North Pennsylvania Railroad

North Pennsylvania Railroad was a railroad company which served Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Bucks County and Northampton County in Pennsylvania. It was formed in 1852, and began operation in 1855. The Philadelphia and Reading Railway, predecessor to the Reading Company, leased the North Pennsylvania in 1879. Its tracks were transferred to Conrail and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in 1976.

"Bethlehem Branch" redirects here. For other uses, see Bethlehem Branch (disambiguation).

Overview

1852 (1852)–1976 (1976)

4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

The main line became the Reading's Bethlehem Branch; through passenger service continued under until 1981. The line is out of service north of Quakertown and south of Fern Rock, Philadelphia. SEPTA operates Lansdale/Doylestown Line commuter trains to Doylestown. Freight trains are operated on the portion from Lansdale to Quakertown by Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad and East Penn Railroad.

SEPTA

The Delaware River Branch became the ; the Reading also leased the Delaware and Bound Brook Railroad. Through passenger service to Jersey City was diverted to Newark, New Jersey in 1967 with the Aldene Plan until 1981; SEPTA West Trenton Line trains continue to operate as far as West Trenton (and until 1982 there was NJ Transit provided service from West Trenton to Newark). The line remains open for freight use as part of CSX's Trenton Subdivision.

New York Branch

The North East Pennsylvania Railroad's route became the ; SEPTA's Warminster Line trains run as far as Warminster. The New Hope Railroad owns and operates Warminster–New Hope.

New Hope Branch

The Stony Creek Railroad became the Stony Creek Branch under the Reading. SEPTA operates the here from Norristown Transportation Center to Elm Street, while CSX has trackage rights.

Manayunk/Norristown Line

List of railroads transferred to Conrail

Holton, James L. (1989). . Vol. 1. Laury's Station, PA: Garrigues House. ISBN 0-9620844-1-7.

The Reading Railroad: History of a Coal Age Empire : The Nineteenth Century

(1860). History of Railroads and Canals in the United States. New York: J. H. Schultz & Co.

Poor, Henry Varnum

Warner, Paul T. (May 1957). "Eight-Wheelers Between New York and Philadelphia 1870-1900". . 96: 44–62. JSTOR 43520154.

Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin

for North Pennsylvania Railroad Company records at Hagley Museum and Library