Great pic and a Historical account on top of it! If one could only go back in time.
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Makes me feel old when I remember riding those rails from Philly to Jersey City. Nice bit of history. Hard to believe the weeds. Is the Reading Market still there?
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John, these tracks were in use as recent as 1984 running under authority of SEPTA. This segment of track was replaced by the Center City Commuter Tunnel which connects under ground the two formerly stub end stations of the PRR (30th Street Station) and the RDG (Reading Terminal). And, yes, the Reading Terminal Market is still there, operating under the train shed which thankfully is also still around, though now functioning as the Grand Hall of the Philadelphia Convention Center. The Headhouse remains as well!
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I am amazed that the OHLE is still intact.
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The wonder is, how a large tract of land can stay unused for so long a period of time. America hurts and grass grows.
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Don - There has been talk of preserving the land for use as a park similar to what had been done in NY with it's elevated High Line freight viaduct. Let's hope Philadelphian's can pull off such a feat. Other plans, of course, revolve around a fabulous idea to demolish the city's history and put up low income housing which would keep the drug trade in tact. Choices, choices...
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What a great piece of history... Thanks for sharing this excellent shot. When my parents were in college, one went to school along the Reading and the other went to school along the Pennsy. They would ride the train to North Philadelphia or North Broad Street, and then walk through the pedestrian subway between them to switch to the other to visit each other.
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Thanks for the interesting history lesson for us foreigners Mitch.
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Great shot Mitch! Sorry I missed it early on. The Reading Company offices building seems to be fairly well undamaged from vandalism. Is it being used currently?
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Guess the old rule of "don't stand in the gauge" doesn't apply here.... Thanks for the memories, Mitch. I rode into RDG Terminal exactly once. I know the trains still run, albeit elsewhere, so it's not so sad as it might be, but still, a poignant scene. Nicely done.
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Always something intriguing to me about abandonded ROW. Thanks for the image, Mitch!
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Fantastic series on the Reading's history and lingering presence in Philly.
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Abandoned rails always makes me sad. Am I the only one???
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