New Hope Railroad: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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The NHRR was originally known as the '''New Hope Branch''' of the [[Reading Company|Reading Railroad]], which leased the [[North Pennsylvania Railroad]], of which it was a part. The railroad |
The NHRR was originally known as the '''New Hope Branch''' of the [[Reading Company|Reading Railroad]], which leased the [[North Pennsylvania Railroad]], of which it was a part. The railroad 1891. Looking to rid themselves of unprofitable branch lines, the Railroad the line . |
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Steam Trains, Inc. started their operations on a high note, often in an extravagent fashion. The company leased freight locomotives from the RDG, and used only hired labor to operate their excursions. The line was eventually sold to the Philadelphia Electric Company |
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In 1914, a segment of the classic silent film ''[[The Perils of Pauline (1914 serial)|The Perils of Pauline]]'' was filmed on the tracks used by the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad today. The site is still called Pauline's Trestle. |
In 1914, a segment of the classic silent film ''[[The Perils of Pauline (1914 serial)|The Perils of Pauline]]'' was filmed on the tracks used by the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad today. The site is still called Pauline's Trestle. |
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Revision as of 22:09, 4 January 2011
 The train station in New Hope | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New Hope, Pennsylvania |
| Reporting mark | NHRR |
| Locale | Bucks County, Pennsylvania |
| Dates of operation | 1966– |
| Other | |
| Website | http://www.newhoperailroad.com/ |
The New Hope and Ivyland Railroad (reporting mark NHRR)[1] is a shortline railroad in Pennsylvania. It also operates a heritage railroad, offering passenger excursions.
The NHRR provides contract track and locomotive services to freight and passenger railroads in North America and has been involved with various film and TV commercial projects.
Freight service
NHRR provides a variety of industries with transportation services and is involved in the import and export of raw materials and manufactured products. Freight customers include national chemical companies to consumer product manufacturers.
NHRR interchanges with CSX to provide its customers access to rail freight service anywhere in North America. Its largest customer is CRC Industries of Warminster, a large manufacturer of chemicals used in the auto repair industry.
Heritage railroad
Excursion passenger trains are operated on a regular-schedule during the tourist season using steam and diesel locomotives. Excursions depart from the passenger station in New Hope or at the passenger station in Lahaska. Passengers may get off at either station and take a later train back to their originating station. Passenger trains depart the New Hope Station on the hour and from the Lahaska Station 20 minutes past the hour. The last train of the day ends in New Hope.
In addition to the regular New Hope-Lahaska excursion trains which operate daily between Memorial Day and late November and on weekends all year round, the NHRR also has several special event trains throughout the year. Special seasonal trains include Easter, Fall Foliage, Halloween and Santa trains. Additionally, rare 32-mile round-trip trains operate as the Spring and Fall Foliage trains to Warminster.
Special passenger trains are operated in charter service providing dinners, brunch and wine tasting trains through the rolling hills and valleys of beautiful Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
History
The NHRR was originally known as the New Hope Branch of the Reading Railroad (RDG), which leased the North Pennsylvania Railroad, of which it was a part. The railroad ran as far as Hartsville Station (near Bristol Road) until March 29, 1891, when the line was extended to the long-desired terminal of New Hope, Pennsylvania. A decade after June 1952, when Hatboro-New Hope passenger service terminated, the RDG's financial situtation was precarious. Looking to rid themselves of unprofitable branch lines via abandonement, a group of train buffs — established as Steam Trains, Inc. — were seeking to operate steam trains on a for-profit basis. Steam Trains, Inc. became organized as the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad, and on June 20, 1966, the 16.7 mile line was sold for $200,000.[2]
Steam Trains, Inc. started their operations on a high note, often in an extravagent fashion. The company leased freight locomotives from the RDG, and used only hired labor to operate their excursions. The line was eventually sold to the Philadelphia Electric Company
In 1914, a segment of the classic silent film The Perils of Pauline was filmed on the tracks used by the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad today. The site is still called Pauline's Trestle.
Stations and trackage
The NHRR is primarily a single-track railroad with passing sidings at Lahaska, Buckingham Valley, Wycombe and Ivyland. Most of those passing sidings (with the exception of Lahaska, which is used for moving locomotives used in excursions around the train in order to reverse to New Hope) are currently used as storage tracks for passenger and freight cars.
No block signalization exists on the NHRR, however, almost all highway grade crossings have been modernized with full signals and gates.
The stations along the NHRR were:
- New Hope
- Huffnagle (in Solebury Twp.)
- Reeder (on Reeder Rd. in Solebury Twp.)
- Lahaska (built by NHRR in the late 20th century on Street Rd. in Buckingham Twp.)
- Bycot (on Holicong Rd. in Buckingham Twp., a small recent building exists there)
- Buckingham Valley (on Upper Mountain Rd. just off of PA 413 in Buckingham Twp.)
- Wycombe (on Township Line Rd. in Buckingham Twp.)
- Rushland (on Rushland Rd. in Wrightstown Twp.)
- Grenoble (on Grenoble Rd. in Northampton Twp.)
- Traymore (at Creek Rd. and Mearns Rd. in Warwick Twp.)
- Ivyland (where Ivyland Rd. becomes Wilson Ave. at Greeley Ave. in Ivyland)
- Bonair (approximately where the current Warminster train station is located)
(Indented stations no longer exist)
Roster
Locomotives used in the excursion passenger service is usually provided by steam locomotive #40, which is a 1925 Baldwin with a 2-8-0, or Consolidation, wheel arrangement. #40 (ex Cliffside Railroad, exx-Lancaster and Chester Railway), is supplemented with a variety of diesel powered locomotives which are used primarily in the railroad's busy freight business.
Diesel locomotives include EMD GP30 #2198 (ex-CR, exx-PC, née-PRR), and modern six axle C30-7 and SD40-2 locomotives. During the winter months (January, February, and March) #40 normally receives its annual inspection, which leaves one of the diesels to resume passenger operations. The railroad also owns three other steam locomotives. Canadian National 4-6-0 #1533 was the railroad's workhorse until December, 1975, when it was partially dismantled and stored behind the New Hope engine house; its tender is stored on the deadline north of the depot. US Army 0-6-0 #9 had several careers on the New Hope; she ran in 1966 but was stored and replaced with #40 in 1967 until that engine was withdrawn from service in 1968. In 1969-70, #9 again ran but was then retired; in 1976 she was resurrected once more and ran until 1981 when her flue time ran out. The locomotive was partially dismantled and stored (with her tender) on the deadline until 2009 when it was sold to SMS Rail Lines of Bridgeport, NJ and trucked to their yard. It has since been undergoing restoration to active service. NdeM #3028 is a QR-1 4-8-4 which is on long-term lease from the Great North Eastern Railroad Foundation in New York. She has been under overhaul on and off since 1996, and as of September 2009 is undergoing heavy machining inside the maintenance shed, bumping out several coaches undergoing final restoration.
| Number | Model |
|---|---|
| 40 (ex-Cliffside, exx-L&C) | 2-8-0 |
| 2198 (ex-CR, exx-PC, née-PRR) | GP30 |
| 5577 (ex-CP) | SD40-2 |
| 7087 (ex-CSX, exx-L&N) | C30-7 |
| 1533 (ex-Canadian National) | 4-6-0 |
| 9 (ex-Virginia Blue Ridge, exx-US Army) | 0-6-0 No longer located on the line. |
| 3028 (ex-NdeM) | 4-8-4 |
See also
References
- ^ "Reporting Mark Search". Railinc. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
- ^ Pawson, John R. (1979). Delaware Valley Rails: The Railroads and Rail Transit Lines of the Philadelphia Area. Willow Grove, Pennsylvania: John R. Pawson. pp. 115–117. ISBN 0-9602080-0-3.
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