Abstract: A method and apparatus for reeling a traveling web, such as the paper web produced on a papermaking machine, comprises the concept of winding the on-coming traveling web onto a reel spool which is horizontally supported rotatively, and which, in a preferred embodiment, moves translationally in a direction from the dry end of the papermaking machine towards the wet end of the papermaking machine as the diameter of the wound web roll increases. The reel spool is supported on a pair of spaced, substantially horizontally disposed rails. The on-coming web is first partially wrapped over a segment of a translationally movable support drum with the upper side of the web facing inwardly toward the surface of the support drum. The support drum is selectively nipped, or not nipped, with the reel spool/web over the web roll as it is commenced to be wound in a winding position, and continues to be wound into a web roll on a reel spool.