College Hill Station
Encyclopedia
The College Hill Station is a former train station
located in Beaver Falls
, Pennsylvania
, USA. The structure was built by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad
to help transport goods and passengers in and out of the neighborhood of College Hill
in Beaver Falls. Downtown Beaver Falls once had a passenger station of its own, but it has since been demolished, along with the freight station in 2007.
students and community members of College Hill. Between the 1950s and 1980s, many railroad stations in Western Pennsylvania
, and across the United States began shutting down. Unlike many stations in the area, College Hill did not close down and survived well into the 1980s. During this time, the P&LE ran a commuter train between Beaver Falls and Pittsburgh
with the College Hill station located at the north terminus. On July 12, 1985, the P&LE made its last commuter run, making College Hill the last station to be used by passengers on the railroad. This would also be the final passenger train for the station. By 1993, the P&LE was bought by CSX Transportation
, and the station was abandoned.
near the Eastvale Bridge
. Because of its locale, the station can easily be missed. Many students at the college are unaware that the station even exists. As of 2011, there are no plans to restore the structure.
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
located in Beaver Falls
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA. The structure was built by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad
The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad , also known as the "Little Giant", was formed on May 11, 1875. Company headquarters were located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The line connected Pittsburgh in the east with Youngstown, Ohio at nearby Haselton, Ohio in the west and Connellsville, ...
to help transport goods and passengers in and out of the neighborhood of College Hill
College Hill (Beaver Falls)
College Hill is a neighborhood located in the northern section of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States. Geneva College is located in the community, and is the namesake of College Hill.-History:...
in Beaver Falls. Downtown Beaver Falls once had a passenger station of its own, but it has since been demolished, along with the freight station in 2007.
History
The College Hill Station was constructed in 1910 by "The Little Giant", and was mostly used by Geneva CollegeGeneva College
Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in...
students and community members of College Hill. Between the 1950s and 1980s, many railroad stations in Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
, and across the United States began shutting down. Unlike many stations in the area, College Hill did not close down and survived well into the 1980s. During this time, the P&LE ran a commuter train between Beaver Falls and Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
with the College Hill station located at the north terminus. On July 12, 1985, the P&LE made its last commuter run, making College Hill the last station to be used by passengers on the railroad. This would also be the final passenger train for the station. By 1993, the P&LE was bought by CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
, and the station was abandoned.
Current status
The station building is still standing as of 2011, but is slowly deteriorating after being closed for more than twenty years. It is also located at the bottom of a large embankment along the Beaver RiverBeaver River (Pennsylvania)
The Beaver River is a tributary of the Ohio River in Western Pennsylvania in the United States with a length of approximately 21 mi . It flows through a historically important coal-producing region north of Pittsburgh...
near the Eastvale Bridge
Eastvale Bridge
The Eastvale Bridge is a bridge that carries PA Route 588 over the Beaver River between the borough of Eastvale, and the city of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. The bridge opened in Beaver County on November 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The bridge was named in his honor...
. Because of its locale, the station can easily be missed. Many students at the college are unaware that the station even exists. As of 2011, there are no plans to restore the structure.
