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* Denotes station which was open on the 2/1/1969 Public Timetable and has since been closed. Some material (Some closed station names) adapted from a recent NYDERA Bulletin This line originally ran to North Adams, Massachusetts before being cut back to Chatham in the mid 1950s and then Dover Plains in 1972. It was recently re extended to Wassaic with talk of further re extensions.
The railroad portion of Grand Central terminal is accessed through the main concourse, probably one of the most easily-recognized interiors in the world. The building has recently been renovated to its as-built design. This is most noticeable on the ceiling of the terminal, where a painting depicting constellations had been painted over for years. Grand Central's upper level features 29 tracks surrounding island platforms, as follows (from west to east): 41/42, 39, 40, 38, 37/36, 35/34, 33/32, 30/29, 28/27, 26/25, 24/23, 21/20, 19/18, 17/16, 15/14 and 13/11. The lower level's tracks are numbered in the 100s and are arranged in platforms as follows: 117, 116, 115, 114/113, 112, 111/110, 109/108, 107/106, 105, 104/103, and 102/101. Formerly, long distance trains to places like Albany, Boston, and Chicago operated from the upper level, and local commuter trains used the lower level. Now that all long-distance trains are concentrated at Penn Station, the tracks are used interchangeably for all of Metro-North's services. Departing by train from Grand Central, the tracks combine to a four-track
trunk line through a tunnel under Park Avenue. Along the tunnel are three
former stations, located at 59th Street, 72nd Street , each
with two side platforms and four tracks, and
86th Street, which had two side platforms on four tracks.
These are now used for storage and emergency exits. See Brennan's Page for
more information on the closed stations in the tunnel The tunnel portal is at 97th Street and we rise to a full viaduct by 99th Street, the structure being full concrete tie and ballast construction. An abandonment station is found at I10th Street , which had four tracks and two side platforms. We arrive at 125th Street, recently restored to original appearance. Tracks four and two share the west island; tracks 1 and 3 share the east island. Tracks one and two are on the "express" side of the platforms. This is the last transfer point for all three lines. The station is on a viaduct. We leave the Hudson Line behind and continue northward, sharing a four-track line with the New Haven Line. Harlem Line trains serve all stations along the line between 125th Street and the New Haven turnoff. (New Haven line trains stop only at Fordham Station, usually operating on the "local tracks" but skipping all other stations). The first station on the Harlem Line proper is *138th Street and is in an open cut with four tracks and two low side platforms which were removed. The only traces are seams in the concrete where the stairs to the street were located. The station was found (from the train) with the assistance of NYC street signs. It was closed in 1972. Melrose (East 162nd Street) has four tracks and two wall platforms and is in an open cut, which is partially covered. There is a crossover in this station, which seemed very dreary. The station is being renovated and moved northward clearing the covered look and should become less dreary. *Morisania ( * East 168th Street) and is in an open cut with four tracks and two low side platforms which were removed. The only traces are seams in the concrete where the stairs to the street were located. The station was found (from the train) with the assistance of NYC street signs. It was also closed in 1972 Tremont (East 177th street) is next, also with four tracks and two wall platforms. The south end is located in a cut while the north end is elevated and includes a crossover. The station is currently being renovated. Claremont Parkway was closed in the 1940s. It had low platforms East 183rd Street and is in an open cut with four tracks and two low side platforms which were removed. The only traces are seams in the concrete where the stairs to the street were located. The station was found (from the train) with the assistance of NYC street signs.It was closed in 1972. Fordham (East 190th Street) is next, served by Harlem and New Haven trains, and also has four tracks and two wall platforms. The south end is covered while the north end is near grade with a crossover. This station is also being renovated. Botanical Gardens (East 200th Street) is next, also four tracks and two wall platforms with a crossover. This station has recently been renovated, the former crossunder having been sealed. The area to the east of the station has been beautified by the nearby Botanic Gardens. Williams Bridge (East 210th Street) is next, also four tracks and two wall platforms with a crossover. This station is in a slight cut. A short walk from here is the Gun Hill Road station of the #2 and #5 subway lines Woodlawn is next and is the last station before the New Haven Line splits off (although New Haven trains do not stop at this station). This station also has four tracks, two wall platforms and a crossunder. Wakefield is next, the last station within New York City. It has two island platforms and four tracks. The arrangement is similar to Bowling Green on the Lexington Avenue subway. The western island is served by a track on the west side of that platform. A fence separates this island from the eastern island, which has a track on both sides. There is a crossunder at this station. Mount Vernon West 4 tracks on 2 island platforms. The brick stationhouse facing South West Street (not to be confused with Southwest St as most streets in the city of Mount Vernon have .) currently contains several businesses sharing space, although the artwork "NEW YORK CENTRAL RR" still stands above the "old" entrance. The current entrance lies between the stationhouse and the ROW with 2 passageways to the ticket office/waiting area and 2 stairs to platform level on the north end of this station. The ADA elevator to the northbound platform is just inside the current entrance outside Yonkers Ave, while the southbound ADA elevator is just inside the waiting area. Artwork: (title) is on the ceiling of the waiting area and appears to depict moons, snails and other objects. A sealed staircase with "exit" etched over it on bedrock, is on Yonkers Ave, underneath the ROW. We continue with 3 tracks from here to just south of Scarsdale station. Due to high train traffic and increased service over the past 12 years, the MTA recently installed a 3rd track alongside the east side from north on Mount Vernon West to south of Scarsdale station, to alleviate some congestion during both rush periods. The N/B local trains use the newly installed track as new side platforms at some stations were installed. The old N/B track becomes a reverse thru track, meaning trains in both directions can use this track (one direction at a time) and is reverse signaled. Fleetwood Original side platform on S/B side covers both tracks. The N/B platform is slightly to the north of the new S/B platform and is newly installed along with the 3rd track. This station can be an express stop; due to the fact the island platform covers one S/B track and one peak direction track (which was formerly the N/B track). Slightly north and well high above this station is the Cross County Parkway. Bronxville has 2 island platforms with parking on N/B side. The stationhouse, reconstructed in 1916, sits on the S/B side while a smaller, identical stationhouse was converted to a business. Recently, the larger stationhouse was restored to its original 1916 appearance, nearly immaculate in design as Metro-North did a painstakingly great job in restoring this station. There are underpasses at both ends to this station, as well as a bus stop area on the S/B side that serves Westchester County’s Bee Line 26 and 52 bus routes. Tuckahoe has 2 side platforms. The station and overpass are currently undergoing renovation; a site revisit is planned soon. Artwork: "The Finder/The Seekers (1990) by Arthur Gonzales, uses cast bronze on 2 sculptures7 of explorers and settlers. Both sculptures are located above each platform. There is parking on both sides of this station. Mr. Gonzales has also commissioned several additional pieces of artwork on all stations from Tuckahoe to Hartsdale. Crestwood (Eastchester) is a full ADA station, island platform on S/B side and side platform on N/B side. The stationhouse is next to N/B platform with original low platform remaining intact, while the house canopy stretches out over the low platform. This gives the clearest indication the original platform is directly opposite the current S/B platform. After leaving Crestwood, the 3rd track ends and the line is now the current 2 track configuration. Scarsdale has Side platforms, large outdoor parking lot and a 4 level indoor parking garage just south of the S/B platform. The Tudor style stationhouse on the S/B side appears in excellent condition. Like Crestwood, the platform canopy connected to the stationhouse extends out as the original platform. Hartsdale has island platforms, parking on N/B side, and stationhouse and Bee Line buses on S/B platform. There are staircases on both ends. Due to the wide gap between the N/B and S/B tracks, there appears to be at least one track removed (and possibly 2). White Plains has One island platform and one side platform on N/B side, both having numerous staircases and ramps leading to the entire Downtown White Plains CBD and is fully ADA accessible. Northbound trains can open doors on both the island and side platform. The side platform is connected to the multi-level parking garage, with 2 entry access points, one at the far north end, and the other in the middle of the platform area. The island platform features the ticket office at platform level within a sheltered waiting area, 2 down staircases and 1 up escalator leading to street level. An additional staircase leads up and over to the parking garage, while the elevator serves all 3 levels (parking garage, island platform, street level). A ramp (not ADA accessible) is at the far south end of the island platform. The White Plains Transcenter Bus terminal is right next to the parking garage and serves the bulk of Bee Line’s transportation network, and several other carriers. *Holland Avenue had a low side platforms and only had a few trains stopping there in 1969. North White Plains has two Island platforms with ADA elevator and exit at far north end. Parking is at both sides as well. In 1968 a short platform for diesel hauled trains (Northbound only). Valhalla has an Island platform, exit at south end and upstairs. A low platform is visible on the northbound side of the ROW. Kensico Cemetery is a very short station with two one door high side platforms. Mt. Pleasant is next and has two very short wall platforms and two tracks. Hawthorne is another two-track station with an island platform. The original low platform is located on the east side. *Thornwood has an abandoned stationhouse on N/B side; also abandoned tracks are present along the same side. Pleasantville has an Island platform in open cut station, stairs at both ends, and ADA elevator at north end only. The wide distance between the S/B track and the concrete wall does suggest a 3rd track was originally at this location. The Readers Digest Company and Pace University’s main campus are both located nearby. Chappaqua has one island platform serving two tracks. The east platform has an original low platform. The main attraction at this station is the town's being the new home of Bill and Hillary Clinton. Back to the station, it has island platform and marble stationhouse along N/B side. Based on the location of the stationhouse, it does suggest the station originally had low level side platforms. In fact many stations along the old Harlem line originally had low side platforms, not necessarily in the same locations as the current high platform. Mount Kisco Actor Michael Douglas once lived in this area; it is unclear whether his family still resides in this town. The south stationhouse end is abandoned, while the current north end stationhouse is active. This stationhouse shares space between Metro-North’s ticket office and waiting area, with a private business. Exit is on the south end with stairs and elevator, parking on both sides. The Bee-Line Route 12 bus passes by the station entrance. One of the longest bus routes in Westchester County, Route 12 runs between White Plains and Jefferson Valley Mall in Yorktown, and trip time is well over 2 hours. Between Mount Kisco and Bedford Hills, there is an ABD track cutoff that merges inward with the N/B track (towards Wassaic). Any information on this spur track and where it originated from is greatly appreciated. Bedford Hills has an Island platform; brick stationhouse now has private business, and still has old low platform footprints. Parking on west side of ROW, there are exits at both ends. The Bedford Hills Correctional facility for women only is at some point between this station and Katonah, our next stop. Katonah is fully ADA accessible, with elevator, parking on east side (due north). The attraction near this station is the Katonah Museum of Art. After leaving Katonah, we cross the Cross River Reservoir and run side-by-side with Interstate 684 as far north as Southeast. The New Haven line mingles side-by-side with nearby Interstate 95 or U.S. Route 1 (or both) for nearly the entire trip between New Rochelle and New Haven-State Street. The marriage of the Harlem Line and I-684 is not as dramatic at the I95/NH couple because the roadway ends at the I-84 merge in Brewster, then I-84 continues in a northwestern direction towards the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. Golden's Bridge The station is not fully ADA accessible. There are 4 lots, with some parking on S/B side and across I-684 via ramps and bridge. It has two tracks and an island platform. There is an old low platform on the west side. The station has an identity crisis. The timetable and some platform signs omit the apostrophe while some signs have the apostrophe as do train signs. We would appreciate feedback as to the proper spelling. Purdy's has an Island platform, fully ADA accessible with elevator and exit at south end, parking on S/B side and one of the smallest brick stationhouses of any MTA Metro-North or LIRR station that I have ever seen. Croton Falls is a short station. Only 4 cars can be platformed. There appears to be a modern stationhouse that replaced a possibly abandoned stationhouse on the N/B side of the ROW. This stationhouse does not have the charm or character of older stationhouses along the Harlem Line. Parking on S/B side along with the current stationhouse, elevator and exit at south end. Brewster Station sits on midpoint on a hill with roadway and parking at the bottom of this hill. Exit at north end with ADA elevator. The first brick stationhouse on N/B side needs some TLC. A second, possible stationhouse is right behind the first one. North of the current island platform lies a tiny set of wooden stairs to street level, suggesting that the original low platforms were present. Before enter our next station, Southeast, we see the Harlem Line yard to our left side. Southeast (formerly Brewster North) is fully ADA accessible station with elevator and exit at south end. Station was recently renamed from Brewster North to Southeast to avoid confusion with the other Brewster station. This is the last stop for electric service on the Harlem Line; a few diesel consists now at this point, run all the way up to Wassaic. A very large parking lots sits on the same side as the RR yard in the inbound direction. At this point, the line becomes single track all the way up to Wassaic and is the most scenic section of the entire Harlem Line. The exception to the single tracking is a passing siding between Southeast and Patterson (our next stop). Because of nature of the single track, all stations have one island platform. continuing northward, we find the remains of Dykemanns, which was closed in 1968. The only evidence of this station is a low concrete bus shelter and sign on the east side. North of this station the line has only one track up to and including Wassaic. Patterson Platform and parking on west side. No stationhouse was found here. Dykemanns had two low side platforms. It is North of the grade crossing at NY State highway 312. There were name signs found on the northbound side. This is not the station with the same name as found on the Beacon Line. It was followed by Towner's with two separate one track low platform stations and was shared with the Beacon Line. This station was South of the grade crossing at NY State highway 164. Pawling has the platform on east side, parking on both sides. A farm-like stationhouse is to the north of the current station. Appalachian Trail is next and has a very short platform on the east side. Metro North has long-range plans to improve this station. Next up is Harlem Valley-Wingdale used to be called State Hospital before it was originally closed in 1972. The platform on the east. The original Wingdale station was 1/2 mile to the north at the next grade crossing. Dover Furnace which had a low side platform at mile post 72. and Dover Plains, the long-time end of the line with the platform on the west. We now come to the May 2000 extension of the line, which added two stations, first being Tenmile River, with a short platform on the east side. It was called State School before it was originally closed in 1972. The last station follows, Wassaic, with a short platform on the east side. There is a small yard to the north of the station, which is near the base of the mountains in a scenic valley. There is talk of further extensions to this line but no information has been found at the time of this writing. At one time the New York Central continued northward with stations at: Amelia which was closed in 1972 Coleman's which was closed in the 1950s Sharon Station which was closed in the 1950s Millerton which was closed in 1972. If further extensions are done it will probably be to Millerton. Mt. Riga which was closed in the 1950s. Boston Corners which was closed in the 19+50s. This was a big transfer point to the Central New England Railroad (CNE RR) which was (later taken over the the New Haven Railroad). The CNE was long gone when the station closed. Copake Falls which was closed in 1972. Hillsdale which was closed in 1972. Craryville which was closed in 1972. Martindale which was closed in the 1950s. Philmont which was closed in 1972. Ghent which was closed in the 1950s. Chatham which was closed in the 1950s when the line was cut back. Amtrak never served these stations. We have no information on stations North of Chatham. Feedback is appreciated on any closed station. Rating: Grand Central to Wakefield …… 3 stars Wakefield to White Plains …... 4 ˝ stars White Plains to Wassaic ………. 6 stars Average ………………………………. 4 ˝ stars
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