The New Hope and Ivyland Railroad (NHIR) is a common carrier freight and passenger railroad that provides a variety of industries located along its rail line with raw materials used in their manufacturing process. Freight customers ranging from national chemical companies to consumer product manufacturers make up the NHIR's customer list. NHIR interchanges with CSX to provide its customers access to rail freight service anywhere in North America. A large customer is CRC Industries of Warminster, a nationally-known manufacturer of chemicals used in the auto repair industry. Excursion passenger trains operate in addition to the railroad's growing freight service. The NHRR operates regularly-scheduled steam and diesel-powered excursion trains that operate from the main passenger station in New Hope. Passengers for regular excursion trains may board either at New Hope or at the Lahaska Station. 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 35-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. The NHIR was originally known as the New Hope Branch of the Reading Railroad Company. The Reading sold the line into private hands in 1966. Today, the railroad is considered one of the top tourist attractions in eastern Pennsylvania and is one of the largest employers in the area. In addition to providing a core tourist venue for the immediate community the railroad serves as a vital industrial transportation link to many industries in the metro Philadelphia region through its rail freight service. Locomotives (motive power) 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 locomotives which are used primarily in the railroad's busy freight business. Diesels include EMD GP30 #2198 (ex-CR, exx-PC, nee-PRR), and modern six axle C30-7 and SD40-2 locomotives. During the winter months (January, February, and March) #40 normally receives her annual tune-up, which leaves one of the diesels to resume passenger operations. The NHIR provides contract track and locomotive services to freight and passenger railroads in the North America and has been involved with various film and TV commercial projects. The NHIR has setup a Volunteer group, which augments the railroad's shop force in the restoration of the steam locomotives and historic passenger rolling stock. For more information, see the above link to the railroad's website.
Locomotive roster (as of November 2007)
| Number | Model |
|---|---|
| 40 (ex-Cliffside, exx-L&C) | 2-8-0 |
| 2198 (ex-CR, exx-PC, nee-PRR) | GP30 |
| 5577 (ex-CP) | SD40-2 |
| 7087 (ex-CSX, exx-L&N) | C30-7 |
