Conrail's Reading Line

The Reading Line was Conrail's route between Reading and Allentown/Bethlehem, with CP-Wyomissing on the Harrisburg Line at the west end and CP-Bethlehem on the Lehigh Line on the east. It is mainly composed of the former East Penn Railroad, which came under control of the Reading Railroad and became known as the "Crossline".Â

You can also view this gallery on an interactive map.

BH-15 GP35 2236 Allentown, Pa

BH-15 with Allentown Vans headout climbs out of the "HOLE" at East Penn Jct. (CP-Burn) Auburn Street Allentown, Pa

CCRU-1 SD35 6008 Allentown, Pa

An unlikely pair of EMD's powers CCRU-1 charging upgrade out of Allentown on the Reading Line

CR 1901 Allentown, PA 12/78

B23-7 leads AP-20 out of Allentown Yard across the Lehigh River towards "BURN"....

CR 2216 Emmaus, PA 3/78

Four GP30's power APB-1 up and over the crest @ Emmaus, PA

CR 2552 U25B Bethlehem 11-76

A trio of former PC units cross the Lehigh River in Bethlehem, Pa on the former Reading.

CR 2905 Allentown, PA 3/78

HAE-8 rolls through "BURN" and approaches Allentown Yard.

CR 3196 at Blandon, PA in November 1989

Conrail GP40 3196, U23B 2795, and a GP40-2 team up to bring a loaded coal train east through CP-Blandon in the fall of 1989. The old "high grade" right of way is visible to the left.

CR 3315 leads PIOI at Blandon, PA 10/90

PIOI rolls through Blandon with two Geeps sandwiching two UP SD40-2's. CP-Blandon MP7.8 CR Reading Line

CR 3342 leads TV8 at Emmaus, PA 11/17/91

An eastbound trailer train heads through Emmaus in the early morning.

CR 3364 leads MAIL-3 at Allentown, PA 1/19/91

3364, 5060, and 5066 lead MAIL-3 through the "old" CP-Burn. This scene has completely changed over the past few years. CP-Burn MP 35.0 CR Reading Line

CR 3367 leads MAIL3 at Blandon, PA 10/90

MAIL3 passes the temporary block station at CP-Blandon with five GP40's and a B40-8. CP-Blandon MP7.8 CR Reading Line

CR 3372 leads PIOI4 at Allentown, PA 11/15/92

A GP40-2 brings Conway-Oak Island manifest train PIOI through CP-BURN on November 15, 1992. PIOI is not working in Allentown, as evidenced by the fact that the train is using the "bypass" via East Penn Jct. to get to Bethlehem.

CR 3393 leads OIEN at Blandon, PA 2/25/93

OIEN5 passes the MP0.8 detector at Blandon with some four axle power. GP40-2's and B40-8's were the main locomotives used on MAIL trains until the C40-8W's and SD60M/I's came in, so it was somewhat unusual to see them on a freight in 1993.

Â MP0.8 CR Reading Line

CR 5007 Allentown, Pa 11-1994

CR 5007 is on the point of ALHB at CP-BURN in Allentown, Pa 11/1994

CR 5032 at Reading, PA in 1994

Conrail B36-7 5052 is leading a pair of Santa Fe units on PIOI at CP-Belt in Reading, PA on 2/27/1994

CR 5032 at Walnuttown, PA in 1994

Conrail B36-7 5032 is seen leading a pair of Santa Fe Dash-8s on PIOI at Walnuttown, PA on 2/27/1994

CR 5551 Allentown, Pa 9-1996

CR 5551 is on the point of TV-211 at CP-Burn in Allentown, Pa 9/1996

CR 6049 leads CAAL at Longswamp, PA 3/1/92

CAAL1 is about to cross from Berks County into Lehigh County as it nears Alburtis on a very late afternoon March afternoon. MP22.6 CR Reading Line

CR 6071 leads ALSR at Alburtis, PA 3/1/92

ALSR1's power passes Smith Lane. The consist itself is still heading through the interlocking at CP-Alburtis.

CR 6091 at Allentown, PA 1997

A westbound rolls out of Allentown Yard with a Dash 8 leading. This was more than likely ALHB.

CP-Burn MP35.0 CR Reading Line

CR 6102 leads PIAL at Longswamp, PA 1/26/93

PIAL5 heads east through Longswamp with a couple Dash 8's as power. MP22.5 CR Reading Line

CR 6132 leads OIEN9 at Topton, PA on 3/19/93

C40-8Ws 6132 and 6102, UP SD40-2 4245, B36-7 5015, and SD50 6709 are on the head end of OIEN seen heading west through Topton in March of 1993.

CR 6137 at Blandon, PA on 11/3/92

CR 6317 leads an eastbound manifest past the mushroom farms at Blandon.

CR 6246 Allentown, Pa 12-1994

CR 6246 is on the point of ALHB at CP-BURN in Allentown, Pa 12/1994

CR 6299 and ALEN through Topton PA, 2/87

The westbound ALEN (Allentown - Enola) is lead by SD40 6299 as it heads west through Topton PA.

CR 6366 leads CAAL at Allentown, PA 8/87

A couple SD40's (6366 and 6352) lead CAAL by the abandoned Burn Yard in the summer of '87. Note the caboose behind the engines. CP-Burn MP34.9 CR Reading Line