I was at a train show and we got into a discussion about what is the proper name of the Reading Railroad, is it “Reeding or Reding”. I have alot of train videos and one said it was “Reeding” and another said it was “Reding”. Maybe the creator of the famous “Monopoly Game” might know, “Take a ride on the Reading Railroad and collect $200.00 if you pass go”.
I have always heard it pronounced 'Red-ding. I’m sure Randy (rrinker) will set the record straight.
Tom
It is Redding. That’s how the city of Reading is pronounced
Reading (/ˈrɛdɪŋ/ RED-ing; Pennsylvania German: Reddin) is a city in and the
Ed,
We could have conversation on towns in Ohio alone: Wooster, Berlin, Milan, Mantua - even Cincinnati…[:P]
Tom
My guess is that the narrator of the former was NOT from eastern PA…
Depends on which side of the tracks you live on. [:D]
My parents were both born and raised in Man-ta-way Ohio. [:D]
Been there many times.
Yup, it’s Redding for sure, unlike the former Reader Railroad, which was pronounced Reeder.
Pronunciation can often be a very local thing, too. I was in English’s Model Railroad Supply (home of Bowser) one time, and asked if anyone could tell me how to pronounce Youghiogheny, as in Pittsburgh McKeesport & Youghiogheny.
As I recall, I got a couple of what might have been guesses. My guess would have been Yuh-guyo-haney, but what I got was Yucka-haney.
That was more-or-less confirmed when I went, with a couple of American friends, railfanning alongside the Youghiogheny River, which they called simply the Yuck.
I was in a well-known hobbyshop in the Chicago area, and was surprised when an employee answered the 'phone with “Dezz-Planes-Hobbies”, while here in English-speaking Canada, it would more likely have been Duh-Plain-Hobbies, and in Québec, the pronunciation might have been Day-Plen-Obby.
Many tourists to southern Ontario refer to the provincial capital as Tor-on-toe, but most Ontarians, especially in the areas around that city, call it Trawna (I think that 's supposed to more-or-less rhyme with “trauma”)
Wayne
Additional trivia. Depending on era, of course, its not the Reading Railroad. Its the technically the Reading Company (which is why afficianadoes bleong the the Reading Company Technical and Historical Society). Its also listed as the Reading Company in the ORER and the passenger cars say Reading Company in the letterboard.
Growing up in the area, depending on the amount of accent you have, you also get “the Yock.”
That’s what it sounds like coming out of me.
You’re right about regional accents having an influence on pronunciation, too, and those regions can be surprisingly close to one another, with each area their own take on how words should sound.
For example, around here, a carrot is know as a care-it, while relatives 100 miles north of here call them carr-utts.
Wayne
Down here where we pronounce it “redding” we eat “carr-uts”
Though I am currently on the opposite end of Pennsylvania and have to deal with people asking for a ‘pop’ and referring to the group as “yins”
Just 3/4 of a state away, it’s like a different world. Though Pennsylvania IS pretty wide.
BTW Reading is named for her sister city of Reading, England. SHortly after WWII, there was a large ceremony where the Lord Mayor of the English city visited.
There are other Readings in the US, far as I know they are all pronounced “redding”. California left no doubt and just spelled it that way.
–Randy
Many years ago at a Greenburg Train show, I won a door prize. My mailing address was Reading and as my name was mentioned, they announced me from “Reeding” PA. Somone leaned over and said “that’s pronounced Redding, as in the railroad”.
Small town in Michigan named Pompeii as in Italy. Locals pronounce all the vowels - Pomp- e- i- i. First time I heard it I wasn’t sure what town they meant?
I lived in “Joisey” for a few years during the mid 80’s and marveled at the accent, especially in the Jersey City-Elizabeth area. My favorite recollection was hearing “Hey yousguys… dabodia, comheah”
“Dabodia” meant “the both of you”.
Gotta love it! [:D]
Jim
Remember the movie Boxcar Bertha.
Never heard of Boxcar Bertha. I see it had the father/son Carradines. Dad was the gambler in Stagecoach and David was either most famous for his TV show Kung Fu or his unfortunate and embarassing mode of departure from this life.
I saw it years ago, but don’t have much recollection of it…what a surprise, eh?
I wasn’t aware of that one, although I doubt that he was all that embarrassed…probably had a smile on his face.
I’d add a comment about moving in two directions at the same time, but I don’t wish to be censored by the Moderators.
Wayne
Barbara Hershey hope i spelled that right played Bertha.