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The Life of JAMES L. HOLTON

James L. Holton served for over 30 years as a journalist for NBC News, the Associated Press, and the Reading Eagle, but perhaps he is best known for his passion for the Reading Railroad. As the son of a fourth-generation railroad worker, as a young man his desire was to follow in his fathers footsteps. The elder Holton, however, insisted that James become a journalist, and after James served in the military in World War II and the Korean War, he signed on with NBC to do just that.

James' writing and editing career assisted him well when he wrote and published a two-volume history of the railroad entitled, 'The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire.' After his retirement, he focused his energies on this book and on painting the scenes of the railroad of bygone days. It is suspected that he often painted his father into his pictures, one more way of drawing the viewer into his works and expressing his love for the era of steam locomotives. He wrote and painted right up until his death at age 78 in 1999.

Today, some of Holton's work is on display at the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in Hamburg, giving visitors one more glimpse into the past.

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2016.03.07
Life History

James L. Holton served for over 30 years as a journalist for NBC News, the Associated Press, and the Reading Eagle, but perhaps he is best known for his passion for the Reading Railroad. As the son of a fourth-generation railroad worker, as a young man his desire was to follow in his fathers footsteps. The elder Holton, however, insisted that James become a journalist, and after James served in the military in World War II and the Korean War, he signed on with NBC to do just that.

James' writing and editing career assisted him well when he wrote and published a two-volume history of the railroad entitled, 'The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire.' After his retirement, he focused his energies on this book and on painting the scenes of the railroad of bygone days. It is suspected that he often painted his father into his pictures, one more way of drawing the viewer into his works and expressing his love for the era of steam locomotives. He wrote and painted right up until his death at age 78 in 1999.

Today, some of Holton's work is on display at the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in Hamburg, giving visitors one more glimpse into the past.