You can't model the coal regions of the Reading without a Yuengling sign! This sign was based on a beer bottle label from the 1950s - 1960s, and would be appropriate for that era. When printed full size, the sign is about 15' wide. Bottoms Up!

If you're modeling the Reading area in the 60's and 70's, your layout needs a Reading Beer sign. This sign is based on an actual Reading Beer advertising sign (thanks to Barry Hensel for providing), and is 25' wide in HO. Cheers!

This zip file of 20th century advertising images was provided by member Randy Light (PRRLight), and includes 12 different advertising images from the folks at www.trevinocircle.net. These would be great for making billboards, pasting to the sides of buildings, etc. They can be easily resized and modified with your favorite graphics program.

If you're modeling the Post-WWII / Cold War era, you need these Fallout Shelter signs for some of your larger buildings. The JPG file includes 24 signs, if you print the image out at full size, the individual signs are sized for 10x14 inches in HO scale. Right-click on the link to save the image file to your PC. Duck and Cover!

Remember the old punch-out paper stuff we used to make as children? Need some freight to ship on your layout? This PDF of HO scale shipping cartons combines the best of both worlds, and includes 4 cartons each of GE water heaters, Spring Air mattresses, and goods from Reading Hardware. We recommend printing out on heavier paper stock. Simply cut, fold, glue and place on your layout!

This sign was taken directly from a Reading Company "High Voltage" sign that was mounted on catenary posts in the Reading's electrified commuter territory. These can still be seen today at various locations along SEPTA. Although we have no photographic proof, it's possible that these signs could also have been used at other high voltage locations other than catenary posts. The image provides 24 signs.

This is our SECOND zip file of 20th century advertising images was provided by member Randy Light (PRRLight). These would be great for making billboards, pasting to the sides of buildings, etc. They can be easily resized and modified with your favorite graphics program.

A PDF version of a 1975 Reading Company Freight Waybill. This document will print on an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper - much larger than the popular Old Line Graphics/Micro-Mark 4-cycle waybills. Although these might be cumbersome in model operations, we're making them available as authentic source material for those who may want to use them as a guide for making their own waybills.

A PDF version of a Reading Company switch list form.

The Reading, like many other railroads, published a "Summary of Equipment" document on an annual basis, listing all motive power and rolling equipment owned by the railroad, for both freight and passenger service. From these documents, one can ascertain the mix of different types of equipment - for example, the mix of 40' vs 50' boxcars, etc. They're also useful for developing your locomotive fleet on a proportional basis to get the right mix of manufacturers, road vs yard units, etc.

A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet containing tonnage rating information for the Reading Company locomotive fleet in 1972. The spreadsheet has 3 tabs: Westbound, Eastbound, and Fast Freight. The data outlines the tonnage that a single unit of each class of locomotive could haul on a particular grade while maintaining the speed indicated. To increase the rate of speed or the tonnage of the train, additional units would be required. You will note that the ratings for similar classes of locomotives are significantly lower in fast freight service, this is in order to maintain a higher rate of speed for this class of train. Regarding the left-hand column labeled "Factor Tons per Car": This rating was a method of taking into account the number of grades and curves on a particular line. Curves can cause resistance just as grades do. Another issue that the "Factor Tons" rating takes into account is the proximity of grades to one another. In other words, the topograhy of some lines allowed trains to get a "running start" when tackling a grade, and this momentum would help to mitigate the weight resistance of the trains, as opposed to some other lines where the train encountered more of a "direct assault" on a grade. This data can be used on your layout to allocate sufficient motive power, in both number and horsepower, to haul your trains. You could "selectively compress" the weight of the cars to be hauled based on the train lengths you're using, so that for example, a 20-car train would weigh 6000 tons and thus require either multiple units or higher-horsepower locomotives to capture a more prototypical feel (even though one of today's higher-end model locomotives could likely haul the 20-car train unassisted). In addition, if the line you're modeling has a high "Factor Tons" rating, that would be indicative of either a somewhat shorter train or more motive power.

Reading Company Reading Division/Shamokin Division Employe Timetable No. 18, Effective July 1,1963, with Supplement Effective October 27, 1963.

This is a PDF scan of the October, 1945 issue of Reading Railroad Magazine. Many photos of the T-1s being constructed in the Reading Locomotive Shops, as well as a lot of other interesting photos and information. Contributed by Randy Light.

The original Reading Company version of a "car card" is provided here for use in developing a car-card-and-waybill system for operating your layout in a prototypical manner.

What does yellow over green over red mean? How do train orders work? The answer to these and many other operations-related questions can be found in the rulebook. The rulebook dictates how trains are run, outlines the responsibilities of railroad personnel, and explains the meaning of various signs and signals. If you want to operate your Reading layout in a prototypical manner, the rulebook is an essential reference.

This document is an index of the various classes of Reading Company freight equipment, for use in locating and accessing individual data sheets.

A WinZip file containing PDF versions of Reading Company Form 19 and Form 31 Train Order forms. For guidance on using these forms, download the Reading Company Rulebook in the "Timetables & Rulebooks" section.

Philadelphia Division Employe Timetable No. 21, Effective October 27, 1963.

This PDF file is a photocopy of the Reading Company entry in the Official Railway Equipment Register. Dated October, 1975, it is an incredibly useful tool in learning more about the Reading's fleet of rolling stock, including the number of cars in certain classes (as well as their road numbers), freight car dimensions, etc. Source material provided by Contributing Editor John Caples (rdg1187prr).

Mitch Kennedy has provided this scan of a map or diagram of the Reading's facilities at Port Richmond in Philadelphia, taken from a Reading Company sales publication. This would be useful for individuals modeling the waterfront, as well as helping with yard design, as one can visualize the flow of rail traffic based on the layout of the trackage.

A PDF version of Reading Company Form 4120C, "Daily Interchange Report of Cars." These forms were used to document cars interchanged with another railroad. This form could be used along with the Switch List.

Philadelphia Division General & Special Instructions No. 2, Effective January 1, 1967

Reading Company Shamokin Division Public Timetable, Effective April 27, 1947.

Reading Company Shamokin Division Employe Timetable No. 52, Effective April 26, 1953.

A PDF file of the Clearance Form "A" used by the Reading Company, dated 4/59. This form would accompany Train Order forms and would authorize the train to proceed when starting travel or accepting train orders. Created two to a page for photocopying and cutting for use in model operations. Thanks to Bruce Kelly, Rob Mandeville, Rick Bates and Bob Reid for contributing source material.