Harmon Shops Open House RETURNS October 5th

Via a post on Amtrak Unlimited. I haven’t been able to find any info on the MTA website, etc., but judging from the username of the person who posted it, I don’t see any reason to doubt that it’s true.

In which case, GET YOUR CAMERAS READY!

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/me ... use.87733/

Nice! I went to a couple when I was still in high school, I'm glad they're returning!

I saw a post on FB a couple weeks ago... holding out hope for not just an open house, but perhaps they'll gather a gaggle of "heritage wraps" at said event.

In any event, I'm there!!!

Drool.

NaugyRR wrote:Nice! I went to a couple when I was still in high school, I'm glad they're returning!

What years did you attend? The last one I went to was in 2005 and as I recall it very quietly went away when the shops were being expanded beginning in 2008.

shadyjay wrote:I saw a post on FB a couple weeks ago... holding out hope for not just an open house, but perhaps they'll gather a gaggle of "heritage wraps" at said event.

In any event, I'm there!!!

I think I found the post you referenced. I definitely have no doubts about it actually happening.

Agreed on the heritage units, I imagine that would be one of the main attractions in terms of equipment displays. In the past 18 or so years since the last open house the last of the FL-9s, M-1s, and M-2/4/6s have been retired or scrapped and the BL20GHs and M-8s have been in service for well over a decade so some variety would be welcomed. One of the leased CTrail GP40-3Hs would make a fine addition.

Now if one of the Chargers would make an appearance…

Jeff Smith wrote:Drool.

Foamers gonna foam

It would have been the last two years, 2004 and 2005. Those would have been my freshmen and sophomore years at Housatonic.

Now excuse me while I pluck at my gray hairs and tell myself I'm not old lol.

NaugyRR wrote:It would have been the last two years, 2004 and 2005. Those would have been my freshmen and sophomore years at Housatonic.

Now excuse me while I pluck at my gray hairs and tell myself I'm not old lol.

I actually missed the 2004 one; I was taking a placement test for a prep school in Westchester (which I ended up not going to..) and it didn’t get out in time. Misplaced priorities


From an old thread (see here: no-croton-open-house-this-year-t64239-30.html) the last open house was indeed in 2008 -much to everyone’s pleasant surprise- and the following year there was an announcement of some sort stating that there would be no event held. But it didn’t specify whether it was just for one year or indefinitely.

I may be mixing up my years then, but I was for sure still in high school for the two I went to. I remember my dad driving me to both, and one of my good friends at the time joining us for one of them.

I do hope this ends up being true, I would like to see the new shop and check out some of the demonstrations they've done in the past. I wonder if they'll do the short Fall Foliage excursions up to Bear Mountain and back again; that was always a fun little ride.

Any updates to the tour?

RH - Until Metro North posts official notice about an upcoming Croton Shop Open House
this is just another social media rumor in my opinion regardless of the origin...MACTRAXX

MACTRAXX wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2024 8:36 am RH - Until Metro North posts official notice about an upcoming Croton Shop Open House
this is just another social media rumor in my opinion regardless of the origin...MACTRAXX

I’d reveal the source of the FB post that claims the open house is back, but it was clearly posted by someone “in the know” who has direct connections with the railroad and I’d rather not run the risk of sharing too much in case someone were to get in trouble for revealing it to others. But for what it’s worth the post I found on Amtrak Unlimited was by someone who used to be a member here who is also a former MNRR employee and would always have strong choice words for ridiculous claims and unsubstantiated rumors so for HIM off all people to claim the open house is returning says quite a lot.

If you wish to find the FB post for yourself: use the right combination of words in a Google search and you’ll 1) be sure to find it and 2) be duly convinced there’s some meat to it. It was enough to convince me to put in a request to have the day off from work weeks in advance.

But in any event I too will wait for official word. I don’t think we’ll hear anything until perhaps a couple of weeks out; I remember 20 years ago hearing about it from my dad via a “Mileposts” pamphlet left on the train relatively shortly before the event itself was held each year.