Reading Co. Track Signals

I don't for sure what Reading Lines used for signals.

Try going to www.readingmodeler.com Somebody over there can help you if nobody on here does.

Lee Fritz

Went to Reading Company tech & hist. society.com and I found this in a link.

www.railroad-signaling.com/colorlights/21.html

I think it is Birdsboro signal light.

Lee Fritz

Try calling or emailing Terry Christopher at Custom Signals. I'm sure he would know.

I think you might be referring to train order signals at stations which issued train orders.

As to Reading's block signals, though, John's suggestion that you call Terry Christopher is a good one.  Terry knows a lot about northeast railroads and their signal systems.  He is a baby boomer, so he may well have been around the Reading before Conrail.  What I remember from photographs is unusual color light signals oriented horizontally instead of vertically, an unusual practice in North America.  I was never near the Reading, though, and that may not be typical of Reading's signals.

If you call the Reading Company Technical Society, they may put you in touch with an genuine authority on Reading's signals.

Here are some old Reading Signals ( long gone at this point) I shot along the Harrisburg & Reading Lines - 

Emmaus, PA - 2/19/06 by Christopher & Amy Cate / Eastern Rails Photography, on Flickr

Fleetwood, PA - 2/18/06 by Christopher & Amy Cate / Eastern Rails Photography, on Flickr

Hummelstown, PA - 10/3/00 by Christopher & Amy Cate / Eastern Rails Photography, on Flickr

I used to train watch at Royersford, PA years ago, where there was a signal mast. This was the old RDG line from the Abramson yard at King of Prussia to Reading. CR kept the same signal system going.

This is what I observed: one mast. One standard (like the one at Emmaus, above). The light was usually dark.

When a train was approaching from down the line, the signal would go to red. When the train arrived, the signal turned to green. As soon as the train passed, the signal went to red, then went dark until the next train.

It was always exciting to see the red light go on, because of the anticipation a train was approaching.