Warminster Branch

{{Short description|Railway line in Pennsylvania}} {{Infobox rail line | box_width = | name = Warminster Branch | other_name = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | color = | logo = | logo_width = | logo_alt = | image = SEPTA Silverliner IV 450 inbound between Hatboro and Willow Grove.jpeg | image_width = | image_alt = | caption = Southbound Warminster Line train along the Warminster Branch between Hatboro and Willow Grove stations | type = | system = | status = | locale = | start = | end = | stations = | routes = {{rcb|SEPTA|Warminster|inline=yes}} | daily_ridership = | ridership2 = | planopen =  | open = {{Start date|1872|12|18|df=y}} | yearcommenced =  | yearcompleted =  | close =  | event1label = | event1 = | event2label = | event2 = | event3label = | event3 = | owner = [[SEPTA]] | operator = | character = | depot = | stock = | linelength_km = | linelength_mi = 8.3 | linelength = | tracklength_km = | tracklength_mi = | tracklength = | tracks = | gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}} | old_gauge = | load_gauge = | minradius = | racksystem = | routenumber = | linenumber = | electrification = [[SEPTA's 25 Hz traction power system|12 kV 25 Hz]] overhead catenary | speed_km/h = | speed_mph = | speed = | signalling = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | elevation = | website = | map = {{Warminster Branch}} | map_name = | map_state = | embedded = }}

The '''Warminster Branch''' is a railway line in the state of [[Pennsylvania]]. It runs {{convert|8.3|mi}} from a junction with the [[SEPTA Main Line]] just north of {{stl|SEPTA|Glenside}} to {{stl|SEPTA|Warminster}}, where it meets the [[New Hope Railroad]]. It was originally built by the [[North East Pennsylvania Railroad]], a subsidiary of the [[North Pennsylvania Railroad]], between 1872 and 1874. It was part of the [[Reading Company]] system from 1879 until 1976. Today it is owned by [[SEPTA]] and hosts [[Warminster Line]] commuter rail service. A later extension of the branch to [[New Hope, Pennsylvania]] is now the New Hope Railroad heritage railway.

== History == The [[North East Pennsylvania Railroad]] was incorporated on December 14, 1870, to build northeast from the [[North Pennsylvania Railroad]]'s [[SEPTA Main Line|main line]] at [[Glenside, Pennsylvania|Glenside]] to [[Hatboro, Pennsylvania|Hatboro]].{{sfnp|Vernon|1874|p=235}} The line was completed to the [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Bucks]] / [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery]] county line on December 18, 1872, a distance of {{convert|7.2|mi}}. A further {{convert|2.44|mi|adj=on}} extension to [[Hartsville, Pennsylvania]], opened on November 9, 1874.{{sfnp|ICC|1931|p=680}} The [[Philadelphia and Reading Railroad]] leased the North Pennsylvania Railroad on May 14, 1879.{{sfnp|Holton|1989|p=274}} Under Reading control, the line was extended to [[New Hope, Pennsylvania|New Hope]] on March 29, 1891.{{sfnp|ICC|1931|p=680}}

Under the Reading the line was known as the '''New Hope Branch'''. The Reading electrified the portion between Glenside and {{stl|SEPTA|Hatboro}} on July 26, 1931.{{sfnp|Coates|1990|p=84}} The North East Pennsylvania Railroad was one of twelve railroads merged into the [[Reading Company]] effective December 31, 1945.{{sfnp|ICC|1947|page=573}} Passenger service beyond Hatboro ended on June 7, 1952. The [[New Hope and Ivyland Railroad]] purchased the section of the branch between Ivyland and New Hope on June 20, 1966, with the intention of running steam excursion service.{{sfnp|Bell|1992|p=69}}

The Reading, with SEPTA's support, extended electrification from Hatboro to {{stl|SEPTA|Warminster}} on July 29, 1974.{{sfnp|Coates|1990|p=84}} With the Reading's final bankruptcy in 1976, the New Hope and Ivyland acquired the section of the New Hope Branch between Ivyland and Warminster, while the Glenside–Warminster section was conveyed to [[Conrail]].{{sfnp|Bell|1992|p=71}}{{sfnp|USRA|1975|p=281}} Conrail conveyed the line to SEPTA in 1979.

== Notes == {{Reflist}}

== References == * {{Coates-Reading}} * {{cite magazine | last=Bell | first=Kurt | title=New Hope for the New Hope | magazine=[[Railfan & Railroad]] | volume=11 | issue=10 | pages=68–75 | issn=0163-7266 | date=October 1992}} * {{Holton-Reading-1}} * {{Cite web |author=Interstate Commerce Commission |author-link=Interstate Commerce Commission|year=1931 |title=Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States. Valuation reports |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gsMFAAAAIAAJ |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |language=en | ref={{harvid|ICC|1931}}}} * {{cite web |author=Interstate Commerce Commission |author-link=Interstate Commerce Commission| title=Annual Report on the Statistics of Railways in the United States, the Interstate Commerce Commission for the Year Ending December 31, 1945 | publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office | year=1947 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mQNHAQAAIAAJ| ref={{harvid|ICC|1947}}}} * {{cite book | title=Final system plan for restructuring railroads in the Northeast and Midwest region pursuant to the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 | year=1975 | author=United States Railway Association | author-link=United States Railway Association | location=Washington, DC | url=http://multimodalways.org/docs/govts/federal/executive/Agencies/DOT/USRA/FSP/FSP%20VI.pdf | oclc=2889148 | volume=1 | ref={{Harvid|USRA|1975}} }} * {{cite book | editor-last=Vernon | editor-first=Edward | title=American Railroad Manual for the United States and the Dominion | location=United States | publisher=American Railroad Manual Company | year=1874 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9U4tX97gWGUC}}

[[Category:SEPTA Regional Rail lines]] [[Category:Railway lines opened in 1872]] [[Category:Rail infrastructure in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Reading Company lines]]