Sunday, August 17, 2014

Reading Railroad electric commuter train, Philadelphia, circa 1960


The Reading operated electrified (at 11 kV AC 25 Hz) commuter lines out of Reading Terminal in downtown Philadelphia and purchased 100 cars between 1929 and 1932 for service on these lines. They could operate singly or as multiple-unit trains allowing the Reading to cope with the varying numbers of commuters depending on the time of day, week or year. One electric car, number 800, has been preserved at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, webpage

Delivered in 1932, two four-wheel trucks powered by two Westinghouse 423 motors delivering 600 hp. Constructed of steel, one overhead pantograph, 73' (22.25 metres) long, 15½' (4.72 metres) tall and weight 129,000 lbs (58.6 tonnes).

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