Today I would be finishing riding all lines of Metro North. Robin and I drove from the Shore Line Trolley Museum but due to the heavy traffic and the threat of rain, drove to Waterbury and parked the rental car. I had pre-purchased my tickets from the Interne for the trip from Waterbury to Bridgeport and Stamford to New Canaan. I would buy an upgraded ticket to get me from Bridgeport and Stamford from the Conductor on that train. Robin would just buy a Waterbury to New Canaan ticket from the conductor on the Waterbury to Devon train. This way, even if it rained, I will have ridden every rail mile of Metro North.
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Waterbury station complete with tower, built in 1908.
The train to Devon.
The motive power for our trip there. We boarded the Waterbury Branch train and this would be the last piece of Metro North track I needed in order to ride their whole system, and would be new mileage to Devon and the connection with the North East Corridor. The train would stop at Naugatuck, North Seymour, Seymour, Ansonia, Derby, Derby Jct and we would detrain at the new station in Devon. Due to drawbridge rebuilding at the junction, all trains terminated there and passengers transferred to New Haven Line trains to reach their destination. This would be all new trackage for Robin. The train left Waterbury and Robin bought his ticket to New Canaan from our conductor.
Views on the way to Devon.
We arrived at Devon as the day got darker and I completed riding the Metro North Waterbury Branch.
Views down the tracks both ways at Devon.
Our train which would take us to Stamford arrived and we boarded Metro North's newest cars. The conductor sold me my upgrade so I could get to Stamford and the rain soon began as we made our way south on the North East Corridor.
The interior of the Metro North new cars.
Two views on the way to Stamford. We arrived there and our New Canaan train was on another platform so we went up and over to get to it.
The sign told me we are on the correct train. We boarded to finally ride Metro North's New Canaan Branch, where this whole branch from the North East Corridor would be new mileage for me. This route's stops are Glenbrook, Springdale, Woodway and Talamadge Hill before the final destination of New Canaan.
The view before we departed Stamford, then travelled about two miles to reach the New Canaan Branch.
From this timetable you have an idea of our route today, which is in a very urban environment.
The train stopped at Talmadge Hill and I knew I was almost there. A few minutes later, we arrived at the New Canaan station and I had completed riding every mile of the Metro North Railroad.
The train at New Canaan.
Chris Guenzler at New Canaan. Robin and I visited the Metro North ticket machine where I bought my Stamford to Bridgport segment and Robin bought his New Canaan to Waterbury.
Robin on the train here; we then re-traced our trip back to Stamford.
We returned to Stamford and said goodbye to our train that helped me finish the Metro North Railroad.
It was truly a wet evening but went into the station to explore.
Interior of the station. We went to the basement and found a Subway to get dinner and we took it back into the station to eat it, after which we returned to the wet platform and found a dry spot to watch trains.
A New Haven line train came and went heading to New York City.
More Metro North trains came and went while we waited for our train to Devon.
Right on time at 7:52 PM, a New Haven Line train arrived and picked us up for Devon. Near there, we had to walk four cars forward to detrain. In a downpour of rain, we dashed to the waiting Waterbury train and boarded that for the trip back to Waterbury and once there, we left the Metro North Railroad. A special thank you to the Metro North Railroad for all the great trips the company has given me over the years of train riding.
It took all my greatest driving skills to drive through the construction zone to get us to the Waterbury Quality Inn and a good night's sleep. A special thank you to Elizabeth for helping with the train times for this trip.
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