Reading Modeler Contributing Editor John Hall is the author of "Reading Company Cabooses" and a frequent contributor to the RCT&HS publication "The Bee Line," sharing information regarding the Reading's varied collection of rolling stock using information culled from the Society's archives. Originally hailing from Wilmington, DE, a cab ride as a young boy sparked a lifelong interest in the Reading, and he models the road in S-Scale. He's taken some time out from his research to share some of his models with The Reading Modeler community.
- John Hall_1
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John Hall’s S-scale model of Reading Power Car 12260 is built almost entirely of Evergreen styrene. The only commercial parts are the trucks, bolsters, couplers, smoke jack, tack boards, stirrup steps, brake wheel and underbody brake parts. Even the side doors were scratch built from styrene.
PROTOTYPE INFORMATION: The Reading Company converted a 36’ class XMp box car from revenue service to a Power Car in 1942. This car was built in 1910 with a wood roof and wood doors, both of which were replaced with steel during the twenties or thirties. This was one of 2000 class XMp box cars on the Reading. The Reading installed a gasoline-powered generator in the car that could supply 110 volts power to six circuits. Plenty of electrical cable and spare bulbs were stored in the car, in the event of the car being needed for an emergency power outage. External items that set this car aside from a standard box car include the smoke jack, which vented exhaust fumes from the generator set, the small end doors, which allowed fresh air to flow through the car when the generator was running, the grab irons next to the side door, and the steps under the side doors. An article about this car appeared in the 1982 issue #2 of the RCT&HS publication, The BEE LINE. The article was written by the late Mike Stuart, one of the first editors of the Bee Line. Until recently the prototype of this car was still in existence on the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad in southeastern Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the superstructure was severely damaged when the car was set fire by juveniles a few years ago.
- John Hall_2
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John's rendition of a Reading class GMk gondola in S scale. Reading 6974 was made by splicing two American Flyer gondolas together to get a 46’ car. A new center sill was made of Evergreen styrene and additional underbody details were added, as well as grab irons and stirrup steps. Andrews scale trucks are from Trains Stuff and #5 couplers are from Kadee. Kappler scale lumber was used for the floor.
Prototype Information: The Reading was allocated 500 class GMk gondolas by the USRA in 1919-1920, becoming number series 6950 – 7449. These were built by Standard Steel Car Company in Butler, PA at a cost of $3105.31 each. Although rated for 70 ton capacity when built, of the 89 still in service in 1958, seven were reduced to 50 ton capacity due to deteriorating center
sills. Between June 1953 and May 1955, 150 class GMk gondolas were transferred to non revenue service, painted freight car red and renumbered to 96300 – 96449, class GMkx, for use as Tie Cars. One hundred class GMk gondolas were converted to class GMkx Roadway Gondolas in 1953-1954, becoming number series 96500-96599. The last 9 class GMk were retired in May 1961.
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Just as with the class GMk gondola, John’s model of Reading class GMl gondola 25140 was made by splicing two American Flyer gondolas together to get a 46’ car. A new center sill was made of Evergreen styrene and additional underbody details were added, as well as grab irons and stirrup steps. Andrews scale trucks are from Trains Stuff and the #5 couplers are from Kadee. Kappler scale lumber was used for the floor. This car, with the “pre-1941” lettering, also received drop ends, as this class of car should have.
Prototype Information: The Reading purchased 4000 class GMl gondolas between 1923 and 1927. Number series 20000-21999 were built during 1923 and 1925 and series 23500-25499 were built during 1926 and 1927. These orders were all split between Standard Steel Car, Pressed Steel Car and Bethlehem Steel. These cars were equipped with 70 ton capacity trucks, drop ends, wood floors and had a capacity of 1325 cubic feet. In 1933 the Reading converted 44 class GMl gondolas into flat cars (class FMd) for the purpose of transporting steel sections for the
Golden Gate Bridge from the steel plants to the docks in Philadelphia. In 1954 the Reading converted five class GMl gondolas into their first TOFC cars becoming class FCa, number series 9900-9904. Four more were converted to FCa cars in 1955. In 1957 the Reading downgraded over 300 class GMl gondolas to 50 ton capacity due to deteriorating center sills. Large quantities of class GMl gondolas were retired during the late fifties and early sixties, with the last few being retired in 1968.
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Class FMg 9027 was scratch built using Evergreen styrene, with Kappler scale lumber for the deck. Commercial parts include Ace arch bar trucks, Kadee #5 couplers, and Grandt Line stake pockets and brake wheel.
Prototype Information: The Reading converted 100 class XMp box cars into class FMg flat cars 1941, number series 9000-9099. FMg 9027 was originally class XMp box car number 13007 built by American Car & Foundry in Berwick, PA on October 31, 1910. It was converted to class FMg flat car 9027 on April 26, 1941. It was retired in January 1946 and sold to Harlan & Hollingsworth in Wilmington, Delaware for $275, along with four other class FMg flat cars. During the early part of 1941 the Reading’s yards at Port Richmond were packed full of flat cars and gondolas loaded with materials awaiting transfer to ships. Rather than having these loaded cars sitting for weeks at a time, the Reading converted 100 class XMp box cars that were ready to be retired and scrapped to class FMg flat cars. The loads from the cars at Port Richmond were transferred to the class FMg flat cars, thereby allowing the loaded cars to be returned to service.
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Class FMe 9248 was scratch built with Evergreen styrene. Kappler strip wood was used for the deck. Commercial items include Grandt Line stake pockets, American Models trucks and brake wheel and Kadee #5 couplers.
Prototype Information: The Reading built 50 class FMe flat cars during November and December 1937 using welded underframes supplied by American Car and Foundry. These cars had a 70 ton capacity, an average weight of 55,534 pounds and cost $2,896.46 each new. FMe 9248 was built on 12-9-37. It was retired in October 1970 after being damaged in a wreck on the Union Pacific at Medicine Bow, Wyoming. Class FMex 96615 is in the collection of the RCT&HS. Class FMex
96615 was built on November 16, 1937 as class FMe 9205. It was converted to class FMex in 1972.
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A Reading XMt-class boxcar, modeled in S-scale by John Hall. John notes, "Class XMt 100859 and 100927 were converted from American Flyer refrigerator cars. I first machined the existing roof to a smooth surface. I also machined the original doors smooth. New roof and doors were made from Evergreen styrene. American Models trucks and Kadee #5 couplers were applied, as well as new grab irons. Car 100927 represents a car with new paint and the post 1941 style
lettering."
Prototype Information: The Reading purchased 1000 class XMt box cars, series 100000-100999, in 1925. The order was split between American Car & Foundry and Standard Steel Car, with 500 cars from each. Numbers 100859 and 100927 were the last two class XMt box cars retired in August 1964.
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John writes, "Class XMt 100859 and 100927 were converted from American Flyer refrigerator cars. I first machined the existing roof to a smooth surface. I also machined the original doors smooth. New roof and doors were made from Evergreen styrene. American Models trucks and Kadee #5 couplers were applied, as well as new grab irons. Car 100859 has a faded and weathered pre-1941 paint scheme."
Prototype Information: The Reading purchased 1000 class XMt box cars, series 100000-100999, in 1925. The order was split between American Car & Foundry and Standard Steel Car, with 500 cars from each. Numbers 100859 and 100927 were the last two class XMt box cars retired in August 1964.
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John's notes: "Class XMv 103009 is a Pacific Rail Shops box car. The major modifications to this car were the application of a new roof, running boards and doors to match the prototype.
Prototype Information: The Reading built 300 class XMv box cars from in 1937, number series 103000-103299, at a cost of $2705.71 each. Car 103009 was built on November 16, 1937 and retired in May 1963. Most of this class remained in service until the early 1960’s. The last few were retired in 1970. The Reading sold 118 class XMv box cars to the United States Railway Equipment Leasing Company in October 1960. These cars were rebuilt and leased back to the Reading. A couple of the rebuilt cars are still in existence as storage sheds at a business near Shoemakersville, PA."
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Downloads
A variety of Reading Company operations related documents, etc. that may be of use in your modeling efforts.
A variety of Reading Company operations paperwork, such as train orders, clearance forms, etc. that will help you operate your Reading layout in a prototypical manner.
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