for its merciful retirement. gram to
Metro-North and CDOT began a pro- systematically
replace the
overhead wire catenary system on the New Haven Line in 1993. The catenary system was originally designed and in- stalled by the New Haven between 1907-1914, and was a pioneering exam- ple of main line electrification using high-voltage alternating current. Over the years, the wires were prone to occa- sional failure from various stresses on the system, from weather extremes to high traffic volume. Today’s modern catenary uses a complex system of hangers and counterweights to keep the lines tensioned, reducing the oppor- tunity for failure. The design is based on a system in use by British Railways on their
high-speed intercity lines. CDOT expects to complete the final
phase of this project by 2014. In 1994, the railroad dropped “Com- muter” from its name to be known sim- ply as MTA Metro-North Railroad. By the mid-1990s, new high-level plat- forms were installed throughout diesel territory to reduce dwell times by al- lowing for faster loading and unloading of diesel trains. Only the Waterbury Branch retains its low-level platforms. Metro-North added some mileage in 1995 with the purchase of the Beacon Line from the Housatonic Railroad. This former New Haven trackage con- nects the Hudson Line at Beacon, the Harlem Line at Dykemans, and the Danbury Branch at Danbury. This route is used for occasional equipment moves and training purposes. The MTA negotiated a new lease with Penn Central successor American
Premiere Underwriters for the stew- ardship of historic Grand Central Ter- minal in 1994. This move allowed for the MTA to plan and execute a full restoration and rebuilding in 1996. The $197 million renovation project was completed in 1998 and included the ad- dition
of new retail and exhibition space throughout the terminal.
Evolution of the Fleet
The commuter fleet resembled a mu- seum collection when Metro-North took over in 1983. Passenger equipment at the time ranged from conventional pre- war streamlined steam-heated coaches to the latest in electric multiple-unit cars. A bond issue helped purchase new m.u. cars from Budd between 1971-’73 so the last of the old heavyweights could be retired. While the majority of
ABOVE: Metro-North removed “commuter” from their name in 1994. RIGHT: A BL20GH and a rebuilt GP35 team up on a concrete tie train near Cos Cob, Connecticut, on April 2, 2010. The BL20’s were designed for use on work trains as well as branch line commuter runs. BELOW: As the old New Haven main line follows the coast of Connecticut, there are many movable spans throughout the system, such as this swing bridge over the Norwalk River at South Norwalk, Connecticut, which dates from 1895.
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