July 2007 Reading Viaduct Pictures

[Bethlehem_Branch]

Seeing Steam man's (and others') images of the Viaduct looking northward from the terminal in the early 80s (?), I am in awe of how orderly the trackbed looked -- and how relatively recent this was. While this is pretty obvious to some of you, the fact that the Silverliner III and IVs are still in use creates a weird continuum.

All the weirder when you consider the condition of the Viaduct today.

These were shot over last weekend with a Land Camera. Though I'm not altogether optimistic, this place has to become an park someday where the operations of the railroad are interpreted.

<a><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1118/757 ... 380b4e.jpg" width="500" height="409" alt="ReadingViaduct_Land001"></a>


<a><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1380/757 ... 05600a.jpg" width="500" height="414" alt="SpringGardenSt.Station"></a>

[van2005ko]

Wow it's very amazing how the city and SEPTA let history just rot away like that. very nice Blog BTW, Do you have any more photos of the Reading Viaduct as well as the Reading Terminal when it was in good and running operation?

[jfrey40535]

Its amazing the catenary and signals are still in place, almost waiting for a train to come use them. A shame some of this wasn't retained.

[SCB2525]

Was the viaduct EVER at any time under consideration for use as a light rail route or dedicated busway or anything else for that matter?