Elkhart station

Elkhart, IN
Location	131 Tyler Avenue Elkhart, IN 46515
Coordinates	41°40′50″N 85°58′18″W / 41.6806°N 85.9717°W / 41.6806; -85.9717Coordinates: 41°40′50″N 85°58′18″W / 41.6806°N 85.9717°W / 41.6806; -85.9717
Line(s)	Capitol Limited   Lake Shore Limited
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	3
Connections	Interurban Trolley
Construction
Parking	Yes; free
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	EKH
History
Opened	1900
Traffic
Passengers (2017)	22,599[1]  6.01% (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station   Amtrak   Following station South Bend toward Chicago Capitol Limited Waterloo toward Washington, D.C. Lake Shore Limited Waterloo toward New York or Boston South
Former services Preceding station   Amtrak   Following station South Bend toward Chicago Pennsylvanian 1998-2003 Waterloo toward New York Lake Shore 1971-1972 Toledo toward New York Grand Central New York Central Railroad South Bend Closed 1971 toward Chicago Main Line 1900-1971 Waterloo Closed 1971 toward New York Osceola Closed 1957 toward Chicago Goshen Closed 1959 toward New York Terminus Kalamazoo Branch Bristol toward Grand Rapids Old Road Bristol toward Toledo

Elkhart is a train station in Elkhart, Indiana served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. Elkhart is the second station on both the eastbound Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited toward New York City and Washington DC. While the station has a waiting room, it is only open in early mornings and late evenings, half an hour before the first westbound and eastbound train arrives. It does not have a ticket agent, but the station does have personnel that can assist riders upon departure and arrival.^[2] The station is directly across the tracks from the National New York Central Railroad Museum.

History

Elkhart Station. From across the tracks at the National New York Central Railroad Museum

Elkhart station was originally built in 1900 by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway and had a freight house installed across the tracks in 1907. The building is constructed of red brick trimmed with limestone, which is used for the window surrounds and belt course.^[3] The station was originally set amid a well-kept garden that displayed neat beds of colorful flowers and a row of trees along the tracks; this manicured landscape was not only a pretty introduction to the city for first time visitors, but it also buffered the streets of downtown from the noise and dirt associated with steam engines and freight trains.^[4] The station and the railroad were acquired by the New York Central Railroad in 1914. NYC merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1968, and passenger service was taken over by Amtrak in 1971. The freight house became the National NYC Museum in 1987.

Transit connections

MACOG Interurban Trolley's Elkhart-Goshen and Concord routes both stop near the station. However, because of the way the train schedules are currently set up, riders can only connect to westbound trains. Riders who wish to board eastbound trains would have to arrive several hours ahead of time. Elkhart-Goshen route connects to westbound Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited trains, while Concord route can only connect to westbound Lake Shore Limited train.

References

External links

• Media related to Elkhart (Amtrak station) at Wikimedia Commons

• Amtrak – Stations – Elkhart, IN
• Elkart Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)
• Elkhart Station (EKH) Great American Stations (Amtrak)
• National New York Central Railroad Museum (Official Site)