The Pottstown & Reading Chapter is selling the following wooden collectible to help raise funds for its educational and historical projects. This Hometown Collectible commemorates the first railroad hopper cars used by the Philadelphia & Reading Railway, whos main line, from Pottsville to Philadelphia, opened in 1842. These cars, though primitive by modern standards, were wood bodied, with iron pedestals and iron wheels. They used link and pin couplers and only hand brakes. The train was stopped by brakemen walking over the cars and applying the brakes. The original car bodies were 8'10" long and 5'8" wide and 7' high and had a carrying capacity of 11,200 lbs.

This style of car was used by other Anthracite carrying railroads until 1887.

This handsome collectible, in seven colors, measures 4-1/4" wide by 3" high, and has a history of the car printed on the back side.

Ordering Information:

Send your payment (check) for $15.00 + $3.50 shipping and handling (USPS first class insured) to:

Pottstown and Reading Chapter NRHS
c/o Richard White
918 Charles St.
Reading, PA 19606-3708