December 2, 2015:

 

            I didn't get my wake up call at 8:00 am, but my phone's alarm got me up. I got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. After breakfast, I returned to my room and finished packing. I then checked out of my hotel and walked to the Greyhound station.

 

            Along the way, I saw a MATS Gillig pass by. I photographed it.

 

 

 

            I don't remember where, but I heard a rumour that MATS contracted out to First Student which when the company provided service for York Region Transit's north division, it was the worst when it came to photography. I wasn't sure if I would be hassled for taking pictures in Montgomery, but if I was hassled yesterday, it would have been ironic considering what happened 60 years previous.

 

            I got to the Greyhound station about 45 minutes before my bus was scheduled to leave. I checked my suitcase and lined up.

 

            A bus that was heading for Atlanta which was scheduled to arrive around 7:45 am pulled in over two hours late. That bus was not the bus I would be taking.

 

            My bus started boarding a little while later. I got on and took a seat on the left hand side of the bus. The bus left 19 minutes late because of people connecting from the really late bus I mentioned earlier. However, I would have plenty of time to connect to the Crescent.

 

            The bus hit the highway and we soon left Montgomery. I logged into the bus's Wi-Fi and went online.

 

            At one point the driver pulled off to the side of the road so she could use the bus' bathroom! We were soon underway again.

 

            A little while later, we were approaching Birmingham. We arrived at the Birmingham Greyhound station 13 minutes late. I got off and photographed the bus.

 

 

            I then got my suitcase and had lunch at the restaurant in the Greyhound station. I then walked to the Amtrak station. Along the way, I photographed a couple buses owned by Birmingham's transit system.

 

 

 

            I soon got to the Amtrak Station. I phoned Julie and found out the train was running 6 minutes late.  The news was on. I saw there was a mass shooting going on in California which is awful.

 

            After awhile, an announcement was made that train #20 would be boarding shortly. I made my way up to the platform. Once on the platform, I photographed three CSX locomotives moving light.

 

 

 

 

 

            Soon, I saw Amtrak #20 in the distance. When it pulled into the station, I filmed the train.

 

           

            The train had three locomotives instead of the usual two. I figured that Amtrak was moving power somewhere. I was seated in Amfleet 2 coach #25103. I got a window seat on the left hand side of the train. The train departed 8 minutes late. Shortly after we left, I photographed an old baggage car in the station.

 

 

            The train stopped so we could reline the switch behind us. We were soon underway again. I photographed what looked like an Alco or Baldwin switcher and an old steam engine on display.

 

 

 

            I settled in for the long ride. We passed a Norfolk Southern freight yard. I saw a Norfolk Southern coal train with two DPU units at the rear.

 

            The train stopped at Anniston a little while later. East of Anniston, I filmed the New Flyer Plant.

 

            The sun went down. I went to the dining car for dinner. After dinner, I returned to my seat. The train stopped in Atlanta a little while later. I stepped off and took some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

            I then got back on the train. I gained a seatmate in Atlanta. The train departed. I watched a DVD I had brought with me.

 

            I went to the lounge car a few times. The train crossed into South Carolina. After awhile I decided to try and sleep. I had forgotten my Amtrak comfort kit at home so I tried to improvise.

 

December 3, 2015:

 

            I woke up at one point we were in Charlotte, North Carolina. I could see the equipment that would be this morning's Carolinian to New York. I have now covered all the trackage of the Crescent north of Birmingham.

 

            The HEP went out. Amtrak was removing the first P42 on our train so the lead unit was most likely going to be used on either the Carolinian or the Piedmont.

 

            Amtrak's southbound Crescent pulled into the station on the track next to us. Train #20 soon departed. From the train, I could see NCDOT F59PHi #1755 which had led the Piedmont I rode back in 2010 and was on display at Streamliners at Spencer.

 

            I tried to rest again. I woke up just before 6:00 am as we were stopped at Lynchburg. I went to the lounge car. We departed Lynchburg on time. As we departed, I filmed the equipment that would become the regional train about 1 ¾ hours later. It was that train that I missed last June thanks to Google Transit.

 

            I returned to my seat for a little more than 30 minutes and went to the dining car for breakfast. After breakfast, I returned to my seat. The train stopped at Charlottesville and Manassas. East of Manassas, a VRE commuter train passed. The train stopped at Culpeper.

 

            We were soon approaching Washington DC. The train stopped at Alexandria. We soon departed and passed an Amtrak Regional which was stopped. I filmed it as we passed.

 

            We soon pulled into Washington DC Union station. The diesels were uncoupled. I stepped outside and took some pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I photographed AEM-7 #921 which was parked by itself. As the result of Amtrak's new electric locomotives, Amtrak has now retired all the HHP-8 electrics and most of the AEM-7s so seeing one was a treat.

 

 

            The Regional train that we had passed earlier pulled in. I photographed it.

 

 

            Meanwhile Amtrak ACS-64 locomotive #644 was approaching. It would be taking the Crescent the rest of the way to New York. I photographed it.

 

 

            I filmed #644 coupling up to the train. I returned to my coach. HEP was soon restored. However the Regional train which had arrived after us departed before us. I'm guessing this was the case because even though the train now has a Viewliner 2 baggage car, it still has a Heritage diner and thus speed is limited to 90 MPH. However, at the time of this trip, all the Viewliner 2 baggage cars had been completed and the Viewliner 2 dining cars are under construction with delivery beginning next year. As a result, this trip will probably be the last time I eat in a Heritage diner on Amtrak. However, I my last meal in a Heritage Diner would be this evening when I ride the Lakeshore Limited later today.

 

            The Crescent eventually departed.  I wanted to film the Amtrak yard in Washington DC, but a CSX freight blocked my view. I did see the Superliner cars that would be this day's Capitol Limited to Chicago though.

 

            The CSX freight went down another line as we headed up the Northeast Corridor. We stopped at Baltimore a little while later. After we departed Baltimore, we passed through a tunnel. As we passed by a CSX yard, I filmed some derailed and burnt freight cars. I believe those where the cars I saw last year from the Crescent as I headed to and from Streamliners at Spencer.

 

            The train passed over a few bridges before we stopped at Wilmington. After departing Wilmington, I filmed Amtrak’s Bear shops. I saw some AEM-7 electrics in the yard as well as a stored P40 still in the Phase 4 livery.

 

            We passed a couple SEPTA commuter trains. At one point, we passed by a yard full of SEPTA trolleys. However, there were no PCC-2s there.

 

            The train stopped at Philadelphia. At Philadelphia, my seatmate got off. We soon departed.

 

            Shortly after leaving Philadelphia, we passed by where back in April; Amtrak train #188 had derailed killing 8 passengers after it went around a curve too fast. The locomotive leading that train was ACS-64 #601 which had led the southbound Crescent from New York when I went to Streamliners at Spencer last year.

 

            I filmed a southbound Amtrak train before I photographed six retired SEPTA PCCs in a yard.

 

 

            I also noticed a couple passenger cars and an Amtrak E unit stored across the tracks from those PCCs. The E unit has clearly seen better days.

 

            I phoned my friend Dan whom I had met in 2007 on the Adirondack to see if there was any possibility of us meeting at Penn Station, but he said something had come up. He told me that he was planning on heading to the west coast by air and possibly taking Amtrak back.

 

            The train stopped at Trenton and Newark. We soon departed Newark and I could see the New York skyline. The train entered the tunnel under the Hudson River. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            Train #20 arrived into New York Penn Station six minutes early. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I then went upstairs and bought lunch. I wandered around the station for a few minutes. At one point, I saw not one, but two people in wheelchairs trying to go up an escalator! The escalator had been stopped by the time I got there.

 

            I eventually decided to go for a ride on the subway. I wanted to ride an R32 subway train one more time. I saw security had increased on the subway; presumably what happened the day before. However, no one would give me trouble for taking pictures. A train of R32s pulled in and I got on. I rode two stations north and got off. I photographed the train as it pulled away.

 

 

            I then went to catch a train back to Penn station. I had to leave the fare paid area and pay another fare.

 

            Someone invited me to check out a comedy club, but I didn’t have time.

 

            Once back in the subway, I waited for a southbound C train. I was hoping to ride another R32 train, but the train had newer cars. I wasn’t sure how much time before the next train so I took it. I photographed the train before I got on.

 

 

            I rode to Penn Station and left the subway. I attempted to go online, but the Wi-Fi wasn’t working that day. I wandered around a little and photographed some Christmas decorations in the station.

 

 

 

            Soon, it was time to board train #49. I almost had to fight my way to the queue line as Penn Station was crowded. I was able to make it to the gate but by then, the coaches were somewhat full.

 

            I was seated in Amfleet 2 coach #25088. I had an aisle seat. Due to the fact part of the Lakeshore Limited’s Boston section was being bussed on certain days, Amtrak was running the Boston section as a separate stub train on days when they could run the Boston section. So the consists of trains 49 and 48 were just like they were from 2005-2008 with a baggage car, sleepers, diner, lounge car, and coaches.

 

            Train #49 departed on time. The train passed through tunnels before emerging outside. The train joined the Metro North line. I worked on this report some more. At one point, I filmed a southbound Amtrak train. The train stopped at Croton-Harmon.

 

            At one point the train stopped. There was track work being done and the line was reduced to a single track between where we had stopped and Poughkeepsie. I went to have what I believe was my last meal in a Heritage diner as they are up for retirement next year when the Viewliner 2 dining cars enter service.

 

            I sat down in Heritage diner #8552; a Temoinsa refurbished diner which originally ran with the Northern Pacific. I had the chicken.

 

 

I don’t usually do this, but this was my last meal in an Amtrak Heritage diner.

 

            A few Metro North trains passed as well an at least one Amtrak Empire Service train passed. We were stopped for at least 20 minutes. We eventually were underway again.

 

            The train stopped at Poughkeepsie. At Poughkeepsie, I saw Amtrak train #48 heading towards New York and attempted to film it.

 

            The train departed Poughkeepsie. A little while later, we stopped at Albany. I got off and took some photos.

 

 

            The P32AC-DM that took the train from New York was removed and would be replaced with two P42s. I saw the Boston section stub train on a nearby track. It had a locomotive, a Viewliner 2 baggage car, an Amfleet 1 café car with business class seating, and two Amfleet 2 coaches.

 

            After awhile, Amtrak train #291 pulled in. I got back on train #49. Hep was soon restored. The train reversed a few car lengths in order to load baggage and allow sleeping car passengers to board.

 

            Train #49 departed Albany 39 minutes late. As we passed the Amtrak yard north of the station, I saw the 2015 Amtrak Toys for Tots train led by P42 #42 and P40 #822. I saw Amtrak’s Great Dome was in the consist.

 

            The train stopped at Schenectady. We soon departed. The train passed through Amsterdam non stop.

 

            A little while later, we were approaching Utica. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            Train #49 arrived into Utica 63 minutes late. I got off and attempted to photograph the train.

 

 

 

 

            I then tried to film the train pulling out. I then left the station and walked to my hotel. I was staying at the same hotel I stayed at on my Six Flags Make up Trip last year. I checked in and went to my room.

 

            I bought some milk from a nearby convenience store and returned to my hotel. I went online and worked on this report for a little while. I set the alarm on my phone for 8:45 am and called it a night.

 

December 4, 2015:

 

            I got up and got dressed. I went to the lobby for breakfast. After breakfast, I returned to my room and finished packing. I then checked out of my hotel.

 

            I then walked to the Amtrak station and photographed cars on the Adirondack Scenic Valley tourist railway as a CSX freight train passed.

 

 

 

            I then photographed former New York Central steam locomotive #6721. Since I was last in Utica, #6721 was involved in an accident. You may be wondering how a stationary locomotive could have been involved in an accident. Well, earlier year or late 2014, a teenager was playing around on a covered hopper down the line and released the handbrake. This caused the car to roll away in the direction of the station. The car was routed into the siding and hit #6721. The car was going at such a speed; it pushed #6721 backwards into the station building damaging the structure. The car was removed a week later but the station is still undergoing repairs and the locomotive; while moved back to its original position still bears the scars of the accident.

 

 

 

            I soon got to the station with more than 30 minutes before the Maple Leaf was scheduled to depart. I photographed the train outside the children’s museum.

 

 

            I wandered down the platform and photographed the equipment from the Adirondack Scenic Valley tourist train.

 

 

 

 

 

            Amtrak train #284 arrived. I filmed the train pulling in and photographed it.

 

 

            I then filmed train #284 departing and took one more photo of it.

 

 

            I then went back in the station. A little while later, it was announced that train #63 would be boarding on the far platform track. I went over after I bought some corn chips from a vending machine.

 

            I took one last photograph of #6721.

 

 

            Train #63 arrived on time. As it pulled in, I attempted to film it, but the video suddenly went out of focus so I took two photos of the train.

 

 

 

            This has happened quite a bit with my camera. However, when I bought it, it was a basic camera which wasn’t very expensive. As a result, I am seriously considering a better camera.

 

            I was seated in Amfleet 1 coach #82513. I took a window seat on the left hand side of the train. The train soon departed. I logged onto Amtrak’s Wi-Fi and went on Facebook. Today was the last day of high floor bus operation with the TTC. The TTC ran one of their last Orion 5s; #9411 and made a special last trip on bus route #196 so I would miss the last day of high floor operation.

 

            In 2011, on the last day of Fishbowl operations, five fishbowls were in service on route #52 the whole day including #2290 which went to Ireland and the infamous #2855.

 

            The train stopped at Rome. After we left Rome, I went to the café car for lunch. Train #48 passed, but I was unable to film it. The train stopped at Syracuse.  After we departed Syracuse, I filmed the equipment in the fairgrounds past the station.

 

            A little while later, we stopped at Rochester. Since my Six Flags Make up trip, the station building in Rochester was closed and demolished to make room for a new station. Until the new station is built, a temporary station is being used not to far from the old location. I photographed the temporary station.

 

 

            We soon departed Rochester. Train #64 passed by. I filmed part of it. A last call was made for the café car. I bought something to drink and took it back to my seat. I was also given a form to fill out for customs. I filled it out.

 

            The train stopped at Buffalo Depew station. Shortly after leaving Depew, the train passed a scrap yard. I saw what looked like an old fishbowl in the yard! I never knew it was there! However, I was unable to film it.

 

            The train stopped at Buffalo Exchange Street. We soon departed. We passed a CSX local between Exchange Street and Niagara Falls New York.

 

            The train stopped at Niagara Falls, New York. However, the crew did not let people step out despite the fact they had done so previous times I took train #63 back to Toronto. I did photograph some CSX power in the yard.

 

 

            The train departed. As we left, I filmed an Amtrak P32-BWH parked by itself. Amtrak seems to leave a diesel at Niagara Falls during the winter months; however in the past, it was always a P42. We crossed into Canada. We stopped at Niagara Falls Ontario. We were made to get off the train and go through Customs at the station. I stepped off and was the first person to be processed. The inspection was quick and painless. I then left the customs area and went out and photographed the train.

 

 

            I then went to the station to wait for reboarding of the train. I photographed a Niagara Transit Orion 5 in service.

 

 

            Boarding began after 5:30 pm. I was seated in the same coach. However, there were so few people riding, that only Amfleet 1 coach #82513 was open.

 

            The train departed on time. We stood a good chance of being on time if the bridge over the Welland Canal was down. The bridge was down. However, I saw a ship in the distance heading in the direction of the bridge, but we had plenty of time to clear. The train stopped at St. Catherines.

 

            After we left St. Catherines, I went to the café car for dinner. I took it back to my seat. The train stopped at Grimsby.

 

            The train passed through Hamilton, but we stopped on the other side for a few minutes due to signal issues. Several minutes later, we were underway again.

 

            The train didn’t stop at Aldershot or Oakville presumably because no one wanted on or off. VIA train #79 passed.

 

            I attempted to film the equipment in VIA’s Toronto Maintenance Center. We were soon nearing Toronto. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            The Maple Leaf arrived into Toronto 11 minutes late. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I then went downstairs and phoned home. I boarded a northbound train and rode to Finch where I met my mom. I had to squeeze my suitcase into the back as the car had a large item which was to be my dad’s Christmas present. I was able to get the suitcase in and we headed home.

 

Conclusions:

 

            Aside from barely making my bus to Montgomery as a result of the Crescent’s lateness, this trip was excellent. Perhaps Rosa Parks’ spirit was looking out for me that day! It was really interesting to be at Montgomery 60 years after Rosa Parks refused to move on the bus and fanning the present system in Montgomery! It was also nice to see the CP Holiday Train. However, next year, I’ll presumably see it in the Toronto area. I just wish my camera’s battery hadn’t died when I was filming the train pulling in.

 

            I am pretty much done travelling in 2015. I’ve got at least two trips planned for 2016 including a make up trip from Lynchburg as a result of missing the train back to Washington DC. Until next time…

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