▁progress ing ▁in ward ▁from ▁both ▁the ▁eastern ▁and ▁western ▁term ini . ▁The ▁western ▁group ▁covered ▁more ▁territory , ▁as ▁the ▁completion ▁of ▁the ▁line ' s ▁eastern ▁end ▁was ▁cont ing ent ▁on ▁the ▁construction ▁of ▁the ▁half - mile - long ▁Sel ins gro ve ▁Bridge ▁sp anning ▁the ▁Sus que h anna ▁River . ▁The ▁PR R ▁signed ▁a ▁ 9 9 - year ▁le ase ▁on ▁the ▁line ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 8 7 1 ▁and ▁purchased ▁half ▁the ▁out standing ▁stock ▁of ▁the ▁line , ▁and ▁the ▁entire ▁line ▁was ▁completed ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 8 7 1 . ▁Al most ▁immediately , ▁it ▁became ▁clear ▁that ▁the ▁demand ▁for ▁such ▁a ▁line ▁was ▁not ▁as ▁high ▁as ▁its ▁propriet ors ▁had ▁anticip ated , ▁and ▁the ▁rail road ▁ceased ▁to ▁operate . ▁ ▁The ▁line ▁was ▁sold ▁at ▁sh er iff ' s ▁sale ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 8 7 4 , ▁and ▁re organ ized ▁as ▁the ▁Sun bury ▁& ▁Lew ist own ▁Railway ▁on ▁Feb . ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 7 6 . ▁ ▁The ▁Pennsylvania ▁Rail road , ▁a ▁less or ▁and ▁major ▁share holder , ▁assumed ▁operation ▁of ▁the ▁route . ▁Thus , ▁" S un bury ▁and ▁Lew ist own " ▁function ed ▁only ▁in ▁name ▁for ▁the ▁most ▁part ▁- ▁the ▁rolling ▁stock ▁and ▁mot ive ▁power ▁came ▁from ▁the ▁Pennsylvania ▁Rail road . ▁▁ ▁Effect ive ▁October ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 9 6 , ▁the