Politics & Government
Local Group Attempts to Shine a Light on the Southampton Train Station
The Southampton Railroad Station Society's plan could light up the now defunct train platform for the first time in 28 years.
The Southampton Railroad Station Society plans to illuminate the old Southampton Train Station property.
But first it has to illuminate township Director of Licenses and Inspections Mark Showmaker.
Jon Frey, board member of the SRRSS, told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday night of the restoration group's plans to install electrical service to provide lighting for the building and grounds at the station on Second Street Pike. He said the improvement would help address problems with graffiti and other vandalism, as well as benefit the soon to commence planned for the station's parking lot.
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“It may include illumination of the platform for the first time in 28 years,” he added, in a reference to 1983 when the station was last used for passenger service.
Frey said the society is paying for the necessary equipment, while an electrical contractor is volunteering his time toward the project. After the discussion, SRRSS representatives told Patch the cost is expected to be $2,000 to $3,000, and the contractor wishes to remain anonymous.
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Frey told the supervisors the society would like to get the project started in the middle of this month.
Showmaker's reply: not so fast.
“This is the first I've heard of this,” he said while pointing out that the project would need to go through the township permit process.
Showmaker, who also is the township's fire marshal, asked if the society had taken the necessary steps to determine the station building is safe. Frey replied that a township engineer had looked at the building a while ago.
“The township engineer is not a structural engineer,” said Showmaker.
Jim Day, president of the SRRSS board, said the project has nothing to do with allowing the public into the building. Showmaker said while that may be true, it doesn't help anyone who has to work on the project.
“I just want to make sure the building is certifiably safe to be in,” he said.
Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Lola Biuckians explained that the SRRSS must satisfy Showmaker before proceeding on the project, which would include digging a ditch on the property. Frey indicated that would not be a problem.
The SRRSS, begun in 2007, is dedicated to the eventual full-scale restoration of the station on the former Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Newtown Branch.
