In 2007, the East Penn Railroad (ESPN) was formed 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 (7.2km) of track was returned to service.[citation needed] A yard was also constructed in Pocopson, Pennsylvania along the Wilmington and Northern Branch (W&N). ESPN has acquired additional locomotives and replaced older locomotives to handle increased traffic, including two rebuilt EMD GP38-2's from GATX used along the W&N and Octoraro lines.[2]
On August 1, 2011, the East Penn Railroad took over operations from Norfolk Southern on the York Industrial Track between York and Stonybook.[4] In December 2012, the former Raritan River 40' boxcar #100, stored on East Penn tracks at its Quakertown depot, was restored, representing one of the few surviving pieces of equipment from the former Raritan River Railroad.
Since 2011, a total of eight derailments have happened along the East Penn Railroad in various locations, including northern Delaware, Chester County, and Bucks County. In August 2022, six cars derailed in Chester County, narrowly missing a home.[5]
ESPN operates 114 miles of track in eastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware and 16 commercial locomotives.[6] The railroad operates multiple disconnected segments with locomotives assigned to each segment. Two or three lines have service daily.[2]
Colebrookdale: operated from Boyertown, Pennsylvania south to interchange with NS in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.[8] ESPN attempted to abandon the line in 2008.[3][9] The Berks County Redevelopment Authority purchased the railroad that same year,[10] and appointed the Eastern Berks Gateway Railroad to operate freight service.[11] The Eastern Berks Gateway Railroad has left the line in late 2013 due to no or very little freight on the line. The Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust was also created in 2011 for tourist railroad purposes.[12] Tourist rail service began in October 2014 as the Colebrookdale Railroad.[13]
Kutztown: operated on trackage owned by the Kutztown Transportation Authority from Kutztown, Pennsylvania southeast to interchange with NS in Topton, Pennsylvania. This line is now operated by the Allentown and Auburn Railroad, which hauls passengers in historic equipment and freight for local businesses.
Venice Island Industrial Spur: operated on trackage owned by Norfolk Southern from West Falls Yard to the end of Venice Island in the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia and abandoned April 4, 2017.[14]
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