Reading Terminal train shed

Reading Terminal train shed
Name	Reading Terminal train shed
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Architect	Joseph M. Wilson, Frederick G. Thorn
Built	1891–1893
Style	Iron-and-glass train shed
Designation	National Register of Historic Places

Reading Terminal train shed

The Reading Terminal train shed is a 19th-century iron-and-glass railroad shed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, built for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad and integral to the Reading Terminal complex. The shed served as a terminus for intercity and commuter services connecting to Baltimore and New York City and played roles in urban development associated with Pennsylvania Railroad, New Jersey Transit, and the growth of Center City, Philadelphia. Its engineering and historical significance link to contemporaneous works like St Pancras railway station, Gare du Nord, and the Eads Bridge.

History

The shed was commissioned by executives of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad during the tenure of presidents such as Franklin B. Gowen and amid competition with the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Construction began after land assembly involving property owners and municipal authorities including the City of Philadelphia and local politicians like Samuel J. Randall. Opening in the early 1890s, it hosted services operated by carriers including the Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and later connections tied to the Norristown High Speed Line. The site witnessed shifts during the Great Depression, wartime mobilization linked to World War I and World War II, and postwar decline paralleling Amtrak formation and the rise of Interstate Highway System routes. Closure of intercity service in the late 20th century coincided with urban renewal policies championed by officials such as Frank Rizzo and redevelopment initiatives involving entities like Center City District and the Urban Land Institute.

Design and Architecture

Engineers Joseph M. Wilson and Frederick G. Thorn designed the shed drawing on precedents by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and architects of the Victorian era exemplified by George Gilbert Scott. The shed’s iron truss system and expansive span echo forms seen at Clapham Junction, King's Cross station, and continental terminals like Gare de l'Est. Architectural features connect to decorative programs from firms influenced by the Ames Manufacturing Company era and masonry treatments analogous to Philadelphia City Hall proportions. The roof’s glazing system and cast-iron columns parallel innovations used on the Eads Bridge and in the work of engineers associated with the Industrial Revolution in Britain and the United States.

Construction and Materials

Builders procured structural iron and wrought-iron components from suppliers similar to those used by Baldwin Locomotive Works and contractors with experience on projects like the Harlem River Bridge. Construction techniques employed heavy masonry piers, riveted iron trusses, and extensive glazing methods seen on Les Halles markets and railway roofs at Gare du Nord. Foundations confronted urban utilities managed by municipal departments and entailed coordination with freight yards operated by the Reading Company and transfer facilities serving Lehigh Valley Railroad freight. Material resilience was tested over decades alongside maintenance programs comparable to efforts at Penn Station (Baltimore) and Union Station (Washington, D.C.).

Operations and Services

The shed functioned as a hub for named trains and commuter routes linking to hubs like Jersey City Terminal, Harrisburg, Allentown, Trenton, and Wilmington. Services by the Reading Company and interchanges with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad enabled passenger movements to destinations affiliated with Erie Railroad timetables and connections to New York Central Railroad lines. The terminal handled both scheduled intercity expresses—paralleling trains such as the Queen of the Valley—and extensive commuter flows similar to those served by SEPTA regional services and later suburban rail initiatives promoted by agencies like NJ Transit and Amtrak during policy discussions influenced by figures like Joseph H. Boardman.

Preservation and Restoration

Preservation advocates drew inspiration from high-profile conservation campaigns at Grand Central Terminal, St. Pancras railway station, and Union Station (Los Angeles), engaging organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and local bodies including the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. Restoration projects involved engineers and contractors familiar with historic roofing rehabilitation performed on structures like St Pancras and the Eiffel Tower’s conservation teams. Adaptive reuse efforts converted adjacent facilities into markets and public spaces influenced by models like Pike Place Market and the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, with stakeholders including the Philadelphia Historical Commission and developers coordinating tax credit mechanisms akin to those advocated in the Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

The train shed influenced cultural life in Philadelphia similar to how Grand Central Terminal shaped New York City and St. Pancras influenced London. It appears in scholarship by historians connected to institutions like University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and the Library Company of Philadelphia and features in exhibitions at museums like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the National Museum of American Jewish History. The shed’s legacy informs urban design conversations involving Jane Jacobs-era critiques, transit-oriented development strategies promoted by the Congress for the New Urbanism, and conservation case studies used by the American Society of Civil Engineers and Association for Preservation Technology International.

Category:Railway stations in Philadelphia Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Pennsylvania