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Total Categories: 6
The Main Line of the Reading Company was originally opened for service on May 1, 1838.
Answer: True
The Main Line was originally opened for service on May 1, 1838.
The oldest segment of the Main Line, completed in 1831, was the stretch between Philadelphia and Mount Joy.
Answer: False
The oldest segment of the Main Line, completed in 1831, was the 1.25-mile stretch between Mount Carbon, Pennsylvania, and Pottsville, not the section between Philadelphia and Mount Joy.
The Mount Carbon Railroad was later leased and consolidated by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad (P&R).
Answer: True
The Mount Carbon Railroad, which built the initial segment between Mount Carbon and Pottsville in 1831, was leased by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad in 1863 and consolidated in 1872.
The P&R completed its main line connection to the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad on December 5, 1839.
Answer: True
The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad completed the southern portion of its main line connection to the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad on December 5, 1839.
The Reading Company acquired the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad's line into Philadelphia in 1851.
Answer: True
In 1851, the Reading Company acquired the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad's line that provided access into Philadelphia.
On what date was the Main Line originally opened for service?
Answer: May 1, 1838
The Main Line was originally opened for service on May 1, 1838.
What was the earliest segment of the Main Line, and where was it located?
Answer: Mount Carbon to Pottsville, completed in 1831.
The oldest segment of the Main Line, completed in 1831, was the 1.25-mile stretch between Mount Carbon, Pennsylvania, and Pottsville.
When did the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad (P&R) formally consolidate the Mount Carbon Railroad?
Answer: 1872
The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad (P&R) leased the Mount Carbon Railroad in 1863 and formally consolidated it in 1872.
In what year did the Reading Company acquire the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad's line into Philadelphia?
Answer: 1851
In 1851, the Reading Company acquired the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad's line that provided access into Philadelphia.
The Main Line measured approximately 142 km in length and used a standard track gauge of 4 feet 8.5 inches.
Answer: True
The Main Line measured approximately 142 km (88 miles) in length and utilized a standard track gauge of 4 feet 8.5 inches (1,435 mm).
The Reading Company's Main Line ran between Philadelphia and Pottsville, Pennsylvania, generally following the Schuylkill River.
Answer: True
The Reading Company's Main Line extended from Philadelphia to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and its route generally followed the course of the Schuylkill River.
The northern terminus of the Main Line was located in Philadelphia.
Answer: False
The northern terminus of the Main Line was located in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, while the southern terminus was in East Falls, Philadelphia.
The Main Line primarily followed the course of the Delaware River.
Answer: False
The Main Line primarily followed the course of the Schuylkill River, not the Delaware River.
The Pennsylvania Railroad's Schuylkill Branch ran parallel to the Main Line for a significant portion of its length.
Answer: True
The Pennsylvania Railroad's Schuylkill Branch operated parallel to the Main Line for a considerable distance and crossed it at multiple points.
The 'City Branch' referred to the section of the Main Line north of Reading.
Answer: False
The 'City Branch' did not refer to the section north of Reading. Instead, it designated the portion of the Main Line that extended from the Richmond Branch junction across the Schuylkill River.
The Black Rock Tunnel was located approximately 30.6 miles from the southern end of the Main Line.
Answer: True
The Black Rock Tunnel was a significant feature located on the Main Line, situated approximately 30.6 miles from its southern terminus.
The Main Line's route closely followed the Schuylkill River for most of its path.
Answer: True
The route of the Main Line maintained a close proximity to the Schuylkill River for a significant portion of its geographical path.
The Reading Company's Main Line was 88 miles long and had a gauge of 5 feet.
Answer: False
While the Reading Company's Main Line was approximately 88 miles long, its track gauge was standard gauge (4 feet 8.5 inches), not 5 feet.
What was the total length of the Main Line?
Answer: 88 miles (142 km)
The Main Line of the Reading Company measured a total of 88 miles (approximately 142 kilometers) in length.
What was the primary geographical route of the Reading Company's Main Line?
Answer: From Philadelphia to Pottsville, generally following the Schuylkill River.
The primary geographical route of the Reading Company's Main Line extended from Philadelphia to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, characteristically following the course of the Schuylkill River.
What were the termini of the Reading Company's Main Line?
Answer: East Falls, Philadelphia and Pottsville
The termini of the Reading Company's Main Line were located at East Falls in Philadelphia (southern terminus) and Pottsville, Pennsylvania (northern terminus).
Which river did the Main Line primarily follow?
Answer: Schuylkill River
The Main Line primarily followed the course of the Schuylkill River throughout a significant portion of its route.
What other significant railroad line ran parallel to the Main Line for much of its route?
Answer: The Pennsylvania Railroad's Schuylkill Branch
The Pennsylvania Railroad's Schuylkill Branch operated parallel to the Main Line for a considerable distance and crossed it at multiple points.
What was the 'City Branch' primarily associated with?
Answer: The section of the Main Line running across the Schuylkill River from the Richmond Branch junction.
The 'City Branch' designated the portion of the Main Line that extended from the Richmond Branch junction across the Schuylkill River, not the northernmost section or the original 1831 segment.
Which significant tunnel was located on the Main Line, approximately 30.6 miles from the southern end?
Answer: The Black Rock Tunnel
The significant tunnel located on the Main Line, approximately 30.6 miles from the southern end, was the Black Rock Tunnel.
How did the Main Line's route relate geographically to the Schuylkill River?
Answer: It ran parallel to the river for a significant portion of its length.
The route of the Main Line maintained a close proximity to the Schuylkill River for a significant portion of its geographical path.
The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad owned the Main Line continuously from its opening until it was conveyed to Conrail.
Answer: False
The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad owned the Main Line from its opening in 1838 until 1896. Subsequently, ownership passed to the Philadelphia and Reading Railway (1896-1924) and then the Reading Company (1924-1976) before its conveyance to Conrail.
The Reading Company's bankruptcy in the 1970s was the direct cause for the Main Line being conveyed to Conrail.
Answer: True
The bankruptcy of the Reading Company during the 1970s directly precipitated the conveyance of the Main Line and other assets to Conrail.
Conrail merged the Main Line's northern section (north of Reading) with the Lebanon Valley Branch to form the Harrisburg Line.
Answer: False
Conrail split the Main Line into two primary segments. The section from Philadelphia to Reading was combined with the Lebanon Valley Branch to form the Harrisburg Line. The section north of Reading became the Pottsville Line.
The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad acquired the entirety of the former Main Line from Conrail.
Answer: False
The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad acquired most of the Pottsville Line (the northern section of the former Main Line) from Conrail, but not the entirety of the former Main Line.
The Main Line remained part of the Reading system until its conveyance to Conrail in 1976.
Answer: True
Through various corporate reorganizations, the Main Line remained within the Reading system until its conveyance to Conrail in 1976.
Which entities owned the Main Line during its operational history, according to the provided information?
Answer: Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, Philadelphia and Reading Railway, and Reading Company.
The Main Line's ownership history, as detailed, includes the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad (1838-1896), the Philadelphia and Reading Railway (1896-1924), and the Reading Company (1924-1976).
What event directly led to the Main Line being conveyed to Conrail?
Answer: The Reading Company's bankruptcy in the 1970s.
The conveyance of the Main Line to Conrail was a direct consequence of the Reading Company's bankruptcy proceedings in the 1970s.
How did Conrail reorganize the Main Line after acquiring it?
Answer: It split the line, creating the Harrisburg Line and the Pottsville Line.
Conrail reorganized the Main Line by dividing it into two primary operational segments: the Harrisburg Line (combining the southern portion with the Lebanon Valley Branch) and the Pottsville Line (the northern portion).
Which railroad company eventually acquired most of the Pottsville Line from Conrail?
Answer: The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad
The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad acquired the majority of the Pottsville Line, which constituted the northern section of the former Main Line, from Conrail.
Until what year did the Main Line remain part of the Reading system?
Answer: 1976
The Main Line remained within the Reading system through various corporate structures until its conveyance to Conrail in 1976.
The Main Line interchanged with the Lebanon Valley Branch and the East Pennsylvania Branch in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Answer: False
The Main Line interchanged with the Lebanon Valley Branch and the East Pennsylvania Branch in Reading, Pennsylvania, not Harrisburg.
Passenger services typically diverged at Reading, Pennsylvania, to use the Norristown Branch to reach Reading Terminal.
Answer: False
Passenger services typically diverged at Norristown, Pennsylvania, utilizing the Norristown Branch to reach Reading Terminal, not at Reading.
Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, served as a junction connecting the Main Line with the Reading Belt Branch and the Wilmington and Northern Branch.
Answer: True
Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, served as a significant junction, connecting the Main Line with the Reading Belt Branch and the Wilmington and Northern Branch. It also served as an interchange point with the Pennsylvania Railroad's Schuylkill Branch.
In East Falls, Philadelphia, the Main Line connected to the City Branch and the Richmond Branch via a wye.
Answer: True
In East Falls, Philadelphia, the Main Line connected to the City Branch and the Richmond Branch via a railway junction configured as a wye (Y-shaped).
The Richmond Branch, completed in 1842, served as a link to the Reading Company's primary coal port in Port Richmond, Philadelphia.
Answer: True
Completed in 1842, the Richmond Branch extended from the Main Line to Port Richmond, Philadelphia, providing a crucial link to the Reading Company's primary coal port facilities.
In which city did the Main Line interchange with the Lebanon Valley Branch and the East Pennsylvania Branch?
Answer: Reading
The Main Line interchanged with both the Lebanon Valley Branch and the East Pennsylvania Branch in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania.
Where did most passenger services typically diverge from the Main Line to reach Reading Terminal?
Answer: At Norristown
Passenger services typically diverged at Norristown, Pennsylvania, utilizing the Norristown Branch to reach Reading Terminal, not at Pottsville, Birdsboro, or East Falls.
What was the significance of the junction at Birdsboro, Pennsylvania?
Answer: It connected the Main Line with the Reading Belt Branch and the Wilmington and Northern Branch.
Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, served as a significant junction, connecting the Main Line with the Reading Belt Branch and the Wilmington and Northern Branch. It also served as an interchange point with the Pennsylvania Railroad's Schuylkill Branch.
How did the Main Line connect to the City Branch and Richmond Branch in East Falls, Philadelphia?
Answer: Via a wye (Y-shaped junction).
In East Falls, Philadelphia, the Main Line connected to the City Branch and the Richmond Branch via a railway junction configured as a wye (Y-shaped).
The Richmond Branch, completed in 1842, provided a connection to what important facility?
Answer: The Reading Company's major coal port in Port Richmond.
Completed in 1842, the Richmond Branch extended from the Main Line to Port Richmond, Philadelphia, providing a crucial link to the Reading Company's primary coal port facilities.
Pottstown was located at milepost 40.5 on the Main Line, approximately 40.5 miles from the southern terminus.
Answer: True
Pottstown was situated at milepost 40.5 along the Main Line, indicating its distance from the southern terminus.
The station at milepost 17.0 on the Main Line was named Norris.
Answer: False
The station located at milepost 17.0 on the Main Line was Norristown, not Norris. The station Norris was located at milepost 18.0.
Birdsboro was located approximately 49.5 miles from the southern terminus of the Main Line.
Answer: True
Birdsboro was situated at milepost 49.5 on the Main Line, indicating its distance from the southern terminus.
The Falls Bridge, also known as the West Falls Bridge, was located approximately 5.4 miles from the southern terminus of the Main Line.
Answer: True
The Falls Bridge, also referred to as the West Falls Bridge, was situated approximately 5.4 miles from the southern terminus of the Main Line.
According to the route map data, what station was located at milepost 58.7?
Answer: Reading
According to the route map data, the station located at milepost 58.7 on the Main Line was Reading, Pennsylvania.
What is the approximate distance along the Main Line between Reading (mile 58.7) and Pottsville (mile 93.6)?
Answer: Approximately 34.9 miles
The distance between Reading (milepost 58.7) and Pottsville (milepost 93.6) along the Main Line is approximately 34.9 miles (93.6 - 58.7 = 34.9).
What station is located at milepost 27.7 on the Main Line?
Answer: Phoenixville
The station situated at milepost 27.7 on the Reading Company's Main Line was identified as Phoenixville.
The Reading Company's Main Line is currently administered as a single, continuous operational unit.
Answer: False
The Main Line of the Reading Company is no longer administered as a single, continuous operational unit. It has been divided into distinct lines, such as the Harrisburg Line and the Pottsville Line.
SEPTA's commuter service on the former Main Line continued until July 1, 1981.
Answer: True
SEPTA's commuter service on the former Main Line ceased operations on July 1, 1981.
What is the current operational status of the Reading Company's Main Line as a single entity?
Answer: It is no longer administered as a single unit and has been split into different lines.
The Main Line of the Reading Company is no longer administered as a single, continuous operational unit. It has been divided into distinct lines, such as the Harrisburg Line and the Pottsville Line.
What was the last type of passenger service operated by the Reading Company on this line?
Answer: SEPTA commuter service between Reading Terminal and Pottsville.
The last vestige of passenger service on the Main Line, historically associated with the Reading Company's operations, was the SEPTA commuter service that operated between Reading Terminal and Pottsville.