FACes & PlaceS
Around Town Feb 2005

The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad*
by Amy Aaronson

In the mid-nineteenth century, canals and steamboats were the primary means of transportation until the invention of the railroad. Railroads were first developed for the purpose of transporting goods and supporting heavy industry. In New Hope, a charming town along the Delaware River, numerous attempts were made at the construction of a railroad beginning in the 1850s. Unfortunately, the first railroad was not constructed until 1891 after previous charters had failed.

First, Belvidere and Delaware (Bel-Del) made plans to extend the railroad that was constructed in New Jersey into New Hope. In March, 1836, Bel-Del chartered a railroad that was funded in 1847 by the Hewitt and Cooper Iron Mills in Trenton. Hewitt and Cooper was one of only five companies that mined iron ore in the United States. The owners hoped that the Bel-Del project would benefit their business. After the Bel-Del project was successfully completed between Trenton and Lambertville, Bel-Del wanted to extend the railroad to New Hope. This plan failed since the people of New Hope believed Bel-Del was a New Jersey railroad.

The failure of the Bel-Del railroad was followed by numerous other disappointing attempts. In 1854, The Philadelphia & New Hope and the Delaware River Railroad designed plans, yet the charters did not result in a railroad line. In 1856, the North Pennsylvania Railroad almost extended its line to New Hope, but this also failed. In 1868, one of the older plans was again suggested by Edge Hill and Neshaminy Railroad, but the project was not supported. Finally in 1870, the North Eastern Pennsylvania Railroad was chartered and a line was planned to go from Abington to New Hope. Financial difficulties delayed the construction of the railroad, so the New Hope branch was not opened until March 29, 1891.

The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad provided much quicker service to Philadelphia than Bel-Del since it covered 15 less miles. The first conductor of the freight train to New Hope was Isaac Van Pelt. The first passenger train was conducted by Cyrus Yerkes who lived on Bridge Street in New Hope. The Reading Despot in New Hope was a quaint little station that greatly resembled a child’s train set.

Although this line is still in operation as a freight line, the last passenger train made its journey on June 16, 1952. It was not until 1962 when Steam Trains, Inc. (Philadelphia area businessmen) began a private venture to begin their own tourist railroad in New Hope. In 1966, Stream Trains, Inc. acquired the northern 16.7 miles of the Reading Company’s New Hope Branch in Bucks County for $200,000. The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad was formed by using a Canadian National steam locomotive and seven steel suburban passenger coaches. On August 6, 1966 steam passenger service began between New Hope and Buckingham Valley.

After five years, the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad incurred debt. The railroad sold land to Philadelphia Electric and filed for bankruptcy in 1971. By 1972, the railroad was operating with the assistance of only volunteers. Fortunately, the Bucks County Industrial Development Corporation bought the railroad in 1974 and hired McHugh Brothers Heavy Hauling, Inc. as the railroad’s first freight operator.

In July, 1980, volunteers of the New Hope Steam Railway continued weekend service and ran trains under the lease agreement with Bucks Country Industrial Development until 1990. After that, the Bucks County Railroad Preservation and Restoration Corporation spent $2 million in order to restore the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad. The Victorian New Hope station, freight house, and boarding platform were renovated and passenger service began again in 1991 with five vintage passenger coaches.

Throughout the history of the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, various locomotives and passenger trains have been used. Steam locomotive No. 40 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia in 1925. After being used for the Lancaster and Chester Railway, Steam Trains, Inc. from Pennsylvania purchased the locomotive and sent it north for storage. In 1966, the locomotive was finally transferred to New Hope. When the Bucks County Railroad Preservation and Restoration Corporation purchased the railroad in 1990, they rebuilt this locomotive and it continues to serve the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad today.

The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad continues to offer rides on vintage steam locomotives from New Hope to Lahaska. The nine-mile round-trip tour is about an hour and the trains operate on a partial schedule throughout the year. Groups, families, and individuals can enjoy a journey into the past through the charming town of New Hope.

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* This essay was written as part of the joint New Hope Solebury High School/New Hope Historical Society Essay project - 2004.

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Credits:

Bell, Kurt. “Historic Railroad Equipment of the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad.” United States of America: Freight House Gift Shop, 1993.

Kline, George, James Mastrich, and Yvonne Warren. Images of America: Lambertville and New Hope. Great Britain: Arcadia Publishing, 1996.

New Hope, PA. “New Hope and Ivyland Railroad,” http://www.newhopepa.com/pictures/072103/072103_index.htm (2004).

Richardson, John. Solebury Township. Philadelphia: Offset Service Company, 1958.

Transportation, History. “New Hope & Ivyland Railroad,”http://www/fieldtrip.com/pa/58622332.htm (2004).