Turning power at Reading Terminal

[JimBoylan]

Cross posted from the Phila_Traction Yahoo Group, newest 1st. The 2nd linked photo also shows a turntable, built about 1899, that is about 1 mile from Reading Terminal:

That was probably the Hamilton St. grade crossing just East of 16th St. to get a refrigerator car into the rear of the drug company.
Here's a link to that ramp:
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchi ... setId=5330

There was also a similar ramp and crossing of 22nd St. just South of Pennsylvania Ave. for the Knickerbocker Ice Co., but it was abandoned before Diesel days. See:
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchi ... setId=5337

The old Reading Co. dining car, now the Bagel Express, is still at Broad & Noble Sts.

Sent: Monday, February 13, 2012 4:43 PM
I never remember seeing trains there except for the old diner on the north side of Broad Street above Callowhill.
Years (and years ) ago someone showed home movies of the line at a Philadelphia Chapter NRHS meeting...if I recall the little switcher that could sometimes was Reading yellow over green.  The line was below street level but some siding where street level and the switcher had to push a car up the ramp, stop at the top for a stop sign into cross traffic (forget what street) and sometimes the engine had to go back down the ramp a few times to make the grade, stop, and then keep going into the siding.

Sent: Sun, Feb 12, 2012 10:02 pm
> I remember the tunnel and line, where it surfaces near Broad St. What I don't remember, is ever seeing any trains, Reading or SEPTA, freight or passenger, ever moving on it. I remember for years, a heavyweight coach sitting on a siding visible from Broad St., but never saw any activity around or on it.

[JimBoylan]

Railroad PHILADELPHIA & READING RAILWAY
Date 11/23/1922
Location PHILADELPHIA, PA.

The above accident, from the I.C.C. Historical Railroad Investigation Reports (1911 - 1994) at http://dotlibrary.specialcollection.net/ involves a light camel back steam engine running backwards through the Callowhill St. Subway from the 20th St. engine house to Reading Terminal.

[JimBoylan]

From what I can see in historic photos and maps, where the line diverged to the PA subway and the main, was a "Y" and not a "wye", therefore no turning around.

Here is a map, copyrighted 1901, showing the wye. The North leg was probably removed very soon after, when the 9th St. branch was elevated.https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3824p.ct0 ... 86,0.176,0