Metro North Layup Yards

[Jeff Smith]

Would Metro North, specifically the New Haven Line, benefit from more layup yards? IIRC, these are the MNRR yards:

EOH
-New Haven Line: New Rochelle (MOW mostly), Stamford, East Bridgeport, New Haven. I assume consists lay up at New Canaan; I know they do at Danbury, none at Waterbury
-Harlem Line: NWP, Southeast
-Hudson Line: Croton Harmon, Poughkeepsie

WOH
-PV: Spring Valley
-PJ: Suffern, one proposed mid PJ, Port Jervis

It seems to me that given the space available on the New Haven main line ROW owing to the former existence of the New York Westchester and Boston Railway (NYW&B), there'd be some space to prevent the need to run consists all the way to Stamford, Bridgeport, or New Haven. IIRC, they turn some sets now at PIKE.

Could layup yards or tracks for turning trains be installed anywhere along the main line? I don't think there's a huge need at New Rochelle to turn, at least not until Penn Access opens. However, there are a lot of trains that are "limited express" trains during rush hour which start at various spots along the main line. It might be useful to have these start at alternate points, rather than gumming up the works coming out of the Stamford Yard.

I'm thinking specifically of certain locations where space still exists from the old "Westchester" ROW. Port Chester behind what is now Kohl's would seem a good spot for some long sidings to turn trains for starts at Rye or Harrison. There's the old LifeSaver freight yard just north of PC, and there used to be a coach yard just across the Byram River, which now privately owned but looks vacant.

It just seems to me like it would save a lot of deadheading.

[Backshophoss]

You forgot Wassic has a layup yard,Danbury beyond the "new" station is considered yard/interchange track to HRRC/P&W freights,New Canaan sets retreat to Stamford yard.
Tarrytown had a yard/team track,was a display site for the Freedom Train way back then. Dock yard in Sono is returning to service

[Rockingham Racer]

New Rochelle wasn't a layup yard, IIRC. A few rush hour trains did turn there, though, once upon a time. Don't know if that's still a practice. With the proposed service to Penn Station on the Hell Gate Line, it might be that the New Rochelle Yard might be used.

[njtmnrrbuff]

If many of the "East Bronx" trains are only going to run between NRO and NYP, the trains have to lay over somewhere besides the station in NRO and reactivating the yard will probably be the answer.

[RearOfSignal]

Other places they turn trains are: Mt. Vernon West Yard (west side, passenger yard) and track 3 at CP 137 (not a yard technically)

[Backshophoss]

The yard at BN(Putnam remains),while not a layup yard,is the Trash/recycling yard for GCT.
HighBridge yard replaces some of the tracks at GCT lost to the LIRR(ESA) deep bsaement station,includes a running repair shop that was at GCT.
HAS Croton East yard been abandoned? Or still used as part of the Harmon Deadline/scrapping?

[MNCRR9000]

With the replacement of the Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River the Dock Yard on the Danbury branch is also being created as a layup yard.

[shadyjay]

There's a whole slew of tracks in front of/adjacent to Waterbury station, so there's potential for one there, if/when the time comes.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.553996, ... a=!3m1!1e3

[R36 Combine Coach]

New Canaan sets retreat to Stamford yard.

No more overnight MU layovers?

[Erie-Lackawanna]

No more overnight MU layovers?

Not in many, many years. Daily inspections/servicing (which is mostly done overnight) can’t be done there, and you’d have to taxi crews up from Stamford and back.

Jim

[Erie-Lackawanna]

There's a whole slew of tracks in front of/adjacent to Waterbury station, so there's potential for one there, if/when the time comes.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.553996, ... a=!3m1!1e3

The Waterbury Yard is owned by Springfield Terminal and is off-limits to MNR. Obviously, a little money changing hands could remedy that, but then you’d need a LOT of money to build the necessary support facility. Trains need to be inspected and serviced overnight; crews need a place to go on- and off duty. A new layover yard is not an inexpensive endeavor.

Jim

[shadyjay]

The Waterbury Yard is owned by Springfield Terminal and is off-limits to MNR. Obviously, a little money changing hands could remedy that, but then you’d need a LOT of money to build the necessary support facility. Trains need to be inspected and serviced overnight; crews need a place to go on- and off duty. A new layover yard is not an inexpensive endeavor.

Yeah, there's that. But that's not to say that ST/PAS...err... CSX... err... G&W wouldn't sell it off if ConnDOT/MTA made them an offer they couldn't refuse.

But are we at the point where there needs to be a layover facility at Waterbury? Probably not yet. Lots of other projects probably higher priority systemwide. But the land is there and its still rail (for now).

[Jeff Smith]

Why not put a yard behind Kohl's in Port Chester? It would definitely clear up any jam for turning trains at Pike. And you wouldn't need a servicing or crew base there, just an employee stop.