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New Hope RailroadNew Hope & Ivyland RailroadScenic steam trips through historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania |
New Hope, Pa / Aug 1971 / JCH
Incorporated in 1962 as Steam Trains, Inc. by a group of Philadelphia area railroad enthusiasts and businessmen, this private venture searched for local trackage and acquired vintage railroad equipment in order to start their own tourist railroad, a trend which swept the country at that time. After investigating a number of area railroad rights-of-way, in 1966 the group obtained the northern 16.7 miles of the Reading Company's New Hope Branch in central Bucks County for a price of about $200,000. Using a former Canadian National steam locomotive and seven steel suburban passenger coaches, the new for-profit company was christened as the "New Hope and Ivyland Railroad" in honor of the villages situated at either end of the line.
The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad (NHIR) was launched in 1966 to haul tourists over 17 miles of former Reading trackage in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. The road has seen several owners since its launch as Steam Trains, Incorporated; it is currently owned and operated by the Bucks County Railroad Preservation & Restoration Corporation. Today the line is known as the New Hope Railroad (NHRR) and is now a common-carrier shortline. Scheduled tourist train service is operated throughout the year between the riverside town of New Hope and the village of Lahaska. Shops are maintained in New Hope near the historic depot. Shortline freight service is operated on the southern end of the railroad. Equipment includes two steamers, several diesel-electric locomotives, and a collection of passenger equipment. The railroad provides contract track and locomotive services to freight and passenger railroads around the country and has also been featured in various film and television commercial projects.
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
from Steam Locomotive & Railroad Tradition
#15 - May 1965 / collection
from Railroading
#35 - Sep 1970 / collection
from Railroading
#37 - Jan 1971 / collection
from Railroading
#48 - Winter 1973 / collection
from The Short Line
#93 - May 1987 / collection
postcard / collection
1971 tourist train guide ad / collection
2019 tourist train guide ad / collection
1910 Official Guide map / collection
1910 Official Guide listing / collection
Lahaska, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Equipment
New Hope & Ivyland #72
Postal baggage / New Hope, Pa / Aug 1971 / JCH
New Hope, Pa / Aug 1971 / JCH
New Hope, Pa / Aug 1971 / JCH
New Hope & Ivyland #9005
Boxcar / New Hope, Pa / Aug 1971 / JCH
New Hope #C127
caboose / New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope & Ivyland #1127
coach / New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope & Ivyland #1096
open car / New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Publications
1968 schedule brochure / collection
1971 tourist train guide ad / collection
1989 tourist train guide ad / collection
1992 tourist train guide ad / collection
1998 tourist train guide ad / collection
2001 tourist train guide ad / collection
2019 tourist train guide ad / collection
2006 tourist train guide ad / collection
New Hope People
Lahaska, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Oct 2021 / RWH
Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Oct 2021 / RWH
Oct 2021 / RWH
Oct 2021 / RWH
Lagniappe
Courting a Canadian
New Hope, Pa / Aug 1971 / JCH
October in New Hope
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
The Business of Baldwins
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
First Round Draft
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Forty Lumens
Oct 2021 / RWH
Open for Business
Oct 2021 / RWH
Disappearing Act
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
1963 meets 1891
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Standby Service
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Pretty as a Postcard
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Delaware River Blues
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Still Making Steam
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
The Best of Bucks County
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Face-off
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Roll On, Boys
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Step One: Cylinder Cocks
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Maid of the Mists
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
October Train Orders
Reeder, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
She Likes to Pose for Her Fans
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Markers of New Hope
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Immersion Therapy
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Wicked Witch of the Northeast
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Spring Switch Scene
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Little Red Caboose
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Leaving Lahaska Long Hood Leading
Lahaska, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
One Thing Leads to Another
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Her Majesty's Loyal Attendants
Oct 2021 / RWH
BCRP&RC: Restorers of Hope
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Man of Mystery
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Five to the Couple
Oct 2021 / RWH
Ninety-five Years Young
Oct 2021 / RWH
October Wonderland
Oct 2021 / RWH
Down By the Riverside
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Snapshots
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Buckingham Valley, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
New Hope, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Lahaska, Pa / Oct 2021 / RWH
Links / Sources
- New Hope & Ivyland Railroad website
- Wikipedia article for New Hope & Ivyland
- Diesel Shop roster for New Hope & Ivyland
- Railroad Picture Archives New Hope & Ivyland roster