Tag Archives: #Reading & Columbia

Announcements, photography, Rail transit marathon, Tips and Technique

NS-5656 in the fields near Manheim.

I’ve made a variety of exploratory trips along the former Reading Company’s Reading & Columbia line, but until last Thursday, I had not had the opportunity to photograph a train in motion.

Working with my FujiFilm XT-1, I set up at South Penryn Road in Manheim, Pa., to catch Norfolk Southern’s local freight on its way to Lititz. By using a very low angle, I was able to better show the wheels on the rails. This perspective gives a visual separation by allowing you to see the grass on the far side of the train.

Track speed is very casual, so I had no difficulty getting ahead of the train for more photos on this pastoral and rarely photographed portion of the old Reading.

Photo exposed in RAF Raw format using a FujiFilm XT1 with 16-50mm Fujinon lens. The raw file was converted using Iridient X-Transformer and then imported into Adobe Lightroom for post processing adjustments which include a mask to improve detail in the sky.

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Announcements, photography, Rail transit marathon, Tips and Technique

Lancaster Junction

There’s no junction at Lancaster Junction anymore.

Reading Company’s Reading & Columbia route split at Lancaster Junction. One line continued toward Landisville where it crossed the Pennsylvania Railroad on the way to Columbia. The other line, curved to the left and went into Lancaster, Pa.

Today, the railroad is operated by Norfolk Southern, and only the branch to Lancaster remains. The route beyond Lancaster Junction is now a trail.

I’ve made a couple of visits to this spot in recent weeks. I wished I’d seen this location in it heyday, but I’m happy there’s still some trackage here. Maybe someday, I’ll catch an NS local freight on its way to or from Lititz.

Lancaster Junction looking toward Lancaster; the old route on the right is now a trail.
Looking toward Lititz.

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Announcements, photography, Rail transit marathon, Tips and Technique

Angles on the old Reading & Columbia

The old Reading & Columbia route of the Reading Company was fragmented during the Conrail-era and what remains is operated by several different railroads.

Historically, the line offered the Reading Company a through-route from greater Reading, Pa., via a junction at Sinking Spring, to Manheim, and Lancaster Junction to the once-important shipping center at Columbia, Pa., with branches to Mt Hope and Lancaster.

Today, the eastern end of this route is operated as part of the East Penn Railroad, with locomotives stored at the old Reading Company station in Reinholds. This continues via Denver and Stevens toward Ephrata.

I began exploring this route after we moved to Lancaster last year. Last week, I made another inspection of this route, making photos of the line using my Lumix LX7. I started at Reinholds and worked my way west.

One of these days, I hope to catch a train on the move over these rails.

Reinholds, Pa., looking toward Sinking Spring.
Reinholds, Pa., looking toward Sinking Spring.
Reinholds, Pa., looking toward Sinking Spring.
Reinholds, Pa., looking toward Sinking Spring.
Denver, Pa.,
Denver, Pa.
Denver, Pa.
Denver, Pa.
Garden Spot Road, near Stevens, Pa.
Garden Spot Road, near Stevens, Pa.

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