with an eastbound freight from the Tamaqua-Jim Thorpe side with 11 cars. The engineer on 5033 had advised me that this train was coming and that Molino would be a good shot. It is, but my foolin’ around finding a place to park caused us to miss it. Port Clinton PA.

20. RBMN 5014-5017 set off their cars which will presumably be taken to Norfolk Southern in Reading later. View 2. Port Clinton PA.
RBMN 5014-5017 set off their cars which will presumably be taken to Norfolk Southern in Reading later. View 2. Port Clinton PA.

21. RBMN Budd RDC-1 9168 is ex-SEPTA, exx-Penn Central, nee-New York Central. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail crosses here, and we saw numerous hikers come out of the woods and cross the railroad here. R&N terminal. Port Clinton PA.
RBMN Budd RDC-1 9168 is ex-SEPTA, exx-Penn Central, nee-New York Central. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail crosses here, and we saw numerous hikers come out of the woods and cross the railroad here. R&N terminal. Port Clinton PA.

22. R&N restored or replica of a famous Reading Co. “banjo” block signal. Port Clinton PA.
R&N restored or replica of a famous Reading Co. “banjo” block signal. Port Clinton PA.

All for now.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young