Reading Belt Railroad
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | April 9, 1900 |
| Fate | Merged into Reading Company in 1923 |
| Headquarters | Reading, Pennsylvania , United States |
| Parent | Philadelphia and Reading Railway (leased from 1902), Reading Company (from 1923) |
The Reading Belt Branch is a railroad route located in Berks County, Pennsylvania, extending from the northern part of Reading, Pennsylvania to Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. Constructed in 1902 by the Philadelphia and Reading Railway, its primary purpose was to allow lengthy, heavy coal trains to circumvent downtown Reading. Presently, it is incorporated into the Norfolk Southern Railway's Harrisburg Line.
History
At the dawn of the 20th century, Reading, Pennsylvania served as a crucial junction for the Philadelphia and Reading Railway, with multiple lines converging into the city. The majority of rail traffic traversed downtown via the double-track Main Line, leading to significant congestion and frequent blockages at grade crossings.
To resolve these issues, the P&R developed a western bypass that combined newly laid track with existing routes. This project involved constructing new track along the west bank of the Schuylkill River, which connected to the Lebanon Valley Branch at Lebanon Valley and Wyomissing Junctions. South of Reading at Cumru Junction, this bypass linked with the Wilmington and Northern Branch, creating a connection to the Main Line at Klapperthal Junction. Additionally, the northern portion of the Wilmington and Northern Branch between Cumru Junction and Birdsboro, Pennsylvania was incorporated into what became known as the Belt Branch.
The Reading Belt Railroad was officially incorporated on April 9, 1900, and completed construction by May 1902; however, its opening was postponed until October 27 due to the coal strike of 1902. The P&R began leasing the line on July 1, 1902. In 1923, following a consolidation of twelve Reading-related companies, it became part of the newly established Reading Company. The line saw further expansion in 1957 with the addition of the Blandon Low Grade, which connected the Main Line to the East Pennsylvania Branch to provide an alternative route around Temple Hill.
After the Reading Company declared bankruptcy in 1976, control of the line passed to Conrail. At that point, all sections except for a segment between Cumru Junction and Birdsboro—still owned by the leased Wilmington and Northern Railroad—were under Reading Company ownership. Currently, the Reading Belt Branch is integrated into Norfolk Southern’s Harrisburg Line, combining former routes from both the Lebanon Valley Branch and Reading Main Line toward Philadelphia.