Trains and Farms: The Norfolk Southern Reading Line

The NS Reading Line runs through the center of eastern Pennsylvania farm communities, providing some of the best rural scenery in the state while watching trains. The former Reading mainline, which runs between Reading, PA and Allentown, PA, still contains active Reading searchlight block signals, that serve about 30 trains daily.

Selected are scenes from May, August, and November 2012, that show vast farm scenery, railroad related structures, or the Reading signals along the route.

0:00 - We start out on May 18, 2012 with the first scene of a heavy loaded garbage train speeding through Mertztown past the freight depot. Power for the train is a nice eclectic mix of EMD motors:

65J - Garbage Loads - Kearny, NJ - Mingo Junction, OH
NS SD70M-2 2717
NS SD70 2519
NS SD60 6674


1:37 - That evening trains 15T and 261 head through the farms at Longswamp and the 222E block signal.


15T - Mixed Freight - Allentown, PA - Birmingham, AL
NS D9-40CW 9628
NS D9-40CW 9609
NS SD60 6518 (UP Paint)

3:23
261 - Roadrailer - Bethlehem, PA - Chicago, IL
NS SD70M-2 2662
NS D9-40CW 9132


4:48 - The next day on May 19, 2012, the weather was just as spotless, therefore warranting another visit to the Reading Line. 11J is seen from afar as it enters the small town of Bowers with a weak and whiny horn on the leader.


11J - Empty Autoracks - Doremus, NJ - Bellevue, OH or Detroit, MI
NS SD60M 6796
NS D9-40CW 9906


6:16 - High priority mail and intermodal train 21M races west between Topton and Bowers as farmers ready the land for planting of crops.


21M - Intermodal / Mail - Croxton, NJ - Chicago, IL
NS D9-40CW 9824
NS D8-40CW 8455
NS D9-40CW 9754
NS D9-40CW 9254 "Operation Lifesaver"


8:26 - H68, a local mixed freight turn from Allentown to Reading heads back to Allentown with interesting freight cars in tow, including original Erie Lackawanna hopper cars!
NS SD70M 2619
NS D8-40CW 8336
NS D9-40CW 9619
NS GP38-2 5355


9:25 - Loaded autoracks round the curve by the 221W block signal at high solar noon. This signal is unique to the others along the route because of its larger signal head, which resembles those found along the Lehigh Valley Railroad.


18N - Loaded Autoracks - Fostoria, OH - Doremus, NJ
NS SD70M-2 2680
NS D9-40CW 9697


10:23 - Van train 20K with a nice leader also passes Longswamp at a different angle of the 222E signal.


20K - Intermodal - Chicago, IL - Croxton, NJ
NS SD70 2559
NS D9-40CW 9021
NS D9-40CW 9529


11:34 - 38G is getting back on the move after making a quick stop to observe a problem that was noted by the 18.8 detector in Topton. As it turns out, the 4th locomotive has a bad traction motor and flat spot, therefore the train travels slowly to Lyons, where it will drop off the 5210 on a siding before continuing on its journey.


38G - Mixed Freight - Allentown, PA - Camden, NJ
NS D9-40CW 9750
NS D8-40CW 8458
NS GP38-2 5621
NS GP38-2 5210


14:16 - Hot shot intermodal 211 heads west on the opposite main track to get around 38G. Because the railroad is signalled in one direction, the westbound move is permitted by a Track Authority given by the dispatcher. 211 crossed over to the opposite main at the CTC island in Alburtis.


211 - Intermodal - Croxton, NJ - Atlanta, GA
NS D9-40CW 9862
NS D8-40C 8752
NS D9-40CW 9454


15:50 - On July 28, 2012, 19G heads west past the remnants of the autobody plant in Fleetwood. The train has commuter locomotives in tow—these locomotives from the MBTA are going to JBS in Altoona for servicing.
NS D8-40CW 8411
NS D9-40CW 9436
MBTX GP40MC 1124
MBTX GP40MC 1115


18:11 - Local H47 had finished its duties along the Reading Line, starting its high-ball back to Reading Yard. Here, it passes corn fields and the 142E and 131W block signals. The main plant for Deka Batteries is just to the right out of the picture, being mostly blocked by the corn.
NS GP38-2 5303 "Operation Lifesaver"
NS GP40-2 3061


19:01 - 38G heads west through the open corn fields just east of Mertztown on August 19, 2012.
NS SD70M-2 2719
NS SD70 2569
NS D9-40CW 9350


21:21 - 211 heads west through downtown Emmaus on November 17, 2012.
NS D9-40CW 9707
UP AC45CCTE 7635
UP AC45CCTE 7665