Did Reading run the P7 Atlantics (4-4-2) on the mainline between Philadelphia and Pottsville, PA in the mid-1950's? According to Edward Wiswesser's book "Steam Locomotives of the Reading and the P&R Railroads" all four P7's numbered 350-353 were scrapped in December, 1952. However, I remember riding passenger trains in 1955 and 1956 pulled by Atlantics. My uncle who is older than me also says the trains he road almost daily to Pottsville to attend college were pulled by Atlantics in late 1955 and 1956. If the P7's were scrapped in Dec, 1952, would Reading have used Atlantics from the Pennsy or some other nearby railroad? Or did they use their Atlantics after 1952 on smaller runs such as Philly to Pottsville and leave the larger volume passenger runs to the Pacifics? Are the scrapped dates really when the engines were cut up or just when they were taken out of normal, everyday service? I am modeling the Reading in 1954 and would like to include an Atlantic since that is the engine I remember from my childhood days but Wiswesser claims they were gone by that time. Where would I find out which Reading engines were assigned to passenger runs in 1955? Am I on the right forum?
rambytes,
The latest picture of a P7 in Pottsville I could find is #353 in 1946, here (the houses in the upper background would probably be George St. on the east side):
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/rdg353s.jpg
Also, you’ll probably get an accurate answer by posting on this website (I’ve been successful there):
http://forums.railfan.net/forums.cgi?board=Reading
I’m also modeling the RDG serving the Pottsville area mid-40’s to mid-50’s. My earliest recollection of riding the RDG out of Pottsville was 1957, and I only remember diesels by then.