Station Review #44: Overbrook (SEPTA)


Overbrook is a station on SEPTA's Paoli - Thorndale line, located in the Overbrook Farms subsection of the Overbrook neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA. 

History

Overbrook station sometime around the 1970s

Overbrook station was built in 1858 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, so named as it was built near a bridge for a now non-existent brook. It was built Over a Brook. Over-Brook. Overbrook. Thus, the entire neighborhood surrounding the station was named Overbrook after the station. 

The station has not changed much at all since it was created. 

Tour

Station House

I wonder how many forests worth of trees were felled and chopped down to make this station. Anything that could be made out of wood, is. The sheer amount of wood used here aside, the architectural style of this station is in line with architectural styles commonly used by the PRR for older train station buildings, like Coatesville, among other similar stations. 

Pennsylvania Railroad sign

Below are many other photos of Overbrook station: 

Station from Lancaster Avenue

Wood. So much wood.

Outbound platform

Tunnel

More tunnel

Inbound station house

More of the outbound shack

Inside the station house

Another angle of the inside

Silverliner IV on the outbound platform

Amtrak Keystone Service train passing by

Accessibility


A path leading to the station

This station is accessible, or at least it makes an attempt to be accessible. There are accessible paths to the station and a ramp to the station as well. 

This view of the station house should show you how steep a hill the ramp must descend. 

I never said the ramp was close to the rest of the platform

Unfortunately, accessibility could still be made much easier for those who use this station. Especially with the distance from the ramps to the shelters, this could be shortened. Doing this would cause someone with mobility issues to need to go less distance to get to the platform. Not only that, but the train engineers would be more likely to notice people on the mini-high platforms, were they on the other side of the bridge, closer to the station house. 

Transit Connections


Overbrook has many transit connections, especially bus connections. These bus routes go extremely close to it:

• G: Columbus Commons or Food Distribution Center to 63rd and Malvern, Overbrook Station, or Lankeneau Hospital
• 65: 69th Street Transportation Center to Germantown - Chelten
• 105: 69th Street Transportation Center to Rosemont

Additionally, the station is within walking distance of the 63rd and Malvern trolley loop, which has more connections. 

Points of Interest in Overbrook

There is very little in terms of things of interest in Overbrook. Overbrook is more a residential community than anything. There are a few interesting things in Overbrook though

• St. Joeseph's University Hawk Hill campus: This used to be the main campus
• Morris Park: this is a very pretty park that's worth a walk through, need I say more?
• The train station itself, which could easily be a museum. 

Statistics:


Name: Overbrook
Agency: SEPTA
Line(s): Paoli - Thorndale
Locality: Overbrook
City/Township: Philadelphia 
County: Philadelphia 
Ridership: 774 boardings and 717 alightings, 1491 total per day

Amenity Checklist:


Accessible: / (Mostly, a few parts like the inaccessible passageway under the tracks could use some work, otherwise yes)
Bathrooms: ✓
Clean Station: ✓
Connections to other transit routes: ✓
Easy passage for each side: ✓
Fare Payment Kiosks (if applicable): ✓
Good Wayfinding: ✓
Indoor Shelters: ✓
Maps: ✓
Multiple entrances/exits: ✓
Adequate Parking: ✓
Seating: ✓
Shelters: ✓
Station In Good Condition: ✓
Ticket Kiosks (if applicable): ×
Ticket Offices: ✓
TOD: ✓ 
Train Departure/Arrival Info (signs that update/screens): ×
Updated/Useful Signage: ✓ 

Final Verdict: 

8/10, this is the type of train station that sticks out in someone's mind after they use it. 

Station Directory


--------Philadelphia County--------
''''''''Center City Zone''''''''
Jefferson (Market East)
Suburban
30th Street
''''''''Zone 2''''''''
Overbrook
--------Montgomery County--------
Merion
Narberth
Wynnewood
Ardmore
Haverford
''''''''Zone 3''''''''
Bryn Mawr
Rosemont
--------Delaware County--------
Villanova
Radnor
St. Davids
Wayne
--------Chester County--------
Stratford
Devon
Berwyn
Daylesford
''''''''Zone 4''''''''
Paoli
Malvern
Exton
Whitford
Downingtown

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