Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Reading Company" in English language version.
After World War One, it became desirable for the P&R to simplify its corporate structure. The Reading Company, which had existed earlier as a holding company, became an operating company in 1923. Many previously-leased railroads which the Philadelphia & Reading RR had taken over—as well as the original P&R itself—were now providing service as the Reading Company.
70-year long period of rapid growth until 1917, when annual production reached 99.7 million tons during World War I