Photograph of Harriman station from the 1903 book Yonkers Illustrated. The station was renamed Greystone circa 1910.

Greystone station in 1915. [image source]

If you’ve been following me around on my tour of all of Metro-North’s stations, you most likely remember me visiting Harriman station, which is on the Port Jervis Line. However, there is another station, on the Hudson Line, that was also called Harriman in the past. The station now goes by the name of Greystone, and it is today’s stop on our tour of the Hudson Line.

Greystone station is located in Yonkers, and approximately 17 miles north of Grand Central. I don’t normally make it a point to name the street that stations are on, but in this instance it feels appropriate – Harriman Avenue. Originally the station was named Harriman, after Charles Harriman, who was the main developer of that part of Yonkers. The man was born around 1826 in England but emigrated to New York with his parents and six siblings at age four. At the young age of eleven he began working, and developed a keen business sense. Throughout his illustrious career as a businessman he sold parts for ships, ran a sugar refinery, and founded a real estate firm with John Hawley – known as Harriman & Hawley.

Prior to the area’s development by Harriman, the land on which the station was built was owned by a pickle factory. Harriman purchased the land, approximately 18 acres, and developed it into a desireable place to live, with many attractive homes. The original stone station was built at a cost of $8000 (though another source lists the cost at $6500), completely paid for by Harriman. He later donated the station to the New York Central, and believe it or not, requested they rename the station Greystone.

Both photographs above are by user BrooklynParrots on Flickr and were taken in 2000.

Today Greystone station isn’t the most noteworthy of places, but like many Hudson Line stations it provides a nice view of the river. Some benches were installed along the water, and a spot was designated for fishing, but eating whatever you happen to catch is probably not the best of ideas. Both Amtrak and Metro-North trains frequently pass by Greystone, and about 30 trains in each direction make stops there over the course of a day. Travel time to Grand Central is between 30 to 40 minutes. Located behind the station are some apartments, which would be the perfect residence for any commuter.

Next week we will, of course, be visiting another Hudson Line station, perhaps a little bit more interesting than Greystone. Not to say that Greystone is a bad place – it certainly is not – it just might be a tad regular.