Reading "Blue" MU coaches

Reading "Blue" cars running at full blast, filmed by my son Tommy. When the Reading Co. electrified their commuter routes out of Philadelphia in 1931 they purchased a large fleet of electric MU's from Harlan & Hollingsworth of Wilmington, DE which was a subsidiary of Bethlehem Steel. They were augmented in 1949 by several motor-trailer sets built by ACF. In 1963, 38 of the original 1931 cars were selected for a major overhaul in the Reading Shops. New drop ceilings with flourescent lighting, seats, and floors were installed and in 10 of the cars, air conditioning. The cars were then painted in a new blue/white paint scheme and were quickly named "Blues" by crew members and "Blueliners" by railfans. In June of 1986 a railfan charter took "Blue" cars 9123, 9116, and 9135 from Philadelphia to Norristown, the Airport, and Parkesburg on the ex-PRR main line, where the train reportedly hit a top speed of 90 MPH on the downgrade west of Paoli. I have numbered my 3 "Blues" as such in honor of that most memorable trip.

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[Wehategod]

Nice Blue Liners really kool. Always have been a fan of Electric Railroading. Also nice MP54's

[nyshortline]

@Wehategod Thanks.

[nyshortline]

I bought these at Lin's Junction in Lansdale, PA about 15 years ago. They were built by Bethlehem Car Works and were modified into "Blues" by some guy who sold them as such. Con-Cor makes a non-powered version of the Pennsy "Reds" but if you can find a drive unit for it and perhaps a pan for the PRR version you'd be in business.

[WWIIREBEL]

@nyshortline .Very nice Blueliners set. I'm still waiting on IHP to get their Blueliners ready for sale.Lol

[WWIIREBEL]

"SUCCESS"....well...maybe anyway,lol. I had a chat with someone @ bethlehem car works and they actually may have the ever rare taylor truck frames available later this summer to model these MU coaches(still working on it). Just thought i pass this word along to anyone watching this vid,lol.

[nyshortline]

@WWIIREBEL They run very nice and smooth. If we're lucky maybe IHP Hobbies might come out with them in a few years. They just came out with MP-54's recently.

[WWIIREBEL]

@nyshortline Whats your opinion of em?.Personally i like em alot. It's about time someone made these huh?

[nyshortline]

@WWIIREBEL I'm looking at 2 IHP Reading Budd Silverliners myself.

[nyshortline]

It's under the YouTube Audioswap but I forget the title. It's under Blues. It's a few seconds shorter than the video itself if that narrows it down a bit. Sorry.