New Hope Steam Railway, Inc.

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Photographs are the property of JC McHugh collection

New Hope Steam Railway, Inc. ( NHSR ) July 02, 1980 - December 31, 1985.

JC McHugh desired to see steam trains operating again over the NH&I.

In late June of 1980, a meeting was held with Jimmy & Bobby McHugh, Emerson Clark, JC McHugh, John Bortz Jr, Ed Cevasco, Mike Bortz, & Frank Salerano, to discuss operating steam trains again on part of the NH&I from New Hope to Lahaska. On July 02, the New Hope Steam Railway, was incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania. Jimmy & Bobby McHugh donated the necessary cash for the company to get started and make the insurance deposit payment. JC McHugh was issued stock certificate #1 John Bortz Jr #2, & Ed Cevasco #3, these three people were the shareholders of the NHSR when it was incorporated as a 501-C3 non profit corporation. John Bortz Jr was the former president of the group that operated the trolleys at Buckingham Valley 1974 - 1979 and steam trains September 1977 - August 1979. John Bortz, Jr is also one of the BVTA members along with several other members that disagreed of the methods of how the treasure handled the BVTA / & steam train funds 1977 - 1979.

1980 - 1985 Extra Help

There were some behind the scenes people at the NHSR that no one would ever notice: McHugh employees Ruth Young & Lorain Boliva handle the NHSR clerical work at no charge. Also each year during the Santa Claus Special trains you would see a quite spoken gentleman in the ticket booth with J.C. McHugh’s mom Jeanette selling tickets. This was Frank Salerano ( CPA ) who also provided acounting services to the NHSR at no charge.

After the closure of the NHSR in 1989.

The New Hope Steam Railway, Inc. in 1990 shut down as a operating company under the management of Ed Cevasco, Art Adams, & Dave Patterson. The NHSR remained in business for several years, and it is not known when it finally ceased operation as an active 501-C3 non-profit  corporation. It has been rumored that the NHSR had approximately $90,000.00 in cash along with other equipment assets in January of 1990. It is unclear how this cash and other assets were dispursed since annual stockholder reports have not been presented to all stockholders.  

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