Reading & Northern Acquires North Shore/Penn Valley Cars

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:35 pm

In a press release released on their Facebook page but not yet posted to their website, the Passenger Division of the Reading & Northern has announced that it has acquired six passenger cars from the Penn Valley Railroad operation, a private owner that had long ago acquired and refurbished the former West Shore (Lewisburg-Mifflinburg, Pa.) rolling stock, which has been used occasionally for public excursions on the North Shore family of lines in central Pennsylvania.

https://www.facebook.com/RBMNPassenger/ ... eev6BxrJkl

Confirmed by the press release is the acquisition of three former roller-bearing-equipped Lackawanna M.U. cars/trailers originally part of the West Shore Railroad excursion operation out of Lewisburg, Pa. I believe the other three cars described include the former CNJ clearstory car "converted" to a "diner," another car of some sort, and a car which I believe was never used on the West Shore set up as a generator car; I'm awaiting confirmation from "spotters" up in central Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, the text of a letter reportedly sent out by the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (owner of most of the NSHR operating trackage) to excursion sponsors:

Quote:

We are writing to provide you with an update regarding the passenger excursions service provided by the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA). At the JRA’s January Board meeting, the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority’s (JRA) rail passenger excursion service provider, Penn Valley Railroad, LLC, informed the JRA and North Shore Railroad that they elected to terminate service in 90 days per the termination clause in our excursions service agreement. As such, the JRA will be working with North Shore Railroad over the next few months to establish next steps for future passenger excursion service on the JRA rail system.

Please be assured that the JRA fully supports the rail passenger excursion service for our communities in which we operate. We will do our very best to ensure service in 2025 is not interrupted; however, please understand we cannot guarantee service in 2025. Our goal is to have a new service provider in place by mid-April. We will keep you apprised of our progress.

T.E.P · **Posted:** Mon Jan 13, 2025 11:08 pm

Considering that NSHR has been acquiring its own passenger equipment lately (notably the ex-Tioga Central cars), and the Bellfonte Historical Railroad Society getting both of its ex-New Haven RDCs back in operation, I expect NSHR themselves (and/or BHRS) to become the excursion provider.

I can't even begin to speculate on what led to NSHR buying the Tioga Central or Mr. Pontius deciding to sell this equipment to RBMN, but at the very least, it is going to a good home.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Jan 14, 2025 6:26 pm

All the answers (save for precise car numbers and former operators/numbers) are here, courtesy of Brother Cupper, since I'm over 2,000 miles away:

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... ger-fleet/

The important part, for those keeping rosters up to date:

Quote:

In all, the seven cars offer a capacity of 350-400 people. The sale comprises a group of three former Lackawanna commuter cars, a former Great Northern Empire Builder streamlined coach, a heavyweight table/lounge car that was formerly a Jersey Central car, a heavyweight former New York Central baggage car, and a crew/generator car — previously a Conrail test and research car, the onetime NYC streamlined sleeper Chicopee Falls.

In addition, the deal includes former Pennsylvania Railroad cabin car (caboose) No. 478044, a class N8 type that was among the last group of cabooses built by PRR’s Altoona, Pa., shops in 1950-51. The sale also includes spare parts, extra seats, and seasonal costumes for characters, such as Santa Claus and the Dr. Seuss character, “the Grinch.”

The cars are painted Tuscan red, with most bearing Pennsylvania Railroad lettering and striping, though none is of PRR heritage. Despite being of mixed heritage and varying ages, all cars are roller-bearing equipped, and the Strasburg Rail Road shop converted all to modern ABDX airbrake systems.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Jan 14, 2025 6:28 pm

[glitch double post]

linkthebutler · **Joined:** Mon Jul 13, 2020 12:29 am **Posts:** 228

motion picture show more then 1000 words

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn2q8nLHAoc

Reading & Northern Acquires North Shore/Penn Valley Cars

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