New Hope station

New Hope is a heritage railroad station on the New Hope Railroad in New Hope, Pennsylvania, United States.

New Hope
New Hope Railroad heritage station
New Hope station in 2010
General information
Location	32 West Bridge Street, New Hope, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates	40°21′54″N 74°57′12″W
Platforms	1
Construction
Structure type	Depot
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	NH
History
Opened	March 21, 1891[1]
Closed	June 7, 1952[1]
Rebuilt	1966, 1991
Services
Preceding station New Hope Railroad Following station Lahaska toward Warminster Main Line Terminus
Former services Preceding station Reading Railroad Following station Hood service ended 1952 toward Philadelphia New Hope Branch Terminus

History

First train to New Hope in March 1891

New Hope station was once the terminal point of the Reading Company's New Hope Branch. Regular service to this station ended September 1952. The station became a heritage railroad station of the NHRR, which was originally known as the New Hope Branch of the Reading Company (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 21, 1891, when the line was extended to the long-desired terminal of New Hope, Pennsylvania.^[2]

A decade after June 1952, when Hatboro-New Hope passenger service terminated, the RDG's financial situation was precarious. Looking to rid themselves of unprofitable branch lines via abandonment, a group of train buffs and businessmen led by Philadelphia attorney Kenneth Souser — established as Steam Trains, Inc. — were seeking to operate steam trains on a for-profit basis.^[3] 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, equal to $1,878,154 today.^[2]

References

1. "150 Take Last Train Ride on Old New Hope Line". The Philadelphia Inquirer. June 8, 1952. p. 41. Retrieved October 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
2. 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.
3. Balkin, Marc (2007). Ride the New Hope Line!. Mark I Videos.

External links