The last train left Reading Terminal in the early evening of November 6, 1984. The terminal was opened by the Reading in 1893. Electrified service began in 1931. The Terminal and the trains running to and from it were owned and operated by SEPTA at the time of the terminal's demise. SEPTA handled the last day with finesse and class. With one exception, The last train for each of the lines radiating out of the terminal was made up of the Blueliner and un-rebuilt Reading mu cars. These cars were built by Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding at the time of the electrification in 1931. The other train was made up of Reading Silverliner II's, affectionately known as Budd cars, dating from the early 1960's.
The terminal was made obsolete by the opening of the Center City Commuter Tunnel which had been talked about since the 1950s. The tunnel joins the former Reading lines radiating from Reading Terminal and the former Pennsylvania Railroad lines from Suburban Station. The building of the tunnel was a massive undertaking, but it could never have been completed before SEPTA. The Pennsy and Reading were bitter rivals and could have never cooperated enough to complete such a project. Also, being private companies on the brink of bankruptcy didn't help.
With the Tunnel completed, the terminal was replaced by Market East Station.
|
Last inbound Lansdale Local is on the right. l rode this train in from Fort Washington. This is the ticket receipt from that trip. |
|
The last Chestnut Hill local is called. This is the view of the concourse from the waiting room. |
|
The last Chestnut Hill local leaves the terminal. The last revenue train is on the right. The National Railroad Historical Society special is on the left in the background. |
|
The last revenue run, A West Trenton local, leaves the terminal at 7:40 PM. This train ended 93 years of regular service from the terminal. |
|
The very last train to leave the Reading Terminal was a National Railway Historical Society Special to Lansdale, Pa. The train left the Terminal at 7:50 PM. |
|
After stopping to pick up a passenger who almost missed the train, the ten car train of "Blueliners" rolls out into the darkness. |
|
|
Septa produced a special schedule for the cutover from Reading Terminal to Market East stations. Too bad I didn't have a copy before I went down for the Last Run. Not realizing that the last train really was the last train for the night, I ended up stranded. Good thing I had friends in Center City, thanks Fran and Candy! |