The subsidiary that owned mining interests in the area, the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, not the government, called up militia and Coal and Iron Police to put down riots and protests that had broken out in the city. A.C.Muller Enterprises Visit: Reading & Northern Railroad.com The Reading and Northern Railroad, with corporate headquarters in Port Clinton, Pennsylvania, is a privately held railroad company servicing customers in eight counties in Eastern Pennsylvania. In order to have better control over the supply of empty hopper-cars for coal shipments, in 1995 RBMN began to purchase a fleet of cars, starting with 265 cars dedicated to Quebec Iron & Titanium Service. Opened in February, the new bridge connects R&N's Reading and Lehigh divisions, expediting . Includes personnel records (1873-1879) and payroll records (1869, 1871, 1876-1878). Reading financed the construction of the Rutherford Yard to compete with the PRR's nearby Enola Yard. Website: http://www.rbmnrr.com/ " onclick="window.open (this.href);return false; Board index On June 1, 1999, NS took over all of the portions of Conrail that connected with RBMN. This allowed direct delivery of coal to industries in the Port of New York and New Jersey in northeastern New Jersey and New York City by rail and barge instead of the longer trip by ships from Port Richmond around Cape May. Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has agreed to buy Burlington Northern Santa Fe in a deal valuing the railroad at $34 billion. The Reading Company was forced to file for bankruptcy protection in 1971. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was also looking for access to the New York City market, and in 1903 it gained control over the Reading and ensured track rights over the Reading and Central New Jersey to Jersey City. In August of 1996, RBMN acquired a portion of Conrails Lehigh Division. 209 talking about this. The G1s were the first Reading passenger locomotives with three-coupled driving wheels. Port Richmond later became a very large coal terminal. By 1871, the Reading was the largest company in the world, with $170,000,000 in market capitalization (equal to $3,845,305,556 today),[4] and may have been the first conglomerate in the world. The company also owned 38.6% of Pilot Corp. It opened in 1864, using the Lebanon Valley Railroad from Sinking Spring east to Reading. NS #1067, an EMD SD70ACe locomotive, was painted into the Bee Line Service paint scheme of the Reading. At that time, he offered $1.3 million for both the rail line and the former Packerton Yards property. In 2005, regularly scheduled passenger excursions resumed with the introduction of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway in Jim Thorpe. The 1925 "Reading" totals above include all the subsidiaries (C&F, G&H, P&CV etc.) In August of 2001, RBMN completed negotiations with NS and Procter & Gamble to take over exclusive service to P&Gs largest manufacturing facility, at Mehoopany, PA. Welcome to the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum! Northern Plains Railroad 3.7. Streaming On Demand: https://vimeo.com/pletsexpress/vod_pagesBlu-ray or DVD: https://www.pletsexpress.com/fnimall/Plets/%20126RBMN1/vid_trains.phtmlThe Readi. Despite the discontinuation of the Hamburg to Temple excursions, steam operations continued. The company is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, which is controlled by investor Warren Buffett. Berkshire Hathaway already owns about 22% of Burlington Northern,. [3] The Reading had taken great strides to wean itself of anthracite dependency but it still relied heavily on coal revenue, and Pennsylvania anthracite production had peaked in 1917 with 99.7 million tons produced.[26]. The Philadelphia and Reading Railway acquired full control on December 4, 1885. Ephraim Railway, and the Kaighn's Point Terminal Railroad in southern New Jersey into The Atlantic City Railroad. Reading & Northern operates both freight services and . The Reading also relinquished control of the Central New England Railroad and the Boston and Maine Railroad. BNSF, as the railroad is called, operates more than. No. With Muller on board, some changes are coming to C&S; Railroad. The name was changed to Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railroad on December 4, 1883. Morlok, Edward K., University of Pennsylvania (2005). It operated service as Reading Railway System and was a successor to the Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company, founded in 1833. - Take a ride on the Reading", "Reading Outer Station, Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe RDC Train Schedule", Pittsburgh, Allegheny & McKees Rocks Railroad, List of United States railroads by political division, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reading_Blue_Mountain_and_Northern_Railroad&oldid=1134680203, Tourist attractions in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Tourist attractions in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Transportation in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The line runs from Reading to Packerton along former, Lehigh Valley Rail Management: Bethlehem Division, This page was last edited on 20 January 2023, at 00:05. Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad President Andrew M. Muller Jr. said Monday that he bought out former C&S; Railroad partner Betsy Ahner in November. [9], In 1873, the P&R extended its reach southward by leasing 10.2 miles of track from the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad. The Lebanon Valley Railroad was chartered in 1836 to build from Reading west to Harrisburg. The first few years saw massive amounts of work to repair the badly neglected trackage, and to develop a steady pattern of service for the many industries that relied on rail service. Passenger excursions also run on RBMN tracks. At that time, he offered $1.3 million for both the rail line and the former Packerton Yards property. The Reading Company did not operate extensive long-distance passenger train service, but it did field a number of named trains, most famous of which was the streamlined Crusader, which connected Philadelphia and Jersey City. After its railroad operations were merged into Conrail in 1976, the remainder of the corporation was renamed Reading International. Full-time. [25], The period just after World War I may have been the Reading Company's best with traffic on the Reading at its peacetime high. But now that he owns a share of the shortline, it guarantees that his cars, which carry commodities including coal, bird feed and plastic, can cross. No. RBMN also decided to go smoke-free and instituted a policy of not hiring smokers. Larger steam locomotives were introduced to haul the increasing traffic, including the massive N1 class 2-8-8-2 (Chesapeake) Mallet, and Reading made one M1 class 2-8-2 freight hauler; Baldwin Locomotive Works built the rest. The purchase occurred because the line had been in jeopardy since 1976 after Conrail formed from the seven bankrupt railroads; and allowed businesses that utilize the line to remain operational, which is still true today. Monday to Friday. Price. [10] Company officials threatened to leave the borough of Jim Thorpe,[11] and briefly ceased excursion operations in November 2019. The Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road was chartered April 4, 1833, to build a line between Philadelphia and Reading, along the Schuylkill River. On January 1, 1851, the Belmont Plane on the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad, just west of the Reading's connection, was abandoned in favor of a new bypass, and the portion of the line east of it was sold to the Reading, the only company that continued using the old route. These popular excursions became legendary and became a fondly remembered part of Reading's history. The heavy investment in coal paid off quickly. During the short segment between Egg Harbor and Brigantine Junction, the train was reported to have reached 115mph. Most of those shares were acquired through Cascade Investment LLC, an investment firm solely. RBMN had begun restoring the yard at Penobscot in 2000, which resulted in an agreement made in May of 2003 to have NS deliver inbound interchange cars there, allowing greatly improved car cycle time. To connect its two divisions, RBMN negotiated trackage rights over the Carbon-County owned 18-mile railroad between Hometown and Jim Thorpe. Muller said Thursday that he plans to sink millions into the railroad over the next few years. We own and manage some of Britain's biggest and busiest railway stations. Nothstein said, Its been a long time coming.. Reading & Northern- TS12 - JointedRail.com Reading & Northern- TS12 Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 6 customer ratings ( 6 customer reviews) Log in to Download $ 0.00 JointedRail content is currently supported ONLY in Trainz Railroad Simulator 2019 117009 to current TRS22 and plus versions. Today, the railroad (now known as Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad) runs about 320 miles from Reading PA to Mehoopany PA and operates a 7 mile rail line from Towanda to Monroeton in Marcellus Shale territory. Total cost of the project was $14 million dollars, a combination of state and private funding. [18] Excursions run on weekends, holidays, and some weekdays between May and December. 425 and ex-Reading Company T-1 4-8-4 No. The segment was part of the original 1838 line of the PW&B, which in 1872 opened a new stretch of track further inland to serve more populated areas and reduce flooding. The company began operations in September of 1983, starting as a 13-mile short line, operating a state-owned branch line between Hamburg and Temple PA. Named The Blue Mountain & Reading (BM&R), we were successful in rehabilitating the line, and providing service to freight customers. The owner of a 317-mile railroad has bought part of a company that manages a railroad owned by Carbon County that runs from Packerton to Hometown. The Hometown High Bridge train is a 30-mile (48km), 2-hour round-trip excursion that runs on the first full weekend in October from Jim Thorpe through Nesquehoning to the 1,168-foot (356m) long Hometown High Bridge that passes 168 feet (51m) over the Little Schuylkill River, offering views of fall foliage. The Port Reading Railroad was chartered in 1890 and opened in 1892, running east from a junction from the New York main line near Bound Brook to the new port of Port Reading, on the Arthur Kill near Perth Amboy. He thanked Muller for working with the county. No. As of 2023, four examples have survived, and the 2102 is in active tourist service with the Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad. BUSINESS CAR; BUDD RDCs; AMTK 2456 Willow Grove - (ex-2685, nee-SP 9005) Budd 10 Rmt - 6 DBR. Operations began on December 15, 1990. At that time, he offered $1.3 million for both the rail line and the former Packerton Yards property. [12][13], On May 6, 2021, railroad officials announced their purchase of the 19.5-mile (31.4km) Panther Valley line from Carbon County for $4.7 million. He was able to gain control of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Central Railroad of New Jersey, and the Boston and Maine Railroad. 425 is a 12-38 D class 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA in 1928 for the Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad (GM&N). The line from Elsmere Junction to Modena is being operated by East Penn Railways, Modena to Coatesville by the Brandywine Valley Railway, and a few miles at the north end by Haines & Kibblehouse. Also that year, the Reading leased the Pickering Valley Railroad, a branch running west from Phoenixville to Byers, Pennsylvania, which opened in 1871. Here at the Reading & Northern, we are not much into buzzwords or the latest trends like "re-engineering" or "TQM" or fancy mission statements. The Lehigh Valley Railroad was leased on December 1, 1891, under the presidency of Archibald A. McLeod, but that lease was canceled on August 8, 1893, when the Reading went into receivership, an event associated with the Panic of 1893. It expanded in 1990 to a cluster of coal lines in the heart of Anthracite (and also Reading Company) country. Dentons > Los Angeles, United States > Firm Profile. After a fierce fight over the future of Conrail, CSX ultimately agreed to split Conrail with its main rival, Norfolk Southern Railway (NS). On May 29 the Reading leased the Central Railroad of New Jersey. 425 passing 2 Diesels. [18], To the north, the New York Short Line was completed in 1906, and was a cut-off for New York City-bound trains through freights and the Baltimore and Ohio's Royal Blue. This is the third time we have won the award which recognized our rapid establishment of our railroad operated transload and storage warehouse in Old Forge PA. This route became known as the Crossline, and the Reading started to pool locomotive power between its connecting railroads to provide a more seamless transfer of freight and passengers. In 1871, the Reading established a subsidiary called the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, which set about buying anthracite coal mines in the Coal Region. We had built solid traffic bases on both our Lehigh and Reading Divisions, and we had put in place an excellent operation with upgraded track, locomotives, and freight cars. Whether an actual monopoly or not, the company's history as the Reading Railroad over a century ultimately became immortalized as a featured property on the original Monopoly game board. In the process, we want to control costs (control, not necessarily cut) because we hope to make a buck at this, and we hope to have a little fun. $39.99. There trains connected with the Western Maryland Railroad to continue westward. On July 7, 1877, the final spike was driven and the 54.67 miles (87.98km) line was opened in time for summer tourism season. Carbon County purchased the former Nesquehoning Valley Branch Line 1009 through the newly formed Carbon County Railroad Commission on Sept. 30, 1981, at a cost of $991,500, with the help of federal grants. Despite an off year for the North American railroad industry with traffic down, we enjoyed a 15% growth in business fueled by our new sand terminal and increased demand for Pennsylvania anthracite following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Free shipping for many products! The percentage increased to 80% in late-January 2023, effectively taking control of it. All of our awards are in recognition of our strong and effective development efforts in attracting new business and customers to the Reading and Northern Railroad. As our operation and business expanded, the need to upgrade facilities grew as well. The Reading and Northern was recognized again when we were named the Regional Railroad of the Year by Railway Age Magazine. Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad President Andrew M. Muller Jr. said Monday that he bought out former C&S; Railroad partner Betsy Ahner in November. Who owns Reading and Northern railroad? No. St. Paul & Pacific Railway Company. The Reading built or bought numerous smaller 4-4-0s, 2-8-0s and switchers for its fleet.[19]. The Reading and Northern Railroad started operations in 1983 after acquiring thirteen miles of tracks from Conrail that ran from Temple to Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Its main freight cargo is anthracite coal.[2]. In 1990, the Blue Mountain and Reading took ownership of 150 miles of track located in the Coal Region north of Reading. . Munger also gave some more solemn words regarding his future. This vertical expansion gave the P&R almost full control of anthracite coal from mining through market, allowing it to compete successfully with like-organized competitors such as Lehigh Coal & Navigation and the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad: BMS: Berlin Mills Railway (St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad) BMSX: Bemis: BMT: Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit: BMZ: Boston and Maine Railroad (Pan Am Railways) BN: Burlington Northern Railroad (BNSF Railway) BNAU: Burlington Northern Railroad (BNSF Railway) BNAZ: Burlington Northern Railroad (BNSF Railway) BNFE Duke Energy installs, operates, owns and maintains the system, while customers receive kilowatt-hour and solar renewable energy credit output, up to an initial limit of 1 megawatt. The G1 class 4-6-2 were passenger locomotives. On December 1, 1870, the Reading leased the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad, thereby gaining that company's route along the east bank of the Schuylkill from Philadelphia to Norristown, as well as its branch to Chestnut Hill. Free shipping. The two Divisions were now connected, and the Lehigh Line had a solid business base from both on-line customers and overhead trackage rights revenues. Last year, Muller said, he spent $1 million $400,000 in state grants and $600,000 in Reading Blue Mountain and Northern money to improve C&S; tracks and bridges. As a part of Norfolk Southern's 30th anniversary in 2012, the company painted 20 new locomotives into predecessor schemes. In the fall of 1996 Conrail announced an intention to merge with CSX. Working with NS we were able to provide P&G with an excellent service and rate package, which ensured that inbound raw material continued to move by rail. At Mount Carbon, it connected with the earlier Mount Carbon Railroad, continuing through Pottsville to several mines, and would eventually be extended to Williamsport.[6][7][when?] $12,000. A view of the Hometown High Bridge in Schuylkill County, which is owned by Carbon County. The Reading leased it in 1870. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. Reading & Northern Railroad, headquarted in Port Clinton, is a privately held railroad company serving over 70 customers in nine eastern Pennsylvania counties (Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland, Schuylkill and Wyoming). [2][3] The original Reading mainline was double track from its very beginning in 1843. It is a Spanish multinational clothing company that is . Our focus will be on jobs and economic development, Muller said. Trump supporters who drove Hummer with guns and ammo to Philadelphia vote-counting site spared more jail time, Paul Muschick: Would money motivate Pennsylvania businesses to move to a four-day work week? At that time, Carbon County became the first county in Pennsylvania to own a railroad. In 1995, No. [27] The bankruptcy was a result of dwindling coal shipping revenues, freight being diverted to highways by trucking companies, and strict government regulations that denied railroads the ability to set prices, imposed high taxes, and forced the railroads to continue to operate money-losing lines as a common carrier. [15] Also in 1893, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad built its most famous structure, Reading Terminal in Philadelphia. Competition with the modern trucking industry that used the Interstate Highway System for short-distance transportation of goods, also known as short hauls, compounded the company's problems, forcing it into bankruptcy in 1971. Full year 2022 represented the most successful year in RBMNs history as we smashed all traffic and excursion ridership records. This gave it a line from Philadelphia north to Bethlehem, and also the valuable Delaware and Bound Brook Railroad, the descendant of the National Railway project, providing a route to New York City in direct competition with the Pennsylvania Railroad's United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company. When RBMN was formed in 1990, he transitioned to Coal Traffic Manager and Real Estate Manager. In July of 1992, Conrail sold some additional track near Hazelton, to serve the Jeddo Coal Company. The grant was used by Carbon County. [23], After the first World War, and the return of the Reading from government control, the Reading decided to streamline its corporate structure. The steamers never ran long enough to pay back this major investment, and had some major problems, but it did keep men employed. to Oneida and the line to Delano from Schuylkill County. Between 1998 and late 2008, all steam operations were suspended. Within a few years, the BM&R took on the operations of three more state-owned branch lines, to provide reliable freight service to many eastern Pennsylvania Industries. Electrification was to be completed through to Newtown in the 1970s, but government subsidies were not readily available, leaving the Fox Chase-Newtown section as the lone non-electrified suburban commuter route on the Reading system. The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (reporting mark RBMN), sometimes shortened to Reading and Northern Railroad, is a regional railroad in eastern Pennsylvania. [8] The Port Kennedy Railroad, a short branch to quarries at Port Kennedy, was leased in 1870. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for MTH 30-1602-1 Railking Imperial Union Pacific FEF Northern 4-8-4 #837 w/PS3 at the best online prices at eBay! "We are delighted that Jim has chosen to return to Reading & Northern," President Wayne Michel said. On the passenger side, we eclipsed 250,000 riders for the first time in our history. Through terms of an agreement negotiated decades ago as part of the purchase of the line, Lansford will receive 25% of the sale. Uncover why Reading and Northern Railroad is the best company for you. $80,000 - $120,000 a year. McLeod went about trying to control neighboring railroads in 1891. The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (RBMN), with its corporate headquarters in Port Clinton, is a privately held railroad company serving major businesses in nine Eastern Pennsylvania counties, (Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland, Schuylkill, and Wyoming). The company sold one of its last railroad-related assets, the Reading Terminal Headhouse, in 1991. Dozens of people were killed and more than 80 injured when a passen.Read More. MTH Union Pacific Railroad . MNHS Call Number: Digital Finding Aid. In the spring of 2006, we proudly opened our new Penobscot Yard office building. The Reading and Columbia Railroad was chartered in 1857 to build from Reading southwest to Columbia on the Susquehanna River. Andy Muller , Andy Muller , owner of Reading and Northern, offered to purchase the line, which he currently manages for the county, in 2016. [clarification needed] In 1890, Reading president Archibald A. McLeod saw that more riches could be earned by expanding its rail network and becoming a trunk railroad. [20] The train runs from Reading and Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe in the morning, allowing passengers time to explore Jim Thorpe. Starting in 1985, the BM&R began operating passenger excursions over the line using two steam locomotives: ex-Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad 4-6-2 No. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Atlas 20005850 HO Northern Pacific Savings Bonds 50' SD Postwar Box Car #31309 at the best online prices at eBay! Railroad tycoons were the early industrial pioneers amassing or overseeing construction of many large railroads through the early 20th century. [2], The Ninth Street Branchthe main thoroughfare into Reading Terminalwas also improved. [19] LGSR trains are usually diesel-powered and consist of an open-air car, standard coaches, a gondola car that allows passengers to transport the bicycles aboard the train and ride their bicycles back to Jim Thorpe, and a caboose. The Reading and Columbia Railroad was chartered in 1857 to build from Reading southwest to Columbia on the Susquehanna River. C&S; Railroad gets new partner ** Reading & Northern is now guaranteed use of Carbon County line. that were operating roads in 1925 but whose totals were included in Reading's after 1929. [2] The Reading participated in the joint operation of The Interstate Express with the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, with service between Philadelphia and Syracuse, New York. Like most railroads, the Reading had contracts with the U.S. Post Office to haul and sort mail en route. That was a huge concern of the public, Nothstein said. Shortly thereafter, the company renamed itself the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad and moved its headquarters from Hamburg to Port Clinton. [2], In 194547 the company took 30 class I-10 2-8-0 locomotives and rebuilt them at the 6th Street facility into the modern T1 class 4-8-4 locomotives at a cost of 6 million dollars. The Reading & Northern, officially the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (or RBM&N), is an eastern Pennsylvania Class II regional railroad which operates over 300 miles of predominantly ex-Reading Railroad trackage (although the company also operates lines owned by other fallen flags). Posted 30+ days ago. [citation needed], In the late 1980s, a Los Angeles-based lawyer named James Cotter gained control of the corporation through his holding company, the Craig Corporation, and used its assets to finance his movie theater chains in Puerto Rico, Australia and New Zealand. Zurn said an agreement that runs through 2038 between the commission, railroad and county gives C&S; the power to name a tour operator. Its mainline consists of the Reading Division between Reading and Packerton and the Lehigh Division between Lehighton and Dupont. In the 1920s, the Reading operated a dense network of commuter lines branching off of the Ninth Street Branch mostly powered by small 4-4-0s, 4-4-2s and 4-6-0 camelbacks. Reading & Northern Railroad (RBMN), Pennsylvania's largest privately owned railroad, will begin operating regular weekend passenger excursion train service from the brand-new Wilkes Barre-Scranton Regional Railroad Station at Pittston, PA to Jim Thorpe, PA on Saturday, May 27, 2023. . In Philadelphia, the Reading also built Port Richmond, the self-proclaimed "Largest privately owned railroad tidewater terminal in the world",[3] which burnished the P&R's bottom lines by allowing anthracite coal to be loaded onto ships and barges for export. Dubbed the Philadelphia & Chester Branch, the line extended from the Gray's Ferry Bridge across the Schuylkill River in West Philadelphia to Ridley Creek in Ridley Park in Delaware County. The US has one of the highest rates of obesity in the advanced world, a rate that has increased from 15% in 1980 to 30.5% in 2000 to 41.9% in 2020. It also owns 92% of BH Energy, with $4.3 billion in earnings. The cabooses are still there at Pocopson, but the Reading FP-7s are on loan to the RR Museum of Pennsylvania. 425 is crossing a Stone Bridge. EMD F7PA 903 - Built by EMD in 1950. [5], In 1900, the Reading Shops began construction along the Reading yards and North 6th Street, facilitating the maintenance and construction of a greater locomotive and rolling stock fleet. [7], Between 2009 and 2010, RBMN expanded operations due to the emergence of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling in northeastern Pennsylvania. The project would culminate in the opening of the bridge in November of 2003. [2] The original P&R mainline extended south from the mining town of Pottsville to Reading and then onward to Philadelphia, following the gently graded banks of the Schuylkill River for nearly all of the 93-mile (150-km) journey. The railroad commission consists of the board of commissioners, as well as Rick Forgay II of Lansford, the son of railroad commission charter member Richard E. Forgay. [29], The successor company was renamed Reading International Inc. with two classes of stock: Non-Voting Class A shares (NASDAQ: RDI) and Voting Class B shares (NASDAQ: RDIB).[30]. The Haslam family owns 20%. PORT CLINTON, Pa. The Reading & Northern Railroad has purchased 11 passenger cars from the fleet formerly owned by the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad, the Colorado operation of bankrupt Iowa Pacific Holdings. We invite you to join our team! 2102. This facility was set up and running in record time to meet our customer's stringent requirements. Class II railroad in eastern Pennsylvania, Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad, Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad 4-6-2 No. In the summer of 2002, RBMN began a critical step to enable the direct physical connection of our two Divisions without the need to run over any foreign track. [2][17], In Bridgeport, a new bridge was constructed over the Schuylkill River in 1903. It ran the 55.5 miles in 43 minutes at an average speed of 77.4mph. Includes Blue Mountain & Reading, Lehigh Gorge Scenic RR and Reading & Northern listings, and cars owned by the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society that are located on line.