Lived a block from Jenkintown train station and used to see both the Crusader and the Wall Street there every morning when I was taking the commuter train to Philadelphia to go to school.
Thank you for the above video. The Crusader really, truly represented the streamlined train of the Thirties and Forties. Built of shinning steel, it made its way through the Reading RR line, creating huge interest from passengers. A train to remember.
Excellent stuff indeed and a very nice little film. Tip top on the sounds. Superb looking engine but you'll have to excuse my ignorance in that I had never heard of it before.
Ko the Improbable it ran solely from Philly to the Jersey shore and north to Jersey City. From there the passengers took a ferry to NYC. in its entire life it only ran that one, prestigious at the time, route. It wasn’t used in NYC because the city had banned steam locomotives years prior.
The news clip quotes the speed at 120 MPH. I'm pretty sure that's an exaggeration. I doubt they ran faster than 80 or so, even on test runs. Maximum timetable speed on the Reading was 75 and 60 on the CNJ.
@@terrywitkowski6937 Yes, 79 MPH (FRA class 4) is the fastest legal speed without some form of Automatic Train Stop. Perhaps PTC will allow higher speeds on routes not otherwise equipped.
Thanks for a very informative video. Interesting that they put an observation on each end camouflaging with the tender streamlining. It certainly had a longevity. MTH modeled the engine (but not the consist) in their Rail King line though the shroud shows some trimming along the firebox. Did you add the sound effects? If so they were very well done. Thanks again for all your hard work.
I'm trying to remember which model railroad manufacturer sold an HO shell for the Crusader back in the '50s-'60s. Penn Line? Varney? Mantua? Maybe I'll come across an ad while using my "Paper Time Machine," otherwise known as a shelf of _Model Railroader_ bound volumes. (They take me back to the pleasant time when my eldest brother came back from the USAF after the Korean War with a virulent case of Model Railroad Fever. He became my mentor in a lot of things.)
@@fmnut Thanks, I now remember I always wondered why "Penn" Line sold a Reading loco shell, but of course, there was the connection via the Penn-Reading Seashore Lines, wasn't there? (I never made the connection at the time.) As I watched this---great video, BTW---I wondered how close this design was to the Commodore Vanderbilt. Anybody know?
@@oldenweery7510 Penn Line did offer a line of die cast PRR steam models, which was later sold to Bowser. While they were models of PRR prototypes, they were offered in various road names. They also made diesels in various road names, not just PRR. Penn Line was manufactured in Boyertown PA which was the source of the "Penn" not the railroad per se.
@@oldenweery7510 Somewhat similar, but a closer match would be Burlington's AEOLUS 4-6-4, also a Budd stainless "kit" applied in the RR shops, just like the Reading did.
Yeah, I rode either the Wall St or the Crusader when they had both devolved to RDC's. Pastry and coffee in the morning and beer and snacks on the way back. It was an interesting trip to see a USMC buddy of mine who lived in Clifton, NJ. RDG commuter Lansdale to Jenkintown, Wall St or Crusader RDC to Newark Penn, PATH from Newark to Hoboken via Exchange Place and NJ Transit to Clifton. It was the greatest number of different trains I had ever ridden in one day. I still look back on the pleasant memories.
Never thought there would be footage of my most fav train and i got to hear its whistle! I got some questions, 1. does the crusader actually have a airhorn and does it use it for crossings? and 2. is that a camel back at the right at 3:55?
All Reading steam locomotives regularly assigned to passenger runs in New Jersey had air horns in addition to steam whistles. I believe this was a state PUC ruling in the 1930s caused by the dramatic increase in grade crossing fatalities associated with the rising use of automobiles. The 117 and 118 had them. I'm not sure under what conditions they were used rather than the steam whistles.
@@fmnut According to my late brother, who worked for the MILW, the Milwaukee Road added air horns to its steam locos for reasons of _economy._ I don't know if it's true or not, but he said the bean-counters calculated that it cost something like 13 cents every time they blew the whistle on a steam loco. There were, and are, an awful lot of grade crossings between Milwaukee and the Twin Cities!
@@oldenweery7510 yes, but the air for an air horn isn't free, it takes steam to make the air supply. I wonder if the bean counters deducted that from their "savings"?
It is not the same as the stainless steel clad steam locomotive from 1937. The welded steel diesel engine with the different colors do not match the train. Reading shared the terminal in Jersey City, N.J. with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Lehigh Valley Railroad until circa 1960.
The LV never used the CNJ station in Jersey City, as they were affiliated with the PRR. Their trains originated on the PRR at Exchange Place and later Penn Station. Starting in the the 1930s, they used the connection to the PRR at Newark (Hunter) and changed from PRR power to LV at NK until the end of passenger service in 1961.
Reading did 120 mph? Really? On jointed rail? Amtrak does only 79 on most of its trains on welded rail! How pathetic our modern age is compared to the 1930s and 1940s the golden age of railroads! Ride on in majestic glory on the *Crusader* Reading Company!
It's likely that it was a publicity exaggeration. As fmnut stated above, that speed wouldn't have been allowed since Reading timetables only allowed for 75 mph, and the CNJ only allowed 60 mph. I'm sure there was at least one crew that tried to get the train up to 120 mph (I mean if the Pennsy could disregard speed limits, it couldn't be too hard for the Reading lol) but I highly doubt it would've been done/attempted on a regular And as for Amtrak, it's certainly not as good as it could be, but it hasn't really progressed from the Glory Days of the 30's as 40's. Only a handful of passenger trains were regularly scheduled for 100 mph speeds (take the Hiawatha or some of the Pennsy's NEC trains). I think the main downgrade is (barely) reworking schedules and leaving infrastructure which makes passenger trains have to wait for freight trains.
This train was common knowledge in the area where the Reading serviced. This was their finest train.
Lived a block from Jenkintown train station and used to see both the Crusader and the Wall Street there every morning when I was taking the commuter train to Philadelphia to go to school.
What an incredibly powerful and agile liner and stunning design. What a place in history she holds!
I am a huge Reading fan! This is great!!
Great video ........ loved seeing the stainless steel locomotive and consist. BEAUTIFUL!! Thanks for posting this. Mike
Thank you for the above video. The Crusader really, truly represented the streamlined train of the Thirties and Forties. Built of shinning steel, it made its way through the Reading RR line, creating huge interest from passengers. A train to remember.
Terrific job putting this all together!
Thanks
One can still visit the Reading Terminal in Philadelphia. It's a nice tourist attraction. Or it was a few years back.
Excellent stuff indeed and a very nice little film. Tip top on the sounds. Superb looking engine but you'll have to excuse my ignorance in that I had never heard of it before.
Yeah, I was going to comment that I'd never heard of it, either.
Ko the Improbable it ran solely from Philly to the Jersey shore and north to Jersey City. From there the passengers took a ferry to NYC. in its entire life it only ran that one, prestigious at the time, route. It wasn’t used in NYC because the city had banned steam locomotives years prior.
Excellent video. Thank you for the upload.
thing originally had 6 there was a diner and a cafe bar car
WOW! A most excellent and informative VIDEO of 2 of my favorite READING passenger TRAIN'S!
most of the train was sold and used in Canadian Railroad service
Wow! I didn't know RDG ran trains that fast. Thanks fmnut.
The news clip quotes the speed at 120 MPH. I'm pretty sure that's an exaggeration. I doubt they ran faster than 80 or so, even on test runs. Maximum timetable speed on the Reading was 75 and 60 on the CNJ.
I'm watching the video again. thanks fmnut.
@@terrywitkowski6937 Also remember that older film cameras tended to speed up movement.
I re-watched the video and your probably right. But I clocked an Amtrak train at 79mph going through Montana. The North Coast Hiawatha in 1979.
@@terrywitkowski6937 Yes, 79 MPH (FRA class 4) is the fastest legal speed without some form of Automatic Train Stop. Perhaps PTC will allow higher speeds on routes not otherwise equipped.
Thanks for a very informative video. Interesting that they put an observation on each end camouflaging with the tender streamlining. It certainly had a longevity. MTH modeled the engine (but not the consist) in their Rail King line though the shroud shows some trimming along the firebox. Did you add the sound effects? If so they were very well done. Thanks again for all your hard work.
I added the diesel sound and music. The steam sounds are on the original video.
@@fmnut Your films are excellent, thank you for your dedication.
very informative.
it's lucky that there is at least 1 piece left of this beautiful train. it's currently located at Strasburg PA being one of the Observation cars
Wow. Rare piece of film.
great video bro
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Who still watching this in august 2020
Nice Video. Thanks, Lenny
I love the music at the start.
Wonderful Video. Thanks for sharing.
You love the Crusader train! You’ve did it!
I'm trying to remember which model railroad manufacturer sold an HO shell for the Crusader back in the '50s-'60s. Penn Line? Varney? Mantua? Maybe I'll come across an ad while using my "Paper Time Machine," otherwise known as a shelf of _Model Railroader_ bound volumes. (They take me back to the pleasant time when my eldest brother came back from the USAF after the Korean War with a virulent case of Model Railroad Fever. He became my mentor in a lot of things.)
It was Penn Line.
@@fmnut Thanks, I now remember I always wondered why "Penn" Line sold a Reading loco shell, but of course, there was the connection via the Penn-Reading Seashore Lines, wasn't there? (I never made the connection at the time.) As I watched this---great video, BTW---I wondered how close this design was to the Commodore Vanderbilt. Anybody know?
@@oldenweery7510 Penn Line did offer a line of die cast PRR steam models, which was later sold to Bowser. While they were models of PRR prototypes, they were offered in various road names. They also made diesels in various road names, not just PRR. Penn Line was manufactured in Boyertown PA which was the source of the "Penn" not the railroad per se.
@@oldenweery7510 Somewhat similar, but a closer match would be Burlington's AEOLUS 4-6-4, also a Budd stainless "kit" applied in the RR shops, just like the Reading did.
Yeah, I rode either the Wall St or the Crusader when they had both devolved to RDC's. Pastry and coffee in the morning and beer and snacks on the way back. It was an interesting trip to see a USMC buddy of mine who lived in Clifton, NJ. RDG commuter Lansdale to Jenkintown, Wall St or Crusader RDC to Newark Penn, PATH from Newark to Hoboken via Exchange Place and NJ Transit to Clifton. It was the greatest number of different trains I had ever ridden in one day. I still look back on the pleasant memories.
Never thought there would be footage of my most fav train and i got to hear its whistle! I got some questions, 1. does the crusader actually have a airhorn and does it use it for crossings? and 2. is that a camel back at the right at 3:55?
All Reading steam locomotives regularly assigned to passenger runs in New Jersey had air horns in addition to steam whistles. I believe this was a state PUC ruling in the 1930s caused by the dramatic increase in grade crossing fatalities associated with the rising use of automobiles. The 117 and 118 had them. I'm not sure under what conditions they were used rather than the steam whistles.
Yes, that's a CNJ camelback at Elizabethport.
@@fmnut Oh okay!
@@fmnut According to my late brother, who worked for the MILW, the Milwaukee Road added air horns to its steam locos for reasons of _economy._ I don't know if it's true or not, but he said the bean-counters calculated that it cost something like 13 cents every time they blew the whistle on a steam loco. There were, and are, an awful lot of grade crossings between Milwaukee and the Twin Cities!
@@oldenweery7510 yes, but the air for an air horn isn't free, it takes steam to make the air supply. I wonder if the bean counters deducted that from their "savings"?
0:45 Where do you found the clip from that?
Old newsreel footage given to me by a friend.
A dining car on a train between NY and Philly going 120 MPH?!? Better eat fast! Fast Food must have started here!
That 120 figure was newsreel hyperbole. Top speed was 80, average speed overall about 60.
Now I can eat my dinner in peace! Thanks for the info!
Thank you.
I remember the Wall Street in the 1970s 4 Budd RDCs and a change at Newark
What was the pretty music in the background ?
Tir' na m ban. Track 13 from the soundtrack of the film Avalon. It's a Polish Sci Fi film.
I believe the rail card are still around by not the steam engine!
Dave I was on that train when it was steam powered 1958 Jenkintown to New York I was just a little kid.
What song did you use? Also great video! She's beautiful!
The music is from the movie "Avalon" soundtrack. Track 13 "Tir na mBan".
Damm that's a SEXY lookin' train.
Amazing that the train could be 'profitable' with just 4 revenue cars and a diner.
a 4 track main now is single tracked
Sold to Goldstans junk yard....Second and Chestnut Street...where Penske is now located...Water & Chestnut Streets..
What part of the train are you saying was sold to Goldstan?
i wish, when dieselized, they used a silver and blue one
That was SWELL!!!
It is not the same as the stainless steel clad steam locomotive from 1937. The welded steel diesel engine with the different colors do not match the train. Reading shared the terminal in Jersey City, N.J. with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Lehigh Valley Railroad until circa 1960.
The LV never used the CNJ station in Jersey City, as they were affiliated with the PRR. Their trains originated on the PRR at Exchange Place and later Penn Station. Starting in the the 1930s, they used the connection to the PRR at Newark (Hunter) and changed from PRR power to LV at NK until the end of passenger service in 1961.
@@fmnut Thank you for correcting me. I am more familiar with trains in NYC.
crusaders streamlined steam reading line locomotive December 16 sold scrapped 1956 is not i’ll be back soon 5:00
Destroy crusader steam locomotive streamlined
Reading did 120 mph? Really? On jointed rail? Amtrak does only 79 on most of its trains on welded rail! How pathetic our modern age is compared to the 1930s and 1940s the golden age of railroads! Ride on in majestic glory on the *Crusader* Reading Company!
It's likely that it was a publicity exaggeration. As fmnut stated above, that speed wouldn't have been allowed since Reading timetables only allowed for 75 mph, and the CNJ only allowed 60 mph. I'm sure there was at least one crew that tried to get the train up to 120 mph (I mean if the Pennsy could disregard speed limits, it couldn't be too hard for the Reading lol) but I highly doubt it would've been done/attempted on a regular
And as for Amtrak, it's certainly not as good as it could be, but it hasn't really progressed from the Glory Days of the 30's as 40's. Only a handful of passenger trains were regularly scheduled for 100 mph speeds (take the Hiawatha or some of the Pennsy's NEC trains). I think the main downgrade is (barely) reworking schedules and leaving infrastructure which makes passenger trains have to wait for freight trains.
@@russellgxy2905 If the demand comes back, they'll bring it back to that condition. There has been talk the Railroad is coming back.
THE OTHER SIDE RARITY MLP EQG