diff --git a/openmc/particle_restart.py b/openmc/particle_restart.py
index 846c7d566d..b09ca0f41e 100644
--- a/openmc/particle_restart.py
+++ b/openmc/particle_restart.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import struct
 
+from openmc.constants import RUN_TYPES
+
 
 class Particle(object):
     """Information used to restart a specific particle that caused a simulation to
@@ -12,10 +14,6 @@ class Particle(object):
 
     Attributes
     ----------
-    filetype : int
-        Integer indicating the file type
-    revision : int
-        Revision of the particle restart format
     current_batch : int
         The batch containing the particle
     gen_per_batch : int
@@ -43,28 +41,48 @@ class Particle(object):
         import h5py
         self._f = h5py.File(filename, 'r')
 
-        # Read all metadata
-        self._read_data()
+        # Ensure filetype and revision are correct
+        if 'filetype' not in self._f or self._f['filetype'].value != -2:
+            raise IOError('{} is not a particle restart file.'.format(filename))
+        if self._f['revision'].value != 1:
+            raise IOError('Particle restart file revision is not consistent.')
 
-    def _read_data(self):
-        # Read filetype
-        self.filetype = self._f['filetype'].value
+    @property
+    def current_batch(self):
+        return self._f['current_batch'].value
 
-        # Read statepoint revision
-        self.revision = self._f['revision'].value
+    @property
+    def current_gen(self):
+        return self._f['current_gen'].value
 
-        # Read current batch
-        self.current_batch = self._f['current_batch'].value
+    @property
+    def energy(self):
+        return self._f['energy'].value
 
-        # Read run information
-        self.gen_per_batch = self._f['gen_per_batch'].value
-        self.current_gen = self._f['current_gen'].value
-        self.n_particles = self._f['n_particles'].value
-        self.run_mode = self._f['run_mode'].value
+    @property
+    def gen_per_batch(self):
+        return self._f['gen_per_batch'].value
 
-        # Read particle properties
-        self.id = self._f['id'].value
-        self.weight = self._f['weight'].value
-        self.energy = self._f['energy'].value
-        self.xyz = self._f['xyz'].value
-        self.uvw = self._f['uvw'].value
+    @property
+    def id(self):
+        return self._f['id'].value
+
+    @property
+    def n_particles(self):
+        return self._f['n_particles'].value
+
+    @property
+    def run_mode(self):
+        return RUN_TYPES[self._f['run_mode'].value]
+
+    @property
+    def uvw(self):
+        return self._f['uvw'].value
+
+    @property
+    def weight(self):
+        return self._f['weight'].value
+
+    @property
+    def xyz(self):
+        return self._f['xyz'].value
diff --git a/tests/test_particle_restart_eigval/results_true.dat b/tests/test_particle_restart_eigval/results_true.dat
index bbc23fb6ef..f343978533 100644
--- a/tests/test_particle_restart_eigval/results_true.dat
+++ b/tests/test_particle_restart_eigval/results_true.dat
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ current gen:
 particle id:
 5.550000E+02
 run mode:
-2.000000E+00
+k-eigenvalue
 particle weight:
 1.000000E+00
 particle energy:
diff --git a/tests/test_particle_restart_fixed/results_true.dat b/tests/test_particle_restart_fixed/results_true.dat
index 701c3e1333..de42a0c68e 100644
--- a/tests/test_particle_restart_fixed/results_true.dat
+++ b/tests/test_particle_restart_fixed/results_true.dat
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ current gen:
 particle id:
 9.280000E+02
 run mode:
-1.000000E+00
+fixed source
 particle weight:
 1.000000E+00
 particle energy:
diff --git a/tests/testing_harness.py b/tests/testing_harness.py
index 05896a2141..20edb49d8b 100644
--- a/tests/testing_harness.py
+++ b/tests/testing_harness.py
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ class ParticleRestartTestHarness(TestHarness):
         outstr += 'particle id:\n'
         outstr += "{0:12.6E}\n".format(p.id)
         outstr += 'run mode:\n'
-        outstr += "{0:12.6E}\n".format(p.run_mode)
+        outstr += "{0}\n".format(p.run_mode)
         outstr += 'particle weight:\n'
         outstr += "{0:12.6E}\n".format(p.weight)
         outstr += 'particle energy:\n'