The CMoye1 Pages - Steam Trains - Various Other Railroads

Various Other Railroads

In an effort to add variety to this site, I will be trying to visit other railroads when I have the time, and capture some stills, video, and audio. Some places of interest are other steam railroads in the area, as well as local freight action.

One place I have been to the New Hope and Ivyland railroad, based in New Hope, PA. This short line, also about sixteen miles long, heads its operations in New Hope, where it operates most of its passenger service. Freight is concentrated on the other end of the line, near Ivyland, where several businesses are served. Also on the Southern end of the line is a connection with CSX and Septa.

The NHIR was founded around the early 1960s, though the trackage has been in place since about the turn of the century. Excursion service started in the mid 60s, I believe, with the railroad owning several steam locomotives. The first train into New Hope was pulled by ten-wheeler #1533.

4-6-0 #1533 was the main source of motive power for the first few years of operation, until it went down with serious problems, including the rumor of a cracked frame. Though repairs were planned, funding dropped, and the 1533 currently rests outside of the engine house in New Hope. IMHO, this was the prettiest engine to operate the NHIR.

Other motive power to grace the NHIR roster include the following, though this list is not inclusive. Washington Terminal RS1 #57 (which the Black River and Western also operated for several years); ex-Pensy SW1 #9423 (operational on the NHIR); 0-6-0 #7 and sister 0-6-0 #9 (still on the NHIR); C30-7 #7087 (operational on the NHIR); 2-8-0 #40 (operational on the NHIR); PRR doodlebug #4666 (privately owned, stored in Ringoes on the BRW); and GP30 #2198 (operated by NHIR). Also of note is the recent acquisition of ex-Mexican National RR 4-8-4 #3028, which is undergoing extensive repairs to be restored to operational condition.

I also have some older shots of the Fall Foliage Express. This was a series of excursions that spanned across three autumns (from 1996 to 1998), and involved operating C&O 4-8-4 #614 at mainline speeds along 89 miles of trackage between Hoboken, NJ, and Port Jervis, NY.

The 614 was built by Lima Locomotive Works in 1948, and is the last mainline passenger steam locomotive ever built in the United States. Purchased from the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Ross Roland has operated the engine several times, including a series of coal pulling tests in the mid 80s and the Fall Foliage Express runs, among others.

Photo Shoots

Fall Foliage Express -- These are some of the video captures that I have encoded for this web site of the magnificent #614 during the Fall of 1996 and 1998. NOT ONLINE YET!
New Hope and Ivyland Railroad on 9/16/00 -- As a spur-of-the-moment decision after photographing a section of the Black River and Western's Lambertville branch, we decided to cross the river and check out the New Hope's daily operation. This proved well worth it, as we saw action of both steam and vintage diesel.

Multimedia

Fall Foliage Express Media Clips - NOT ONLINE YET
New Hope and Ivyland Media Clips - NOT ONLINE YET