Good day to one and all. We have reached the middle of another week, and a chance to share some railroading pictures of the real world. This time around, I found no train in operation, or even standing still. I was driving around the Reading, PA area, and followed the signs to Pottstown, PA. A video I have from 1988 showed an excursion of the Nickel Plate Road 765 on the former Reading lines, and one of the locations chosen to record the train was the Pottstown station. Sure enough, I found it.
Located roughly halfway between Philadelphia and Reading, Pottstown is a rather small town, but must have been a happening place at one time to warrant this magnificent depot. The police department occupies part of the structure.
There is no passenger rail service on the tracks, but the train shed serves as a bus station for long distance busses to meet up with SEPTA trains, and to get around town.
This is the sunny side of the station. Gorgeous structure designed by Frank Furness, who has designed several structures for the Reading Company and the Pennsylvania Railroad. Sadly, no freight train rolled by. Norfolk Southern is the railroad that uses this mainline.
On the opposite side of the parking lot is the former freight station. Several businesses, including a college, occupy the space. With COVID-19 restrictions, much of the building is closed off for now.
We used to like old railroad structures for their gritty industrial look. However, they are being cleaned up with reuse for other purposes, and landscaping makes them curious links to the past.
That is my contribution for this week. Thank you to all who have helped keep this thread interesting during the past year. Enjoy your week.
