{"product_id":"reading-northern","title":"Reading \u0026 Northern Railroad Heritage","description":"\u003cp\u003eReading and Northern Railroad Heritage begins with the predecessor railroads in northeastern Pennsylvania including Reading Company, Pennsylvania Railroad Schuylkill Branch, Central Railroad of New Jersey in Pennsylvania, Lehigh \u0026amp; New England Railroad in Pennsylvania, and Lehigh Valley Railroad in Pennsylvania that were originally prosperous; however, in later years they declined as anthracite coal production declined.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePassenger ridership declined with the coming of the automobile, and growth of interstate highways plus growth of trucking companies took away much of the former railroad freight business. In 1983, Andrew Muller leased a portion of a former Pennsylvania Railroad line that was about to be abandoned by Conrail. That was the beginning of what ultimately became the Reading, Blue Mountain \u0026amp; Northern Railroad.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOver a period of time, the railroad grew and has successfully developed a prosperous freight and passenger business. It has restored steam locomotives for its passenger excursions plus has re-introduced the public to the region's railroad heritage.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e[authors] Author(s): \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/beth-anne-keates\"\u003eBeth Anne Keates\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/kenneth-c-springirth\"\u003eKenneth C. Springirth\u003c\/a\u003e[\/authors]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Railways","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42396055109714,"sku":"9781634996334","price":32.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0020\/9171\/2594\/files\/9781634996334.jpg?v=1778414350","url":"https:\/\/www.through-time.com\/products\/reading-northern","provider":"America Through Time","version":"1.0","type":"link"}