Northeastern Street Railway Company of Reading stock certificate circa 1900 (Pennsylvania)

Uncommon regional railway stock. Sharp vignette of a trolley on a city street. Unissued and not cancelled. Dated 19__. Circa 1900 from company records.  Measures approximately 11.5 x 8 inches. 

Reading PA regional railways started in the city at almost the geographical center of the county, separated into the five radiating suburban arms. The longest, the Northeastern Street Railway Company of Reading, went northeast to Allentown, ran for 25 miles within the county to the transfer at Kutztown; to Boyertown 22 miles east; to Womelsdorf 15 miles west; to Adamstown 12 miles southwest and to Birdsboro 10 miles southeast.

The company’s owner, Reading Street Railway Company, was the operator of the city's trolley system in Reading, Pennsylvania, which featured numerous lines in the early 20th century but was ultimately phased out, with the last line ceasing operations in January 1952. The company was one of the many transportation entities eventually absorbed or superseded by the larger Reading Company, a major Philadelphia-headquartered railroad. The Reading Company itself, a major freight and passenger railroad, went through several reorganizations and eventually sold its assets to Conrail in 1976. 

The Reading Street Railway Company formed from earlier horsecar lines and expanded through mergers with companies like the East Reading Electric Railway and the Reading & Temple Electric Railway in the late 19th century.  The Reading horsecar lines and the East Reading Electric Railway Co. merged to form the Reading Traction Co. in 1893, appended the Reading & Temple Electric Railway Co. in 1894 and the Reading & Womelsdorf Electric Railway in 1895.