Elkins Park Train Station: Past and Present

ELKINS PARK TRAIN STATION from the Past to the Present

a photo book by Jeremy Elvas

Growing up in Elkins Park, a sweet, little suburb of Cheltenham, PA right outside of Philly, I would always take SEPTA to travel downtown.

Whether it was to enjoy the sights of the city with friends, go see my favorite bands at concerts, or attend photography classes, the Elkins Park train station, located at Spring and Park Avenues, became a bridge between my home and the rest of the world.

When I moved to Philly to attend college at Temple University, I continued taking the train, traveling back and forth here whenever I wanted to come home to my family - and I loved telling people that home was only a 20-minute train ride away.

In my final semester of college as a journalism major at Klein College of Media and Communication, I took a documentary photography class, where we were assigned a Past and Present project, covering a place through a historical lens.

For my project, I chose the Elkins Park train station, not only because of its rich history, but also because of my own personal memories and connections growing up around here.

Since the early 1900s to now, this train station has served as an important hub for Elkins Park, not only for transportation, but also as a community and arts space for people to gather, celebrate, perform and learn.

Ogontz Park (late 1800s) (pre-Elkins Park)

Credit: Old York Road Historical Society / O.H. Bailey & Co.

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The Elkins train station was designed by American architectural firm Cope & Stewardson, and built by William T. Elkins in 1898, as part of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad.

This station was a central focus of the growing suburban development of Ogontz Park (later renamed Elkins Park), costing $40,000.

Developer William T. B. Roberts called it “the handsomest and most complete station, with the exception of the Terminal.”

The Philadelphia Times May 15, 1899

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In the 1990s, the Elkins Park station underwent a partial restoration under architect Leon Clemmer.

As part of SEPTA’s station lease program, the inbound station was leased to a real estate firm, Lam and Buchsbaum, which oversaw its restoration and subsequent historic certification.

At the time, the station faced many issues, including leaks, heating and electrical issues, and was close to demolition.

With the restoration, parts of the inbound station, both interior and exterior, were repaired and replaced, including the slate roof, wooden platforms and lighting fixtures.

Executive offices, work stations, and additional parking were also created in the restoration.

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According to SEPTA officials, the restoration cost $175,000, and was completed in 1989.

In 1990, the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Park Service registered the Elkins Railroad Station in the National Register of Historic Places, becoming the 101st building in Montgomery County to be placed on the register.

A preserved slate roof tile of the train station (Old York Road Historical Society)

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1990

2022

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1990

2022

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1990

2022

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THE TRAIN STATION TODAY

Today, the Elkins Park train station operates on the SEPTA Regional Rail Line, serving four different lines; Airport, Warminster, West Trenton and Lansdale/Doylestown. Daily, permit and non-SEPTA parking can be found around the station, and its ticket office is open 5:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Mondays through Fridays.

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A view of the Elkins Park train station SEPTA sign on the inbound platform outside the ticket office.

The outbound platform of the Elkins Park station, facing inbound.

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In 2011, Elkins Park community members began efforts to restore the train station, collaborating with the property owner, SEPTA and local non-profit Cheltenham Township Community Development Corporation (CTCDC) to repurpose the space into a community arts venue.

The renovation was completed in 2013 and the venue became available for rentals beginning in 2015. In 2016, Elkins Central became a part of the Cheltenham Center for the Arts, and now hosts exercise classes, art shows, musical performances, and both public and private events for the community.

In one of its first events at the culmination of its renovation at the end of 2014, local Cheltenham High School kids hosted an indie rock concert inside the venue, featuring a variety of DIYbands from the Philly area.

Over a century later, the soul of the Elkins Park train station lives on in the community.

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A Special Thanks to

The Old York Road Historical Society for providing historical clippings, drawings and blueprints The U.S. Department of Interior National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places The Elkins Park Happenings! Facebook group for all their help and recommendations Past Photographs Credit: George E. Thomas / February 1990 / Clio Group Inc. Present Photographs Credit: Jeremy Elvas Photography (2014-2022)