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Whitford (SEPTA station)
Encyclopedia
Whitford Station is a commuter rail station located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia at South Whitford Road and Spackman Lane, Exton, Pennsylvania
. It is served by most Paoli/Thorndale Line
trains.
(PRR) four-track Main Line
, which, in its prime, hosted a constant flow of commuter and long distance trains. To circumvent constant bottlenecks near Philadelphia, the PRR constructed a low-grade double-track electrified line in 1906 to host its freight traffic. This was done to bypass the steep grades and busy Philadelphia suburbs. Known as the Philadelphia and Thorndale Branch (or the "High Line"), the line ran alongside the current Paoli/Thorndale Line, crossing (or "flying") over it via a massive trestle directly above the Whitford Station. After the sharp decline in rail traffic in the 1970s, the freight line was abandoned outright by Conrail in 1989. In addition, the current passenger line was reduced from four tracks to three in the 1960s.
captured a busy moment at Whitford in his "Main Lines—Freight and Passenger" painting from 1949, when the overhead trestle was still in use.
. There is no ticket office at the station. There are 280 parking spaces at the station, some which sit on the abandoned freight line that crosses over the station site.
This station is 28.7 track miles from Philadelphia's Suburban Station. In 2003, the average total weekday boardings at this station was 230.
Exton, Pennsylvania
Exton is a census-designated place in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its population was 4,842 at the 2010 census. The Exton Square Mall is located within Exton along with several other shopping centers, making Exton the major shopping district in Chester...
. It is served by most Paoli/Thorndale Line
Paoli/Thorndale Line
The Paoli/Thorndale Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line running from Center City Philadelphia to Thorndale in Chester County.-Route:This branch utilizes one of the oldest sections of what is now Amtrak's Keystone Corridor, an electrified 104-mile two to four-track high-speed route between Harrisburg...
trains.
The Whitford Flyover
Whitford Station is best known for the somewhat eerie abandoned railway trestle that sits directly above the station site. The current station sits along the once-busy former Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(PRR) four-track Main Line
Main Line (Pennsylvania Railroad)
The Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was a rail line in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, connecting Philadelphia with Pittsburgh via Harrisburg...
, which, in its prime, hosted a constant flow of commuter and long distance trains. To circumvent constant bottlenecks near Philadelphia, the PRR constructed a low-grade double-track electrified line in 1906 to host its freight traffic. This was done to bypass the steep grades and busy Philadelphia suburbs. Known as the Philadelphia and Thorndale Branch (or the "High Line"), the line ran alongside the current Paoli/Thorndale Line, crossing (or "flying") over it via a massive trestle directly above the Whitford Station. After the sharp decline in rail traffic in the 1970s, the freight line was abandoned outright by Conrail in 1989. In addition, the current passenger line was reduced from four tracks to three in the 1960s.
The Flyover Preserved
In its heyday, the PRR produced a series of calendars that included paintings of scenes throughout the extensive rail system. Artist Grif TellerGrif Teller
Grif Teller was an artist famous for his paintings for the Pennsylvania Railroad.- Early life :Teller was born on December 9, 1899 in Newark, New Jersey. Teller attended the Barringer High School until his junior year, when he transferred to the Fawcett School of Industrial Arts...
captured a busy moment at Whitford in his "Main Lines—Freight and Passenger" painting from 1949, when the overhead trestle was still in use.
Current station
On August 2, 1984, the station house was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. There is no ticket office at the station. There are 280 parking spaces at the station, some which sit on the abandoned freight line that crosses over the station site.
This station is 28.7 track miles from Philadelphia's Suburban Station. In 2003, the average total weekday boardings at this station was 230.