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.

10/5 appears to be employee only

EdwardHand wrote:10/5 appears to be employee only

That’s what I thought might have been the case too when I came across the Eventbrite page earlier today. But the post in the FB group that led me to the Eventbrite link mentioned this at the bottom:

“This free, ticketed event is open to retirees, employees, their families, and the public…we’re making tickets available to retirees and employees first, so please register early to secure your spot. Tickets to the public will be made available soon, and we’re sure they’ll go fast. Tickets are required; no walk-ins will be permitted.“

(Here’s the link to the employee event below)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/harmon-ope ... 6306668257

So it looks like it will indeed be a public event as originally believed, but the event itself will NOT be “come one come all” like it used to. You will have to sign up for a free ticket online (whenever Metro-North posts a link for the general public to access) and there will only be a certain number of tickets available and for select start times between 8am and 3pm. So there will be about 6-8 different tour groups making their way around the facility throughout the day.

And they’re also NOT messing around when it comes to rules and regulations. Read ‘em and weep

“-Your tickets provide you and your guests with an 80-minute time slot, ensuring we can accommodate all employees.
-Please arrive 15 minutes before your ticketed time to allow time for a security check.
-Ticketing options are limited to 5 tickets per employee (including the employee).
-Tickets are on a first-come first-serve basis.
-You will be required to provide your Metro-North ID number, attendees' names, and their contact information.
-Please wear comfortable closed-toe shoes as there will be a lot of walking!
-Please note that everyone including employees will have to go through a security check-in located in the Croton-Harmon station parking lot.

Your ticket also grants you access to any of our round-trip Fall Foliage Trains! Trains depart from Croton-Harmon Station at 10:05 AM, 10:35AM, 1:05 PM, 1:35pm, 4:05pm and 4:35 PM. Each scenic ride lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

Prohibited items for this event include, but are not limited to:
Large bags, Purses, Backpacks, or luggage exceeding 16" x 16" x 8"
Strollers
Tripods, Monopods, Selfie Sticks, Professional Filming Equipment is prohibited
Laser Pointers, Flares, or Fireworks
Coolers, Ice Chests, or Folding Chairs
Glass containers
Umbrellas
Drones or UAVs (unmanned aerial Vehicles)
Animals or Pets (except service animals as defined by the ADA)
Weapons, Firearms, Pepper Spray, or Mace
Alcoholic beverages, Marijuana, Illegal Drugs or Substances
Any items determined by Authorized Persons to pose a risk to safety or to potentially disrupt facility operations
Flammable Liquids, Aerosol Cans
All allowed bags or backpacks may be subject to search.”

As bizarre as this whole setup admittedly sounds (the October 2001 open house had practically ZERO security other than an extra police presence and that was just over a month after 9/11 happened…) my hunch is that because since it’s been 16 years since the last open house so therefore the current management is not used to an event of this size -and perhaps due to arm twisting from their legal department- the RR wants to keep crowds to a minimum and have the event conducted in a truly organized fashion. The old events were certainly not chaotic by any means, but people could roam around any part of the shop open to the public as they pleased.

But on the plus side this will allow those of us driving from far and wide to not only allow more than enough time to arrive, but to also be assured of finding a parking space in the non-permit/non-commuter section of the station parking lot. Would hate to drive in from Boston to find out there was no space to pahk my cahh.

NH - The Eventbrite link is confirmation enough for me...The Croton Shop Open House WILL be held
on October 5, 2024...As EH mentions MNCR employees and their guests will have priority...

This event will have security screening for all that may attend - reminding me of what the MTA required
when the Long Island Sunrise Trail Chapter-NRHS had tours of East Side Access Project during construction
which was limited to (I recall) 30 paid members. ID was required along with a attendance list submitted for
advance security checks to the MTA...

When these free tickets are made available to the General Public it will be interesting to note how many will
be offered for each time slot - and it pays to take note to the rules and regulations that have been mentioned...

I attended Croton Shop Open House tours in the past - and remember calling MNCR to confirm that the
October 2001 event would be held as scheduled - I recall the person that I talked to mentioned something
that stayed in my mind "We all need this right now" to seek some normal during those unstable times...

Good to see this MNCR event back in any case...MACTRAXX

I remember that open house very well. The lineup of FL9s outside the shop complex (the one and only time I got to photograph them, including the “Starship” units) and the Wassaic extension module in HO scale were the highlights for me.