The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-09-12
The Reading Railroad System.


The Reading Railroad System.
ITS ATTRACTIONS AND SUPERIOR FACIL-
From a recent article IN Frank Leslie's Tlustrat-
ca Newspaper we extract the following:
Considered in the light OF its rela.
tions to the great commercial interests
of the world, no line of American rail
ways is more comprehensive, and few
so farreaching in their vast ramifca-
tions as the Philadelphia and Reading
Railway system. Its lines direct or ALI.
ed, reach every nook and corner of the
great state of Pennsylvania, and take
within their mighty scope the great
cities of the country, and by direct
conn ections reach one hundred and
niuety-three summer resorts situated
in the Eastern, Middle, and Southern
States.
1t is not so much the propose of this
article to treat of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad as the great pro-
ducer of coal Qor that is conceded and
pretty we'll KNOWN as it is to present
to the travelling public its unsurpassed
passenger facilities.
The Philadelphia and Reading Rail-
road controls over 1857 miles Of road
way, which is laid with 80 pound steel
rails, land for the most part stone ballast.
Its total trackage, including main lines
branches, laterals and sidings, is 2,1SO
miles. The line between New York,
Philadelphia, and Washington cannot
be surpassed for equipment, fast time,
comfort, and picturesqueness of scenery.
In this latter particular it is especially
notable. 1t presents vast panorama
of mountain, dale, and valley, profusely
dotted with magnificent residences
along the entire line. Twelve express
trains day leave the foot of Liberty
Street, North River, for those points,
the time on the "fyers' being but two
hours to Philadelphia, and five hours
to Washington. All the day trains
have Pullman parlor- cars, and buffet
cars on all through trains to Washing
ton, and sleepers on the night trains.
While this road was among the last to
introduce the Pullman cars on its en-
tire system, it has the satisfaction of
knowing that it possesses the finest
cars eyer turned out by this company,
and which were built expressly for
| them.
The Philadelphia and Reading Rail
road, by means of Its fine equipment,
fast trains, luxurious parlor and sleep
ing cars, and the general foresight of its
management, has succeeded IN build
ing up great reputation as one of the
most attractive routes to the various
summer resorts. No matter whether
the passenger is destined for the coasts
of Maine or New Jersey, the Allegh-
enies or the Adirondacks, the rural in
terror of New York, New England,
New Jersey or Pennsylvania, he is
bound to find every comfort that a
traveller can conceive or imagine, and
be assured polite and courteous treat
ment on the part of the company's vast
army of employees.
The company has certainly been a
most important factor in making At.
lantic City, N. j., the fashionable and
prosperous resort that it is to-day
The management seems to have taken
special pride, if the term may be used
in making this branch of their system
the route TO the sea. Certain it is that
they carry the majority OF travellers to
this point. Yet it is not to be wonder.
ed at when one takes a tiip over the
road. The road begins at Camden, N
j., which is reached by elegant and
rapid ferry-boats from Philadelphia
From this point to the sea the route i.
almost an air line. 1t is double track
steel-railed, and stone ballasted. The
trains are made up of exceedingly
comfortable passenger coaches, with 8
Pullman parlor or buffet car attached
and the distance between Pbiladelphis
and the sea is made in eighty minutes
while the ''Flyer" the right royal trair
of the day, does it in seventy-fve min
utes. Arriving at Atlantic City, the
passenger finds himself deposited in
large and finely appointed depot in tn,
very heart of the city, with every facil
ity at hand for reaching his destina
ton.
| Where so much picturesqueuess o
scenery abounds as is reached in
tour of Pennsylvania by the Philadel
phia and Reading Railroad tits no cas-
task to single out any particular seen
as the most beautiful Beginning will
beautiful Fairmount Park, the trail
follows along the Schuylkill and Sus
quehanna Rivers, on each side O
which the eye rests upon ever changin,
scenes-now tall mountain in the dis
tanoe, then beautiful valley, with tn
rivers ever in the foreground. Her
aud there great iron furnaces, rolling
mills, and coal. breakers owned by tn
company loom up before ones vision
only to remind the traveller that eve
among so much beauty the great in
dustrial army is ever present.
AT Reading one sees the hub of thi
vast railway system. From this poin
various branch roads penetrate all part
of the great state and the coal produC
ing region, running 10 Pottsville, Har
risburg, Lancaster, Allentown, Easto
Phillipsburg, through the Sehuylkil