Another view of a Pennsy Baldwin, this time at work shoving up against a boxcar. Again, note the close proximity of row houses to the tracks.

This image, taken in approximately the same location as the preceding two, apparently was taken after Hurricane Agnes, as the row houses and trees are now gone. The Reading and PRR operated in close proximity in this area, and crews often crossed back and forth over the other railroads' tracks to perform their moves.

Looking northeast from the intersection of Front and Court Streets. The West Reading Branch curves off to the right, through the cut between Schindlebeck's Coal Yard and Stichter Hardware (at extreme right), to continue up to the connection at 3rd Street. The track running left to right in the foreground is the Court Street Branch, which is actually a spur off of the Reading's
Schuylkill and Lehigh Branch that met the West Reading Branch at this location. The two branches ran parallel to each other in the Reading's early years; but in the post war years as track was rationalized due to the Reading's declining fortunes, they were ulimately merged. An interesting note for Reading-area residents, the street signs in this era are black on a white background; while in the late 1970s to the present they are white on a green background. If you're going to that level of detail on your layout, this is something to be mindful of. This location is a parking garage today, though looking closely you can still see the remnants of the track in the street.

A Reading SW-900 unit works its way through the cut. This appears to be a later photo, as the coal trestle has been partially dismantled, and the spur serving Stichter Hardware appears to have fallen into disuse.

Schindlebeck's Coal Yard was located along Front Street, between Washington and Court. Of course, there is the obligatory Reading Anthracite sign - If it's Red, It's Reading!

A unique feature of Schindlebeck's is its double trestle, with the turnout actually being laid on an upward grade. To make it even more interesting, the branch itself ran on a downward grade through the cut to reach Front Street! While spotting and picking up cars here was probably challenging enough on the prototype, it's even more so in a model environment!

This photo was taken while standing on top of the trestle at Schindlebeck's. In the distance we can see the Penn Street Bridge and the Pennsylvania's passenger depot. The trestle is out of service at this point, but has found new life as a parking area.

Having negotiated the cut at Schindlebeck's, the Reading crew works its way northward toward Third Street. The line roughly parallels Washington Street at this location; the buildings in the background have been replaced by the Front and Washington parking garage. The building at far left is a gas station, and the spur in the foreground leads to the Reading Sanitary Wiper Company.

One of Reading's landmarks is The Orange Car, at the intersection of Front and Washington, on the other side of Front Street from Stichter Hardware and Schindlebeck's Coal Yard. Fresh oranges, grapefruits, etc. were brought here from Florida by rail (hence the name), and unloaded right from the freight car. The tracks in the foreground are the Reading's Schuylkill and Lehigh Branch, and
the Pennsy's Schuylkill Division, both continuing northbound along the river to pass by the Dana Parish Auto Frame Plant.