Reading Company

Admission:  Adults $7, Seniors (65+) $6, Children (5 - 12) $3, Children 4 and under FREE. RCT&HS members FREE. Groups of 10 or more $5 each- must be arranged at least two weeks in advance.

For more information about visiting us, click here.

HAMBURG RAILFEST 2017 was a resounding success! Nearly 1000 people came to celebrate “Bee Line Service” and the 50 th anniversary of locos #6300 and #5308 and participate in the Museum activities on August 12 and 13. In addition, 70 people rode the A & A excursion on Friday evening, 40 enjoyed the dinner on Saturday evening, and 25 avid photographers returned on Sat., August 19 to take night photos. The best part was watching our visitors enjoy the locomotives, the modular railroad, the LEMTU, the president’s car, the Munchkin Railway, the music, the mural, the vendors and more! PA Senator David Argall and PA Rep. Jerry Knowles presented the RCT&HS with commendations during the dedication of the new mural on Saturday afternoon. PA Sen. Judy Schwank and US Rep. Charles Dent also spoke their congratulations. Visitors were impressed at the mural’s details, colors, and size. Thanks to the Hamburg Art Alliance of the Our Town Foundation for sponsoring the mural. RAILFEST raised recognition and awareness of the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum for hundreds of people. Ten new members joined during RAILFEST. The number of Museum visitors has continued to grow each weekend since the festival. “Thank you” does not begin to express enough gratitude to over 60 volunteers who helped during the event and many more volunteers who helped with preparations. MP&RE members worked tirelessly to make our locomotive fleet shine. Wasn’t it a thrill to hear and see our locomotives come alive? The modular railroad was among the most popular attractions at RAILFEST. Thanks to the Modular Committee members who showcased the 102 ft. HO railroad. The Munchkin Railway had 4 or 5 cars continuously filled with smiling children. Visitors were amazed as they visited the LEMTU and president’s car. Our feet still tap when we remember the great music. Thanks to the RBHTA for exhibiting the buses. And thanks to the busy volunteers who staffed the crowded Museum store. Special thanks, also, to our generous sponsors and those who gave in-kind donations.

Do you have great memories of the 5513?

Then here is your chance to see it shine again. 

Brian's Model Trains is donating all proceeds of the a Peter Lerro print that he has commissioned will be used for that purpose.

Use the attached order form to pre-order your copy for mid-August delivery.

GP-30 Order Form

RCT&HS Year 2017 Railroad Calendar

 
The RCT&HS Year 2017 railroad calendar is now available featuring the Gas-Electric Cars (Doodlebugs) and Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs) of the Reading Company. Between 1923 and 1930 the Reading acquired a total of 17 gas-electric cars and 10 trailer coaches, most of which operated through the 1930s and 1940s. Nicknamed Doodlebugs these cars operated on a wide variety of branch lines and some main lines of the Reading Railroad. All cars handled baggage and express, and most had RPO compartments. The RDC was a considerable improvement over the earlier heavy all-steel doodlebugs. The RDC had sufficient power, with each car having two 275 or 300 horsepower diesel engines, for higher maximum speeds and, due to its lighter weight, rapid acceleration. Having two engines gave the RDC more reliability and the capability to continue moving should one of its engines fail. Each Reading RDC was a model RDC-1, Budd's designation for an RDC with passenger capacity of 103 people. The Reading later purchased four more second-hand RDCs from the Lehigh Valley and the Boston & Maine railroads

CLICK HERE TO ORDER.