Reading Terminal Station, Philadelphia

The Reading Railroad's Reading Terminal, located in downtown Philadelphia, was the railroad's most famous, and renowned railroad station. Along with functioning as a railroad station the terminal complex also served as the Reading's main headquarters building until declaring bankruptcy in 1971 and eventually become part of the Conrail in 1976. While the Reading was never, truly large enough to be a major competitor in the intercity passenger train market with names like the Pennsylvania, New York Central, and Baltimore & Ohio it did offer its famous Crusader, which called to the terminal. However, perhaps the building's greatest asset as a train station was in commuter service as the railroad moved thousands on a daily basis around Philadelphia for decades. Today, this impressive complex still stands including its remarkable train shed, as an extremely popular market, and has been honored with the rare distinction as a National Historic Landmark, forever protecting its future.

At the time of the terminal's construction the Reading was a quite wealthy mid-sized Class I railroad with the large number of anthracite coal mines it served. As such, it spent lavishly on its Reading Terminal despite the fact that, again, it did not serve a wide array of intercity passenger trains. Built in the Italian Renaissance style the terminal featured three sections; the headhouse (an eight-story structure), train shed, and Reading Terminal Market. Its interior design was quite ornate with marble used throughout and featuring wood flooring and cast iron decorations. The stunning terminal opened to the general public on January 29, 1893.

While not related to rail operations, the market has a very interesting history. Today's Reading Market is still one of the most popular venues in downtown Philadelphia with a history that dates back to 1653, well before the United States was even a recognized country. Before the Reading constructed its terminal on the site the market had always been an open-air affair. However, it gained an enclosed setup following completion of the station complex, which required the railroad to spend an additional $1 million to move the market.

Through World War II the Reading Terminal saw several thousand travelers daily, both commuter and long distance passengers. However, after the war, as with passenger rail travel in general across the country, the terminal saw a decreasing decline in use until the bankruptcy of the Reading Railroad in 1971 resulted in an uncertain fate for the building's future. After the creation of Conrail in 1976 the terminal continued to be used by SEPTA (the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority) until 1984 when a new structure, Market East Station, replaced it.

After this changing of the guard the elevated approach tracks that connected the terminal have been abandoned and partially demolished. However, the station itself would suffer a better fate. In 1976, it, along with its train shed were forever protected when they were named a National Historic Landmark and today are part of the Pennsylvania Convention Center's main headquarters. While trains have not served the terminal for more than three decades now the Reading Viaduct is still mostly intact, albeit derelict and abandoned.

Today, Reading Terminal is multiuse building that includes, hotel space, shopping, restaurants, meeting rooms, and of course the Reading Market. So, if you are ever vacationing in Philadelphia, along with visiting 30th Street Station, this is another historic railroad landmark that you do not want to miss seeing! To learn more about Reading Terminal as it is used today please click here to visit the Pennsylvania Convention Center's website.

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One other book of interest is Kevin Holland's Classic American Railroad Terminals. While Mr. Solomon's book looks at depots and stations, large and small, found across the country Holland's work looks only at America's most famous and best remembered terminals. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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