Reading Viaduct

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This article is about the historic viaduct in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the historic viaduct in Reading, Pennsylvania, see Lindbergh Viaduct.
Reading Viaduct
The Rail Park
View of Phase I of The Rail Park from just west of the 12th Street overpass
View of Phase I of The Rail Park from just west of the 12th Street overpass
TypeElevated urban linear park; public park
LocationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39°57′36″N 75°09′32″W / 39.96°N 75.159°W / 39.96; -75.159Coordinates: 39°57′36″N 75°09′32″W / 39.96°N 75.159°W / 39.96; -75.159
OpenedJune 14, 2018 (2018-06-14)
StatusOpen

The Reading Viaduct, also called The Rail Park, is a disused elevated rail line in the Callowhill district of Philadelphia that has been partly transformed into a rail trail. In 2010, the Center City District and the newly formed community organization began to evaluate options to convert the abandoned viaduct into an elevated park.[1][2] Construction began on October 31, 2016 on the first phase of the plan dubbed Phase 1, a quarter mile section of the viaduct that extends from Broad Street to Callowhill Street. [3] This project included the addition of a boardwalk, benches, landscaping, swings, and the reinforcement of the existing 13th street bridge.[4] The first phase opened to the public on June 14, 2018. [5][6]

History[]

Reading Viaduct before transformation

The Philadelphia and Reading Terminal Railroad was incorporated on April 13, 1888, leased by the Philadelphia and Reading Railway on May 1, 1891, and soon began construction. The viaduct and terminal opened on January 29, 1893.[7] In 1984, the Reading Terminal closed, and Philadelphia's Center City Commuter Tunnel opened. The trainshed was incorporated into the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

The viaduct was built by the Reading Company as an approach to the new Reading Terminal.[8]

The viaduct heads north from Reading Terminal and at Callowhill Junction, forks, the 9th Street Branch formally merging with the current SEPTA line. Except for a gap caused by the construction of the Vine Street Expressway (I-676/US 30), and a few blocks at the north end, the viaduct still exists. At Callowhill Junction, the City Branch turns west to join the former Reading Company main line at Belmont Junction.

Approaches[]

The main line of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway (originally the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad and Northern Liberties and Penn Township Railroad) came into Philadelphia on the southwest side of the Schuylkill River and crossed at a point northwest of downtown (this line is now used only by freight). It then passed into a tunnel under Pennsylvania Avenue and turned east just north of Callowhill Street. The original alignment turned south along Broad Street, with a passenger station at Broad and Vine. The line continued east past Broad Street for freight to the Delaware River, using Willow Street.

The passenger station was later moved to half a block east of Broad Street, on the old freight line. The spur from the new viaduct was later built from the line just east of this station.

The other Reading line, originally the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad, and now used for passenger service by SEPTA, ran north on 9th Street from the east-west line on Willow Street. Its passenger station was at Mount Vernon Street, again where the new viaduct merged with the old alignment.[9]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Rail Park". centercityphila.org. Retrieved 2018-05-10.
  2. ^ Patten, Zach (2013-09-13). "Rally for the Rail Park to Fundraise for Philly's Own High Line". Curbed Philly. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  3. ^ "The Park | Friends of the Rail Park". Friends of the Rail Park. Retrieved 2018-05-10.
  4. ^ "The long-awaited Rail Park is finally here". Curbed Philly. Retrieved 2018-05-10.
  5. ^ "Long-awaited Rail Park opens first phase". Curbed Philly. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  6. ^ "Rail Park". readingviaduct.org. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  7. ^ Reading Terminal, Philadelphia
  8. ^ Pruden, Scott (October 26, 2018). "Philadelphia's new Rail Park is the city's answer to Manhattan's High Line". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  9. ^ Railroad History Database

External links[]

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