Elkhart station

41°40′50″N 85°58′18″W / 41.6806°N 85.9717°W / 41.6806; -85.9717Platforms1 side platformTracks3Connections Interurban TrolleyConstructionParkingYes; freeAccessibleYesOther informationStation codeAmtrak: EKHHistoryOpened1900PassengersFY 202216,157^[1] (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

Location

Elkhart station 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][failed verification]} The station is directly across the tracks from the National New York Central Railroad Museum.

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.^[3] 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 New York Central Railroad Museum in 1987.

Transit connections

MACOG Interurban Trolley's Elkhart-Goshen (Red) route stops 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 (Red) route connects to westbound Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited trains.

References

External links

Media related to Elkhart station at Wikimedia Commons

• Elkhart, IN – Amtrak
• Elkhart, IN – Station history at Great American Stations (Amtrak)
• Elkart Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)
• National New York Central Railroad Museum (Official Site) Archived 2007-09-05 at the Wayback Machine