I’ll be moved into the Reading Area from Lancaster, PA real soon. I’m looking for clubs, Railfanning sites, Hobby Shops, other Modelers to meet. Anyone in the area, or Familiar with it. I am aware of the Reading Technical Society, they will get a visit on Sunday. Thanks, Dave
Iron Horse Hobbies is in town, 6th street I think. Never actualy been in it. Up in Leesport is Schuykill Valley Flyer hobbies, an very nice smaller shop. I happened in on a day he was clearing out some old inventory and endup up paying less for an MDC RS-3 kit with the P2K drive than I did for the 3-pack of Accurail hoppers I bought! Further away up my way, about 40 minutes total for you, is Trains and Lanes in Easton. That’s where I go most of the time. Of the two main train guys there, one is HO and the other N. I’ve been goign there since they opened, I know the owner and the manager - although back then I was in my RC car phase.
Twice a year, the Reading Society of Model Engineers has an open house - they have 3 sizes of live steam (well diesel too) plus an O scale layout that is liek amuseum in and of itself - if it’s been made in O scale over the past 70 years, they have it. That’s not to say the layout is old-fashioned, it’s very nice. And in their building the Exploeres have a nice HO modular layout.
Railfanning, hard to say, I used to live a block off the East Penn main, PLENTY of trains there. There’s not too many good spots to see the action int he downtown area that don’t end up being eiter some place you don’t want to stand around or else on railroad property. There’s always the Reading and Northern, they do post their schedules on their web site - up north like that there’s no issues with finding a spot and sitting around for the train. They were at one point reputed to be very railfan-friendly if you go and ask, I don’t know if that policy has changed. There’s a web site called “Railfanning Reading” that lists a lot of spots.
Coming up is train show season, we have plenty of them around here. Starting in September there is a meet at Leesport, another at Hamburg, and one in Allentown at Dieruff high school. We hit every one, you’re welcome to come along.
–Randy
Don’t know of any LHS’s, but I do know of some railfanning spots.
The first is CP-Wyomissing Jct., which is on Business 422, in the town of Wyomissing (just west of Reading). This location is in the parking lot of a bakery (I usually buy something while I’m there).
NS 21J heads west in the early morning.
Another view, this time of NS 21E.
Another nice spot is CP-Belt, just north of Reading on 61.
NS H47 with an HATX GP40 leading.
Reading & Northern QARG-18. The R&N, Lancaster & Northern, and CP all have trackage rights through various parts of Reading.
21M with a BNSF trailing.
The NS Reading Line also heads past the RDG Society.
Here is a quick look at a few spots between Reading and Allentown that are nice.
Taken from a park at Blandon.
Baseball field at Lyons.
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The R&N is still pretty good with railfans.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=79929 (Yes, yet another one of my photos, I bet everyone’s sick of em’ by now [;)][xx(][:D]!)
Nice shots. What bridge are you on for that overhead shot of the R&N train at CP Belt?
Thank you both for your answers. I do mean to check out the Iron Horse, and G&K. I’m familiar with Schulkill Flyer, Real nice guy, Unfortunately he is going to close.
Two questions, first a stupid semi-newbie one. BY CP do you mean Canadian Pacific, Command Post ?
I’m going to live in Wyomissing area, What is the name of the Bakery ? Thanks, Dave
Thanks!
I think it’s on George Street , or something like that.
Yes, Canadian Pacific. That’s not really a dumb question, I should have been a little more specific. They run 6 trains a week, 3 in each direct usually with CP SD40-2’s and Soo Line SD60’s as power.
As for your second question, I forget exactly (I’ve only been there twice since '99 [banghead]), but I’ll ask a friend of mine this afternoon.
Mark
Ah see if you are talking about a PLACE, like CP Belt, then it’s Control Point - that’s the Conrail term for them anyway. There’s also CP Blandon at the top of the hill, and plenty of others around. Dunno is NS has retained the same terminology, but one would expect that the crews know them by the old names. Also over in the vicinity of Belt Line Junction is the unofficial CP Schweim - just up from the railroad cut in Schweimback’s Diner and crews held up by restricting signals would often run up for some chow.
–Randy