Alecknavage II, Albert (June 12, 2002). "Reading Company History" Philadelphia PA: The Philadelphia Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. http://www.trainweb.org/phillynrhs/rdg.html. Retrieved July 17, 2009. "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."