Wreck & MOW
Reading Company Rider Car, Class PAmx, Wood Car #90874
P&R Wood Car 90874 “the Maroon Car”
Don Crabtree, with text and info from the “Bee Line” Volume 36 No. 3 & 4.
Car 90874 began life as a wood composite passenger car class PAm. Built in 1910 by Harlan & Hollingsworth of Wilmington Delaware, it was originally numbered 1320. RCT&HS acquired the car from Rail Tours Inc. of George Hart fame. While at Rail Tours it was numbered RTI 25. Stored at Jim Thorpe, PA, the car was relocated to Hamburg in 2010.
Here P&R # 90874 is shown on the St. Clair Wreck Train as a Rider Car.
(Photo Courtesy of John Green Collection)
The Maroon Car in storage at the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum.
(Photo Courtesy of Don Crabtree)
In 1930, the Reading was taking wood cars out of passenger service and replacing them with the more modern and all metal cars. At that time, there was a need for Rider Cars on several of the Readings Wreck Trains. Car 1320 Class PAm was converted to class PAmx and renumbered as #90874.
For the bigger story and history of the wood cars, the RCT&HS published a “Bee Line” article on the last remaining Wood cars of the Reading in Bee Line Volume 36 No. 3 & 4. It is still available for purchase at the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum or on the Society web site.
Inside and out of the weather awaiting restoration at our museum.
(Photo Courtesy of John Green Collection)