Station Review #10: Neshaminy Falls

The sign, taken from atop a nearby hill

Neshaminy Falls is a train station on SEPTA's West Trenton Line, located in Oakford, PA (itself located within Bensalem Township). 

History

Past iteration of Neshaminy Falls station 

Neshaminy Falls station was built in 1888, torn down by a windstorm, and then rebuilt again immediately after. The station looked like this until about 1970 when the entire building was razed. Then, the current station facilities were built in a much less grand fashion. Nothing much happened on the other side of the track

Getting to the station

Parking Lot

Getting to this station is quite an ordeal. Although Neshaminy Falls is connected to transit, the area immediately outside of Neshaminy Falls station is not conducive to walking in any way, shape, or form. Instead, there is a dire lack of needed sidewalks. The ground around this station is also very hilly, making the area even less conducive to walking. 

 

Station Tour

Train at Neshaminy Falls

It took a moment to get from the bus stop to the station itself. After getting there, I quickly realized that there is very little at this station. The parking lot is large and long, part of an obstacle course for anyone disabled who decides to go to this station. 

Once you get to the station itself, You don't find very much there either. 

The station as a whole from one of the mini-highs

The bulk of the station is on the Center City bound side of the station. There, you find SEPTA Key Card readers (some being the modified parking payment version), ramps, and a shelter. 

The shelter from the outside

The shelter of the station is of the gridded window type, usually used on small stations in some (especially wealthier) areas. Inside, there is a map, lights, and benches. 

Inside the shelter

Despite the simple nature of the station, I personally think this would be a cozy place to wait for a train. 

Unfortunately, the West Trenton platform has much less. 

Bench

Yes, that's all that's there. One morose, lonely bench. No grand building like the old station had, and no small shelter like the Center City platform has. All you get is a bench. This is absolutely amazing for when it rains because then any passengers waiting for the train get a free, complimentary shower with their train ride. Also, because of how uncomfortable it is to sit on a wet bench while it's raining, any passengers waiting for a West Trenton bound train in the rain also get the effects of standing for too long, as well. 

Accessibility (Almost)

A ramp to mini high

This station is not accessible, but that's not because it doesn't try to be. Neshaminy Falls has mini-highs, and ramps to get onto the station. With all of this in mind, this station is still inaccessible. The reason for this is because of where the station is located. 

The area outside the station, with a bridge rivaling the Famous 11'8 Bridge in Durham, North Carolina in sheer height (or lack there-of)

This is immediately outside of the station. there is nowhere where you can safely walk, and I doubt there has been for a while. There are many hills, forcing people to walk directly on the roads. Unfortunately for SEPTA, the un-walkability of the neighborhood is out of its control. I have few doubts in my mind that Oakford's car-centrism directly impacts ridership negatively in this way. 

 Transit Connections 

Closest bus stop

Neshaminy Falls Station has one bus connection, that being the 58 to Neshaminy Mall (southbound to Frankford Transportation Center). As of the current iteration of SEPTA's bus revolution map, route 58 service to this area is being cut, leaving Neshaminy Falls station with no connections.

Points of Interest Nearby 

There are very few points of interest nearby. The most notable one that comes to mind is Neshaminy Mall, which you need to take the 58 bus to, since none of the roads in the immediate vicinity of the station have sidewalks. 

Gallery

Here are a few other pictures I took there

Older Sign on West Trenton Platform

CSX Rails

Beautiful view from the West Trenton platform

Old Parking signs

Back of the shelter

The CSX and SEPTA tracks merging, taken from the West Trenton Mini-high

Rural/Small Station Checklist:

Some vestige of accessibility: × (it attempts though

Clean: ✓

Connections to other transit routes: ✓ 

Easy passage to either side: ✓ 

Fare Payment Kiosks: ✓ 

Lighting: ✓ 

Maps: ✓ 

Parking: ✓ 

Shelters: × (one side only) 

Seating: ✓

Station in Good Condition: ✓

Train Departure/Arrival Info: ✓ 

Updated Signage: ✓ (mostly, but the signage not updated had nothing contradictory, so no issues) 

Final Verdict: 2.5/10 (10/10 as a railfanning spot though)

And stay tuned! Something actually scary is coming up for the Halloween special! 

Station Directory

--------Philadephia County--------
''''''''Center City Zone''''''''
Penn Medicine
30th Street
Suburban
Jefferson (Market East)
Temple University
''''''''Zone 1''''''''
Fern Rock Transportation Center
--------Montgomery County--------
''''''''Zone 2''''''''
Melrose Park
Elkins Park
''''''''Zone 3''''''''
Jenkintown/Wyncote
Noble
Rydal
Meadowbrook
Bethayres
Philmont
--------Philadephia County--------
Forest Hills
Somerton
--------Bucks County--------
Trevose
Neshaminy Falls
''''''''Zone 4''''''''
Langhorne
Woodbourne
Yardley
--------New Jersey--------
--------Mercer County--------
''''''''NJ Zone''''''''
West Trenton