Help Preserve Railroad History - Join the RCT&HS!

Get Involved!

 

Individuals interested in preserving history and the legacy of one of America’s most influential rail systems are the most important resource we have! Here are just a few of the ways you can help:

 

Become a member of our organization

Give us your time and talents in exchange for fun and a sense of accomplishment

Make a tax-deductible donation

Donate tools, materials, or services from your business

Purchase from our Reading Railroad Heritage Museum Gift Shop

Visit our traveling HO Scale Modular Model Railroad Layout and Sales Events

There's Something for Everyone - Volunteer Opportunities

If you'd like to volunteer your services and time with the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society, consider becoming a member of the team! You can be assured that many opportunities exist for volunteers in such diverse areas including:

 

Equipment Restoration (painting, lettering, wood and metalworking, welding, etc.)

Museum (developing the museum, giving tours of the yard)

Sales (staffing our gift shop and sales tables at special events)

Yard (landscaping, carpentry, sign painting)

Modular Layout (model building and maintenance, detailing)

Publications (writing articles, editing, researching)

Mailings (preparing mailings to members)

Archives (sorting, cataloging, and searching in the archives)

And many more!

Museum Helpers Wanted

The Museum Operations Committee is looking for people to help at the Heritage Museum in Hamburg.  We have a series of training sessions for anyone interested in volunteering at the museum. The purpose of the session is to familiarize everyone with where things are and how the cash register, DVD and credit card processing work. We will also have sessions for those wishing to do outdoor equipment display tours. They will be less than one hour long and you only need attend one.
 

This does not have to be an every weekend thing.  If you can only help once or twice a year, we want you too! We need over 5,000 man-hours a year just to support the museum operations.  And that's just for normal staffing and does not count all the hours that goes in to maintenance, yard work, construction, etc.
 

Please let Dale Woodland know when you can help. 215-723-5848 or dwwrdg@verizon.net.
 

Membership Has its Privileges!

Anyone with an interest in preserving the history and heritage of the Reading Railroad is invited to join the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society! As a member, you’ll be actively supporting the only historical society dedicated solely to the Reading Railroad. Numerous benefits and group activities are offered such as:

 

"The Crusader," our monthly newsletter

One year's subscription to "The Bee Line," our historical magazine

Discounts on Reading-related merchandise from our Company Store

Restoring and maintaining our collection of equipment and artifacts

Staffing the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum

Riding and staffing our excursions

Trips to other museums and excursions

Hiking expeditions along former Reading Lines rights-of-way

Helping with model displays

Historical research in our archives

Participating in community education

Fundraising

 

We hold a monthly meeting as a social gathering for the membership with lively discussions about Society projects. The business portion of the meeting is usually followed by a program of slides, movies or a speaker. Since 2008, we have also held an annual Convention featuring exhibits and presentations on various aspects of the Reading's history by Society members and outside experts. All members are welcomed and encouraged to participate in all Society activities!


 

Membership Classes and Dues

 

Individual, $45 per year ($55 outside USA): Benefits of membership include FREE admission to the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, subscription to the “Bee Line” quarterly magazine, monthly issues of the “Crusader” newsletter, voting privileges at Society meetings, and significant discounts on items at our museum store.

 

Family, $53 per year ($63 outside USA): Provides the same benefits as Individual Membership, but only one copy of the “Bee Line” and “Crusader” are issued. (husband/wife, father/son, etc.–please list all names)

 

Contributing, $65 or more per year: Provides the same benefits as Individual Membership, plus one complimentary copy of the annual RCT&HS Reading Railroad Calendar<.

 

Sustaining, $105 or more per year: Provides the same benefits as Contributing Membership, plus four (4) guest passes to the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum.

 

Corporate, $160 or more per year: Provides the same benefits as Sustaining Membership, plus a monthly listing in the Crusader. Click here to learn more |

 

Full-time Student, $15 per year: Provides the same benefits as Individual Membership.

 

 

Membership Application

Thank you for your interest in the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society! To become a new Society member or renew your current membership, you may:

 

Download, print and complete a Membership Application, enclose a check or money order and mail to:

Membership Committee
Reading Company Technical & Historical Society
P.O. Box 15143, Reading, PA 19612-5143

 

The Membership Application is in Adobe PDF format. Click here to download Adobe's free Acrobat Reader if needed.

 

Or, Use PayPal and join now!

 

 

Reading Company Technical & Historical Society - PayPal Payments

You can become a new Reading Company Technical & Historical Society member or renew your membership via PayPal's secure online payments. We’re also offering the option of buying a tie, rail or switch for trackwork at the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum. If you prefer, you may make an individual or corporate tax-deductible donation of any amount towards a specific area (equipment acquisition, restoration, repair, etc.).
THANK YOU for your interest in our organization and your donation!

 

INSTRUCTIONS: Clicking a "Buy Now" button below will take you to our PayPal page. If you do not have a PayPal account, you can create an account by following the instructions on the PayPal page.

RCT&HS Membership Sign-Up & Renewal:

Individual Membership: $45 per year

Member ID

Individual Membership: $55 (outside USA)


Family Membership: $53 per year

Member ID

Family Membership: $63 (outside USA)


Contributing Membership: $65 or more per year*

Member ID

Sustaining Membership: $105 or more per year*

Member ID

Corporate Membership: $160

Member ID

Full-time Student Membership: $15

Member ID

 

RCT&HS Heritage Museum Rails & Ties Donation:


Buy a tie: $30 each


Buy a rail: $400 each


Buy 1/2 a switch: $8,500 each


Individual or corporate donation (any amount)


 

Donation:


RAiL Donation


Annual Fund Donation