Reporting mark ESPN Length 114 mi (183.5 km) Phone +1 610-925-0131 Date of operation 2007 | Dates of operation 2007– Website eastpennrr.com Founded 2007 Locale Pennsylvania, Delaware | |
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Track gauge 4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Headquarters Kennett Square, Pennsylvania Address 505 S Broad St, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA Similar Paoli Pk & Prospect Av, Chichester Av & Woodstre, Pennell Rd & Old Pennell R, Pennell Rd & Balti Pk ‑ FS, Ridge Rd & Huddell St ‑ FS | ||
East penn railroad bristol industrial track operations
The East Penn Railroad (reporting mark ESPN) is a short-line railroad that operates a number of mostly-unconnected lines in the U.S. states of Pennsylvania and Delaware. Except for two industrial park switching operations, all are former Pennsylvania Railroad or Reading Company lines, abandoned or sold by Conrail or its predecessors.
Contents
- East penn railroad bristol industrial track operations
- East penn railroad rolls up the chadds ford grade
- History
- Operations
- Lines operated
- Former
- References
ESPN was formed in 2007 through the merger of East Penn Railways (reporting mark EPRY) and Penn Eastern Rail Lines (reporting mark PRL), each of which began operating in the 1990s. The railroad is owned by Regional Rail, LLC, which also owns the Middletown and New Jersey Railroad, Tyburn Railroad, and Conshohocken Recycling & Rail Transfer.
East penn railroad rolls up the chadds ford grade
History
East Penn Railroad (ESPN) was formed in 2007 by the merger of East Penn Railway and Penn Eastern Rail Lines. Since the merger, the railroad has improved service and infrastructure on lines with customer growth potential; weaker lines were abandoned or sold off. 4.5 miles (7.2 km) of track was returned to service. A yard was also constructed in Pocopson, Pennsylvania along the Wilmington & Northern (W&N). ESPN has acquired additional locomotives and replaced older locomotives to handle increased traffic, including the acquisition of two rebuilt EMD GP38-2's from GATX to be used along the W&N and Octoraro lines.
ESPN attempted to abandon the Colebrookdale line between Pottstown and Boyertown in 2008; it was eventually purchased by Berks County. In 2010, the Chester Valley line between King of Prussia and Bridgeport was abandoned and subsequently sold to Montgomery County so that it can become a part of the Chester Valley Rail Trail.
On August 1, 2011, the East Penn Railroad began operations on the York Industrial Track between York and Stony Brook, taking over operations from Norfolk Southern. In December 2012, the former Raritan River 40' boxcar #100, stored on East Penn tracks at its Quakertown depot, was restored, one of the few surviving pieces of equipment from the former Raritan River Railroad.
Operations
ESPN operates 114 miles of track in eastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware with a roster of 14 locomotives. The railroad operates multiple disconnected segments with locomotives assigned to each segment. Usually, two or three lines have service on a single day.
Lines operated
The East Penn Railroad operates the following railroad lines: