Elkhart station

Elkhart is a train station in Elkhart, Indiana, served by Amtrak's Capitol Limited between Chicago and Washington D.C, and Lake Shore Limited between Chicago and New York City/Boston. 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.

Elkhart, IN
Location131 Tyler Avenue, Elkhart, Indiana
Coordinates41.6806°N 85.9717°W / 41.6806; -85.9717
Platforms1 side platform
Tracks3
ConnectionsInterurban Trolley
Construction
ParkingYes; free
Disabled accessYes
Other information
Station codeEKH
History
Opened1900
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 Philadelphia
Lake Shore
1971–1972
 Toledo
toward New York (Grand Central)
Preceding station New York Central Railroad Following station
Osceola
toward Chicago
 Main Line Goshen
toward New York
Terminus Kalamazoo Branch Bristol
toward Grand Rapids
Old Road Bristol
toward Toledo

History

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
  1. "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2017, State of Indiana" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  2. As per an account of a National New York Central Railroad museum employee
  3. Great American Stations. Accessed March 30, 2013.
  4. Great American Stations. Accessed March 30, 2013.
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