John Hall_1
Image information
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.
Did You Know?
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.
Public Timetables, Employe Timetables, and Rulebooks that provide much useful operational information.
Signs, billboards, and other FREE goodies for your use. We ask only that you help spread the word about The Reading Modeler!