History
The original West Chester Railroad Company was chartered in 1831 through an act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and the company built its rail line to Malvern (later moved to Frazer). A quarter century later, West Chester got its second railroad, the West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad, which opened on November 11, 1858 with a more direct connection to Philadelphia via Media, Pennsylvania. Both lines became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) system by 1881, when they were known as the "Frazer Branch" and "Media Branch," respectively.
The station at Market Street was the city's primary railroad facility. At its height, the PRR operated 24 passenger trains to West Chester each day, plus three scheduled freights and additional special trains as required. The line was electrified by the PRR in 1928. Although the Market Street Station was demolished in 1968, the Penn Central and SEPTA operated passenger trains until September 1986 when service was suspended due to low ridership and mediocre track conditions. For nearly a decade, the line remained derelict until a group of railroad enthusiasts approached the Borough of West Chester about restoring service.
As of 2009, the West Chester Railroad Company is owned and operated by 4 States Railway Service Inc., a for-profit railroad management based in Yorklyn, Delaware. 4 States is maintenance and operations company dedicated to preserving the railroad line between Glen Mills and West Chester.
Read more about this topic: West Chester Railroad
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