Vintage Lot of 28 Reading Railroad Steam Locomotive Negatives + Reference Card
Offered here is a rare lot of 28 original negatives featuring Reading Company (Reading Railroad / Reading Co. R.R.) steam locomotives. These negatives appear to have been carefully documented by a railfan or historian, with an accompanying typed index card that matches locomotive road numbers to wheel arrangements and operating notes. Typed index card cross-referencing all 28 images by engine number and wheel arrangement.
28 original negatives, approx. 4 1/2"L x 2 3/4"H.
A traditional flatbed scanner was used to capture the negatives. We've also inverted the negatives to better convey the image. Additional images are added for examples that didn't scan well. Negatives are in very good condition.
The locomotives represented span a variety of classic steam types, including:
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2-8-0 Consolidations
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2-10-0 Decapods
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4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers
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4-6-2 Pacifics
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2-8-2 Mikados
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2-10-2 Santa Fes
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Switching engines and freight service assignments
Road numbers documented on the card (and visible on the negatives) include engines such as 1129, 1428, 1507, 765, 1714, 3008, 1561, 3020, 406, 1123, 1738, 303, 349, 121, and many others. Notes mention locomotives at work in freight service, switching duties at Belmont, and light engine moves.
Condition:
Original negatives, dating from the steam era. Negatives show typical age with some variation in exposure and contrast. Several scan lighter or darker, but when held to light the images are clear (see handheld examples). No cracks or major damage noted. Stored in cabinet storage. Negatives are generally flat, but may show some very light bending that should not affect developing.
2L
#7
4L
JP
