Raffa began his career in 1989 as a trackman with RBMN predecessor Blue Mountain & Reading Railroad. Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team's work-life balance. The appraisal, at a cost of $27,000, included the track and rights of way adjacent to the track, as well as Packerton Yards. [8] The Port Kennedy Railroad, a short branch to quarries at Port Kennedy, was leased in 1870. RBMN again was recognized by Railway Age as Regional Railroad of the Year for the development of port operations for the export of anthracite coal. Muller said Thursday that he plans to sink millions into the railroad over the next few years. It expanded in 1990 to a cluster of coal lines in the heart of Anthracite (and also Reading Company) country. Andy Muller, owner of Reading and Northern, offered to purchase the line, which he currently manages for the county, in 2016. The company began operations in September of 1983, starting as a 13-mile short line, operating a state-owned branch line between Hamburg and Temple PA. Named The Blue Mountain & Reading (BM&R), we were successful in rehabilitating the line, and providing service to freight customers. [6] The first round-trip excursion from Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe ran on May 29, 2017. This was a move to offset the fact that EMD FT diesel locomotives (first choice of Reading management) were very hard to obtain, and in order to have faster, up-to-date modern power. The owner of a 317-mile railroad has bought part of a company that manages a railroad owned by Carbon County that runs from Packerton to Hometown. Free shipping for many products! In July, we entered into a long-term lease of two abandoned railroad bridges over the Lehigh River from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. [5] In December 2016, the RBMN announced that it spent $2 million to build a train station at Pennsylvania Route 61 and Bellevue Avenue in Muhlenberg Township outside Reading, called Reading Outer Station, with plans to operate passenger excursions from there to Jim Thorpe. Find out what works well at Reading and Northern Railroad from the people who know best. Carbon County purchased the former Nesquehoning Valley Branch Line 1009 through the newly formed Carbon County Railroad Commission on Sept. 30, 1981, at a cost of $991,500, with the help of federal grants. Within a few years, the BM&R took on the operations of three more state-owned branch lines, to provide reliable freight service to many eastern Pennsylvania Industries. However, on July 12, 1878, the P&AC Railway slipped into bankruptcy; on September 20, 1883, it was jointly acquired by the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) and the Philadelphia and Reading Railway for $1 million. The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (reporting mark RBMN), sometimes shortened to Reading and Northern Railroad, is a regional railroad in eastern Pennsylvania. Berkshire Hathaway already owns about 22% of Burlington Northern,. This would allow the bulk of all remaining rail shipments of Anthracite coal to be funneled through Reading. The Reading and Columbia Railroad was chartered in 1857 to build from Reading southwest to Columbia on the Susquehanna River. The heavy investment in coal paid off quickly. Its not a money-making thing for us, OGurek said, adding that its aim is serving area industries. The US has one of the highest rates of obesity in the advanced world, a rate that has increased from 15% in 1980 to 30.5% in 2000 to 41.9% in 2020. Soon the P&R bought or leased many of the railroads in the Schuylkill River Valley and extended westward and north along the Susquehanna into the southern end of what became known as the Coal Region. Passenger service between Fox Chase and Newtown was terminated on January 14, 1983, under the auspices of SEPTA. We all have a soft spot for George, Zurn said. We own and manage some of Britain's biggest and busiest railway stations. The RBMN system expanded again with the addition of the seven-mile Towanda line near the New York state border. [20] The train runs from Reading and Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe in the morning, allowing passengers time to explore Jim Thorpe. Total cost of the project was $14 million dollars, a combination of state and private funding. Some people love New York, I love Jim Thorpe, he said. CONTENTS. TIMES NEWS FILE PHOTO. After its railroad operations were merged into Conrail in 1976, the remainder of the corporation was renamed Reading International. On July 1, 1963, the post office let them out of the contracts, where were valued at $2,137,000, equal to $18,914,773 today, and the railroad switched to Budd RDC self-propelled cars, instead of locomotive hauled passenger trains, to save money. After the militia and Coal and Iron Police went to retrieve a train carrying coal that was blocked in a railroad cut, they fired on rioters and protesters, killing at least 10 and wounding more than 40. ATLAS HO 20005857, 50' SD POSTWAR BOX CAR, READING [XMZ . In 1990, the Blue Mountain and Reading took ownership of 150 miles of track located in the Coal Region north of Reading. On July 1, 1873, the PW&B agreed to lease the freight rights to the P&R for "$350,000 payable at the time the lease was made and $1 a year The railroad spent $100,000 to update an outdated and lightly used Pittston Yard between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. [2], In 194547 the company took 30 class I-10 2-8-0 locomotives and rebuilt them at the 6th Street facility into the modern T1 class 4-8-4 locomotives at a cost of 6 million dollars. To simplify corporate structure, the P&R ceased operation in 1924 and the Reading Company took over operating the railroad. RBMN operates occasional passenger excursions using restored steam locomotives #425 and #2102. [citation needed]. The railroad runs about 400 miles from Reading PA to Mehoopany PA and it also operates the 7-mile rail line from Towanda to Monroeton in Bradford County. This excursion operates on select weekends and holidays from May to November.[21]. A passenger excursion business was also developed. Reading & Northern got its start as the Blue Mountain & Reading in 1983 with a 13-mile former Pennsylvania Railroad branch between Temple and Hamburg. The return trip leaves Jim Thorpe in the late afternoon and returns to Port Clinton and Reading in the evening. Trump supporters who drove Hummer with guns and ammo to Philadelphia vote-counting site spared more jail time, Paul Muschick: Would money motivate Pennsylvania businesses to move to a four-day work week? Munger also gave some more solemn words regarding his future. Along with regular pay increases and profit-sharing checks, the Company decided to offer its employees the best health care plan in the region, and with no deductibles! Reading & Northern operates both freight services and . 425 is crossing a Stone Bridge. [2][17], In Bridgeport, a new bridge was constructed over the Schuylkill River in 1903. Ephraim Railway, and the Kaighn's Point Terminal Railroad in southern New Jersey into The Atlantic City Railroad. Dozens of people were killed and more than 80 injured when a passen.Read More. Muller also told the Carbon County Railroad Commission that he plans to take over the passenger tours now run by George Hart after his agreement runs out at the end of the year. This page was last edited on 31 January 2023, at 14:26. Price. Reading Blue Mountain & Northern No. Lionel O gauge # 18639 Reading 4-6-2 Steam Locomotive USED in original box. [7], Between 2009 and 2010, RBMN expanded operations due to the emergence of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling in northeastern Pennsylvania. [2] The Reading participated in the joint operation of The Interstate Express with the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, with service between Philadelphia and Syracuse, New York. 425 is a 12-38 D class 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA in 1928 for the Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad (GM&N). The railroad was growing in 2001 prompting RBMN to purchase a fleet of high horsepower six-axle locomotives and retired some of the older units that had begun to wear out. The BM&R took on this challenge, and expanded the company, changing the name to Reading Blue Mountain and Northern. By 1871, the Reading was the largest company in the world, with $170,000,000 in market capitalization (equal to $3,845,305,556 today),[4] and may have been the first conglomerate in the world. - Take a ride on the Reading", "Reading Outer Station, Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe RDC Train Schedule", Pittsburgh, Allegheny & McKees Rocks Railroad, List of United States railroads by political division, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reading_Blue_Mountain_and_Northern_Railroad&oldid=1134680203, Tourist attractions in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Tourist attractions in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Transportation in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The line runs from Reading to Packerton along former, Lehigh Valley Rail Management: Bethlehem Division, This page was last edited on 20 January 2023, at 00:05. Engines with the name "lessor" in its title meant some steam power was owned by a second party and leased to the P&R. (RR PICTURE ARCHIVES) AMTK 2456 Willow Grove - (R. BOWEN) BMRG 100 . The project would culminate in the opening of the bridge in November of 2003. The Reading and Northern Railroad started operations in 1983 after acquiring thirteen miles of tracks from Conrail that ran from Temple to Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Website: http://www.rbmnrr.com/ " onclick="window.open (this.href);return false; Board index Whether you love good food, great shopping, hiking or beautiful scenery, we have just the ticket for you when you ride with us! 1:47. The railroad started life in 1983 after Conrail began the abandonment process of about 13 miles of Ex-Pennsylvania Railroad trackage from Hamburg, PA to Temple, PA. Like most railroads, the Reading had contracts with the U.S. Post Office to haul and sort mail en route. The Reading & Northern, officially the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (or RBM&N), is an eastern Pennsylvania Class II regional railroad which operates over 300 miles of predominantly ex-Reading Railroad trackage (although the company also operates lines owned by other fallen flags). Also that year, the Reading leased the Pickering Valley Railroad, a branch running west from Phoenixville to Byers, Pennsylvania, which opened in 1871. $39.99. The Great Northern Railway serves a vast, diversified and productive region -- the great Northwest. During the short segment between Egg Harbor and Brigantine Junction, the train was reported to have reached 115mph. The Reading Outer Station is one of three places in the Reading and Blue Mountain Northern train network that provides family-friendly day trips to picturesque Jim Thorpe! 425, https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/profiles/regionals/reading-and-northern-profile/, "A Brief History - Reading Railroad Heritage Museum - Reading Company Technical & Historical Society - 500 S 3rd St, Hamburg, PA 19526 - 610-562-5513", "Railroad building train station in Muhlenberg", "Train makes inaugural round trip: Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe", "Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway to close in late November after tax dispute", "Legal argument over taxes threatens to derail popular Carbon County tourist attraction", "Carbon sells railroad to Reading and Northern for $4.7 million | Times News Online", "Railroad buys KME campus | Times News Online", "What's going on here? [19] LGSR trains are usually diesel-powered and consist of an open-air car, standard coaches, a gondola car that allows passengers to transport the bicycles aboard the train and ride their bicycles back to Jim Thorpe, and a caboose. [16] However, in 1906, with the support of the Roosevelt Administration, the Hepburn Act was passed. At that time, he offered $1.3 million for both the rail line and the former Packerton Yards property. The Reading and Northern 425 passes along the Panther Valley rail line in the Hauto Valley Estates portion of Nesquehoning during a fall excursion in 2017. The Reading took it over and began construction in 1854, opening the line in 1856. The partnership between the RBMN and Reading Company Technical and Historical Society had more or less ended by this point, but the group still leased track space in Leesport until 2008 when they moved to the Hamburg yard and opened the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum.[4]. Our focus will be on jobs and economic development, Muller said. Full-time. BNSF, as the railroad is called, operates more than. We were pleased to be the winner of the American Short line and Regional Railroad Association's Marketing Award. In the 1920s, the Reading operated a dense network of commuter lines branching off of the Ninth Street Branch mostly powered by small 4-4-0s, 4-4-2s and 4-6-0 camelbacks. At that time, he offered $1.3 million for both the rail line and the former Packerton Yards property. The county then hired a surveying company to survey portions of the railroad. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for MTH 30-1602-1 Railking Imperial Union Pacific FEF Northern 4-8-4 #837 w/PS3 at the best online prices at eBay! Employees of the Reading and Northern Railroad work in a family oriented team environment. Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad by Kevin Burkholder HISTORY The Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad, with corporate headquarters in Port Clinton, Pennsylvania is a privately held railroad company serving nine counties in Eastern Pennsylvania. The 29.3 miles between Winslow Jct and Meadows Tower (outside of Atlantic City) were covered in 20 minutes at a speed of 87.9mph. On April 1, 1976, the Reading Company sold its railroad assets to the newly formed Consolidated Railroad Corporation (Conrail), leaving it with 650 real estate assets, some coal properties, and 52 abandoned rights-of-way. Starting in 1985, the BM&R began operating passenger excursions over the line using two steam locomotives: ex-Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad 4-6-2 No. Reading & Northern- TS12 - JointedRail.com Reading & Northern- TS12 Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 6 customer ratings ( 6 customer reviews) Log in to Download $ 0.00 JointedRail content is currently supported ONLY in Trainz Railroad Simulator 2019 117009 to current TRS22 and plus versions. RBMN also decided to go smoke-free and instituted a policy of not hiring smokers. The Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, located in Hamburg, PA, is owned and operated by the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society ,a non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the Reading Railroad. [5], In 1900, the Reading Shops began construction along the Reading yards and North 6th Street, facilitating the maintenance and construction of a greater locomotive and rolling stock fleet. [18], The RBMN also operates passenger excursions out of the Reading Outer Station located outside of Reading in Muhlenberg Township, with Rail Diesel Car trains running from Reading Outer Station to Jim Thorpe with an intermediate stop in Port Clinton. The evolution of the Reading & Northern has been a wonderful ride. The percentage increased to 80% in late-January 2023, effectively taking control of it. Developed greenfield site for a sand distribution terminal in Tunkhannock, PA. April Invested $2 million dollars to purchase from Kovach 10 acres containing nine buildings for company expansion efforts. Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC is the parent company of the BNSF Railway (formerly the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway). Port Richmond later became a very large coal terminal. On July 7, 1877, the final spike was driven and the 54.67 miles (87.98km) line was opened in time for summer tourism season. [12][13], On May 6, 2021, railroad officials announced their purchase of the 19.5-mile (31.4km) Panther Valley line from Carbon County for $4.7 million. For twenty years the Reading Company, the holding company created for the P&R and the P&R Coal and Iron Company, only controlled the P&R after the sale of the P&R Coal and Iron Company. We had built solid traffic bases on both our Lehigh and Reading Divisions, and we had put in place an excellent operation with upgraded track, locomotives, and freight cars. In 1985, both the owners of Zara founded Inditex de Diseno Textil, S.A. No. Muller said he bought into C&S; for an undisclosed sum because its a link between two divisions of his company one that runs from Reading into Schuylkill County and another that runs from White Haven, Luzerne County, to Scranton, Lackawanna County, and into Wyoming County.