It was operated by the Reading Company and built by the New York Short Line Railroad, a subsidiary.

[4] Administratively, the Newtown Branch's southern terminus was cut back to Cheltenham Junction once the New York Short Line opened, with the new branch extending from Neshaminy Falls to Newtown Junction.

[7] With the Reading Company's final bankruptcy in 1976, the New York Short Line was conveyed to Conrail.

[8] In the mid-1980s, SEPTA studied the possibility of electrifying the branch between Cheltenham Junction and Neshaminy Falls.

Beginning in 1989 the shared double-tracked portion was functionally split, with Conrail and SEPTA each using one track.