New HavenLine

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, 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.

The New Haven Line has three branches, New Canaan, Danbury, and Waterbury

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 I10^th Street I which ahd four tracks and two side platformsWe 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.

While we share trackage with the Harlem Line we skip all stops except Fordham, even when running on the local track

Fordham 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.

The New Haven Line has three branches, New Canaan, Danbury, and Waterbury.

Mount Vernon East has four tracks, two wall platforms and a crossunder.

We arrive at Pelham, with the same arrangement as Mount Vernon. North of the station, the Amtrak line from Penn Station (via Queens and the Hell Gate Bridge) merges via a two track connection at "Shell" tower. The New Haven branch trains perform the changeover to caternary power, and the power change over is smooth with only a brief interruption to blower fans and lights.

Abandoned Station, Columbus Avenue is next and had four tracks and two low side platforms

New Rochelle is next, located in a cut on the east side and at grade on the west side. There are five tracks passing through the station, with platform arrangement, from west to east, as follows: wall platform for southbound trains, two bypass tracks with no platform, and finally an island platform for northbound trains. The station house is located on the southbound side. There is a crossover connecting the platforms. This station is also served by occasional Amtrak trains. Directly adjacent to the station on the west is the New York Thruway (I-95). From here to New Haven, I-95 will not be too far apart from the railroad, although it may not be adjacent at all times.

Larchmont is next and we revert to four tracks, two wall platforms and a crossover at the south end. An old low platform was observed at the north end of the current station. This station is being renovated.

Mamaroneck follows. An unusual feature of the two high wall platforms is construction of these platforms on top of the old low platforms. Only ornamental rails reveal the presence of old low platforms. There is a crossunder. Harrison (New York) follows, with four tracks and two wall platforms. There is a station house on the west side. The station is at grade and old low platforms were seen at the south end of both platforms. The station is currently undergoing needed renovation. Rye is next. The town of Rye is the home of America's first theme park, Rye Playland, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The station has four tracks, two wall platforms and a crossover. Old low platforms were seen at the south end of both platforms. Renovation might be planned since survey marks were found.

Port Chester follows, also with four tracks, two wall platforms and a crossunder. A highlight of this station is an abandoned right-of-way to the northeast, part of the former New York, Westchester, and Boston Railroad. There was no rail, ties or wire on this right-of-way. Station renovation may be planned as survey marks were found. Departing Port Chester, we leave New York and enter Connecticut.

Greenwich is the first stop. There are four tracks, two wall platforms, a crossover and old low platforms on the south end. This station has been renovated. Cos Cob is next with four tracks and two wall platforms. It has been renovated. The station house is on the west side and old low platforms are still used as exits on the north end of the station. The line passes the New Haven's Cos Cob power generating plant and crosses a drawbridge on the way to the next station, Riverside. This near-grade station has four tracks with two wall platforms and a crossover. The station house is on the west side.

Old Greenwich is next and with the exception of a crossunder instead of crossover is identical to Riverside. Old low platforms are at the south end of the east platform.

Stamford is next. Amtrak trains also stop here, and Amtrak is funding the major renovations still underway. Connections are available for the New Canaan Branch. The main station is over the tracks, all platforms having a crossover. From west to east, platform and track arrangements are: Wall platform serving track 4; island platform serving track 4 and track 2 (trains on track 5 and track 3 open both sides); one bypass track; island platform serving track 1 and 3.and a wall platform serving track 3 Stamford is also home to a Metro North maintenance facility and storage yards for Amtrak and Metro North trains. The wall platforms are shorter than the island platforms. Glen Brook followed with four tracks and two low side platforms. It is now abandoned. This station was not the same station as is on the New Canaan Branch.

We enter Noroton Heights. Four tracks, two wall platforms, with a crossover. Currently, due to renovations, the easternmost track is covered with a temporary bridge. Old low platforms are to the north of the station. The station house is on the west side, and a bus-stop style shelter on the east side. The same temporary bridges are also located at the next two stations.

Darien is next and has the same track layout and has been rebuilt. There is a crossunder. The station house is on the west side. There are remains of low platforms at both ends of both platforms.

Rowayton follows and has four tracks and two wall platforms. this station has also been rebuilt.

South Norwalk follows. The station appears to have four tracks and two wall platforms. A closer observation reveals a surprise, there are six tracks and the wall platforms are actually island platforms. The north end has two extra tracks, which are connections to the Danbury Branch. The main station house is on the northbound platform and a small station house on the southbound platform. The station has a crossunder. The older station house is on the east side and the new one on the west side. A tunnel connects both platforms.

East Norwalk follows with four tracks and two short wall platforms and a crossunder. Westport is next and with the exception of an old low platform north of the station is identical to East Norwalk.

Green's Farms is next. There are four tracks and two wall platforms. The station house is on the west side and a bus-style shelter is on the east side. We arrive at Southport. This station has four tracks and two short wall platforms, which are offset. A wood station house is on the west side, and a brick station house is on the east side. Fairfield is next with four tracks, two medium length wall platforms and both a crossover and crossunder. The main station house is on the east side, but there is a station house on both platforms.

We rise to a high embankment and then a viaduct as we enter another Amtrak Station, Bridgeport. The station has four tracks and two wall platforms with crossunders and station houses on both platforms. A small maintenance-of-way yard is to the northeast of the station. Within the confines of the station, I-95 passes diagonally overhead. Old low platforms were found north of the station. The main station is on the west side. The station also houses the Greyhound bus station as well as the ferry to Port Jefferson, Long Island. The northbound station platform is actually over the water! This is the connection to the Waterbury Branch.

Stratford is next, where the Waterbury Branch leaves (does not stop here). The station has four tracks and two short wall platforms and a crossunder. Old low platforms were spotted at the south end. (the abandoned station Devon.) Between here and Milford, our next station, the westernmost track is in various stages of absence, sometimes only one rail, only crossties, or just nothing, possibly due to track replacement work since the caternary wire is still in place. Milford has three tracks and two short wall platforms. Old low platforms were seen at the south end. The station house is on the west side. North of here was Woodmont which had four tracks and two low side platforms. it is now abandoned as is the next station, West Haven also with four tracks and two low side platforms. There is talk of a new station here. It is unclear whether the new station would reuse this station (with platforms being rebuilt as high platforms) or built at a new location.

We arrive at New Haven after a two-hour ride from Grand Central. This is an Amtrak Station and Amtrak's presence is obvious. The station is named Union Station. It was built in1920 and restored using federal funds in 1985. A yard is located to both sides of the station for both Amtrak and Metro North. The main station is on the west side at street level and is also home to New Haven's Greyhound Bus station. Connections can be made to Shore Line East service. A tunnel connects all platforms. From west to east platforms and tracks are as follows:

A new station in downtown New Haven has limited weekday serviced, New Haven State Street. It has four tracks and an island platform serving only the northbound tracks. It has a crossover to Parking on the west side. Shore Line East also serves this station. It is less than a mile north of Union Station. The crossover has a cyan roof as does the platform canopy with dark blue supports with gold accents. These structures are curved (Turtle back) rather than flat.

There is an off again, on again proposal to restore service to Springfield, MA. Old stations were located at:

North Haven, Meriden, Berlin, Hartford (Also Amtrak stops here today), Windsor locks (Also Amtrak today), West Housepoint, Thompsonville, Lang Meadow, South Springfield, Springfield (Also Amtrak today) If this happens it is not known what stations would be revived.

The main New Haven Line gets 3 1/2 stars). I had to down rate the New Haven because of the shared trackage with the Harlem line and the awful Melrose Station!