Ever wonder about the connection between trains and neighborhood names? Welcome to Oakwood Heights Station. This Staten Island Railway stop offers more than just a ride. It is a clue to the area’s past.
Oakwood Heights Station is a stop along the Staten Island Railway. The station provides access to the neighborhood. It sits above Hylan Boulevard. The name Oakwood Heights gives a nod to one part of the area. The other part is Oakwood Beach.
Before we dive deeper, let’s talk about the Staten Island Railway. The first rail proposal dates back to 1836. But construction didn’t start until 1855. William Vanderbilt provided financial backing. The line opened in 1860.
Back then, the railway boosted areas. Poverty Hollow became Rosebank. Oakwood became Oakwood Heights. It gave dignity to some locations.
Oakwood Heights Station itself has seen changes. It was fully grade-separated in 1965-1968. It received a normal SIR rebuilding in 1985. Further renovations took place in 2016. The brick station house waiting area was restored.
In September 2023, the station became wheelchair accessible. It was the first elevator for the Staten Island Railway outside of the ferry terminal at St. George. These elevators have a glass canopy. Their frosted glass design stands out a little. They look modern with the station’s 1980s aesthetics.
The station has two entrances, one at each end of the platforms. At the northern end is a small brick station house. It is on the south side of New Drop Lane. Inside is a waiting room. It has tiled walls, a bench and a countdown clock.
Each platform has a staircase down to it. These go through a small brick enclosed passageway. Doors lead into each side of the station house by these staircases. The St. George-bound platform staircase leads straight down. The Tottenville-bound platform staircase passes an intermediate landing. It turns since it is along a grassy cut, not a concrete wall.
Elevators were retrofitted from 2021 to 2023. The Tottenville-bound platform elevator is accessed via the same entry way bridge. The St. George-bound platform elevators are more like a normal subway station’s street elevator.
The southern end of each platform has a second exit. The Tottenville-bound platform has a small canopy structure. It leads up to the north side of Rose Avenue. The St. George-bound platform has a smaller canopied section. A staircase leads up to Railroad Avenue.
So, as you wait at Oakwood Heights Station, remember its history. It’s more than just a train stop. It’s a landmark that shows how transportation shapes our communities. The station connects us to the past and the future. It reflects the ongoing story of Staten Island.