Does anybody know if/where Reading Company corporate records for the mid 40's might be located or exist? I know the RCT&HS includes ablurb on their website about the a large quantity of unspecified documents, but I wondered if the corporate records were catalogued somewhere.

If as I suspect, the expenditure to rebuild the T-1's/build the G-3's was significant enough to have required board of director approval, the authorization may have been debated and recorded in the meeting minutes.

I have always wondered why they pursued these programs, especially as they did. Maybe in '45/46, but certainly by '48 when the G-3's were built, Baldwin was desperate for business (as was Lima, ALCO had the only viable diesel line-however Reading was more of a Baldwin line). Baldwin delivered its last domestic steamer in '48, but was delivering foreign steam (as BLH) as late as 1955.

It seems even more odd when you realize the close by Lehigh Valley dieselized its passenger service in 1948, while Reading was building locomotives, surely they were hoping to get 20 or more years out of the expenditure, they didn't even get 10.

It would certainly be valuable historical perspective to be able (if the documents exist) to see what Reading's directors and management were thinking.

The RCT&HS just recently opened the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum which features an (still under construction) archives room. To what extent the collection will ultimately be accessible, I'm not sure.

There is a sold-out "Bee Line" issue (1989, 4th quarter) that features the G3 pacific. I would assume there should be some background info on why the Reading ventured on new steam passenger/freight power so late in the game.

I will pass your question along to our archivist, I'm sure he can answer your question or perhaps point you in the right direction.

Mike, thank you.