New Hope Railroad facts for kids
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New Hope, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Reporting mark | NHRR |
| Locale | Bucks County, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Dates of operation | 1966–present |
| Technical | |
| Length | 18 miles (29 km) |
The New Hope Railroad (also called NHRR) is a special train line in New Hope, Pennsylvania. It's known as a "heritage railroad" because it helps keep old trains and railway history alive! It's also a "shortline" railroad, meaning it's a smaller train company.
Today, the New Hope Railroad runs both powerful steam trains and modern diesel trains. It's a fun way to experience train travel from the past!
Contents
What the Railroad Does
Fun Train Rides
The New Hope Railroad offers exciting train rides for visitors! These "heritage operations" use both classic steam trains and diesel trains. You can hop on a train in New Hope and enjoy a trip through the countryside.
Most trips go between New Hope and Lahaska. Sometimes, they even go as far as Buckingham Valley. The railroad uses old passenger cars, some built between 1914 and 1932. Imagine riding in a train car that's over 100 years old!
Moving Goods by Train
Besides fun rides, the New Hope Railroad also helps move important goods. This is called "freight" service. They transport raw materials and finished products for different companies.
The NHRR connects with another railroad, the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad. This allows goods to travel even further on bigger train lines like CSX Transportation. Some of their main customers are in Warminster, like CRC Industries and Castrol. These companies get their products moved by train every week.
A Look Back: History of the Railroad
The train tracks used by the New Hope Railroad today have a long history. They were originally part of the Reading Company (RDG). This line was extended to New Hope, Pennsylvania on March 29, 1891. This was a big deal for the town!
Changes Over the Years
In 1932, steam trains on part of the line were replaced by a "Doodlebug." This was a special rail car that ran on its own engine. Passenger train service to New Hope stopped in June 1952.
By the early 1960s, the Reading Company was having financial problems. They wanted to get rid of train lines that weren't making money. A group of train fans and business people, led by Kenneth Souser, decided to save the line. They formed a company called Steam Trains, Inc. Their goal was to run steam trains for fun and profit.
A New Beginning
On June 20, 1966, Steam Trains, Inc. bought the 16.7-mile train line for $200,000. They renamed it the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad (NHIR). They started with a lot of excitement, buying four steam locomotives and seven passenger cars.
However, the company faced challenges. They sold "air rights" over part of the line to a power company to get money. But ticket prices were too low, and they didn't make enough money. On June 5, 1970, Steam Trains, Inc. went bankrupt. But don't worry, the trains kept running under a special manager!
Saving the Tracks
In 1974, the Bucks County Industrial Development Corporation (BCIDC) bought the tracks. They wanted to "preserve rail service" in the area. A company called McHugh Brothers Heavy Hauling, Inc. was chosen to operate the freight service.
By 1976, the railroad received money from the state to fix the tracks. Volunteers also helped run passenger trains. Both passenger and freight services did very well in the 1970s after the track upgrades. Finally, on June 30, 1979, the NHRR was no longer bankrupt!
Modern Day Railroad
In 1980, volunteers from the New Hope Steam Railway (NHOP) started running weekend train rides again. They ran trains until 1990, when the tracks and equipment needed repairs once more.
In 1990, the BCIDC sold the line to the Bucks County Railroad Preservation and Restoration Corporation (BCRP&RC). This new company slowly worked to rebuild the railroad. They made it into the great condition it is in today! In 1993, the railroad's official reporting mark became NHRR. BCRP&RC is the company that operates the New Hope Railroad.
See also
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
- Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad
- New Hope Railroad 40
