Amtrak 40^th Anniversary Trip:

 

Prologue:

 

            In 2011, Amtrak turned 40 years old. To mark the occasion, they repainted four P42s in heritage Amtrak liveries. In addition, they made a train consisting of a P40, an F40, a former Heritage crew dorm, three baggage cars, and an Amfleet 1 food service car. The F40 was actually in the consist of the eastbound Lakeshore Limited I rode on my 2011 Boston trip! I also caught a glimpse of the 40^th Anniversary train in Albany.

 

            I still wanted to visit the exhibit train. I checked the schedule online and saw the best time and place to see it was in Burlington, Vermont on August 20^th. My final plan was to take VIA train 56 to Montreal on the 19^th and overnight there. The next day, I would ride a Greyhound bus to Burlington and visit the exhibit train there. The following day, I would ride Amtrak’s Vermonter to Newark, New Jersey and stay in a hotel and fly home the following day.

 

            However, because the freight railroad was doing track work around the time, Amtrak would be busing passengers north of Springfield which is a bit of a disappointment since I’ve never ridden the Vermonter. The trip unfolded as follows.

 

August 19, 2011:

 

            I left home shortly after 7:30 am. My mom gave me a ride to the Langstaff GO station. I was catching the last southbound train of the morning. I bought a ticket at the automated machine. The train arrived 15 minutes later. When it arrived, I photographed it.

 

 

            I boarded the cab car and rode to Union Station. I got off and took some pictures without incident.

 

 

 

            I then went to line up for VIA train 56. I saw on the departure screen in Union Station that train 56 was completely sold out in Economy Class. Boarding began at 9:10. I heard there were two VIA 1 cars in the train. I was seated in LRC Economy coach #3332, the last car on train 56. I was able to get the last window seat on the left hand side of the train. As expected, I gained a seatmate right away. The train left on time. Just like last time, the train was running as a J-train with train 54. I saw there was no VIA Destinations magazine in the seat pocket ahead of me, but there was one under the seat in front which I grabbed and put in the seat pocket ahead of me.

 

            As the train passed the TTC's Greenwood subway yard, I filmed it. A few minutes later, we slowed down, but soon picked up speed again. My ticket was taken shortly before we passed through Guildwood non-stop. I bought a chocolate bar and a can of Coke when the vendor came by. VIA train 41 passed on the opposite side of the train so I was unable to film it. As we passed Durham Region Transit's Whitby garage, I saw some 8100 series Orion 5s parked. The train stopped in Oshawa. I was seated across from a crying baby. We had to make a double stop because of the train's length. I decided to watch Unstoppable. We soon departed Oshawa.

 

            We were soon running parallel to the CP main. I saw a CP stack train led by a single GEVO. VIA train 53 passed, but I was unable to film it. A few minutes later, I saw a CP freight led by a CEFX AC4400 and an SD40 from a leasing company. The train stopped in Cobourg.

 

            East of Cobourg, I photographed the unit on train 54.

 

 

            I saw that CN was installing a third track to the line to increase capacity. A couple westbound CN freight trains passed. As we passed the Memory Junction railway museum, I filmed it. The train raced through Trenton Junction. The train passed through Belleville. VIA train 51 passed. As it passed, I filmed it. The train passed through Nappanee non-stop.

 

            I logged into VIA's Wi-Fi service and went on Facebook where I learned that Canada's Wonderland is building a roller coaster that is going to be even bigger than Behemoth!

 

            The train stopped in Kingston. While we were stopped, a CN hi-rail truck passed on the other track. We soon departed Kingston. I then bought lunch. VIA train 57 passed, but I caught a blur of the last coaches. A few minutes later, we stopped to allow train 56 to be separated from train 54. I went to the back of the coach and photographed the trains being split.

 

 

            After the trains were split and the HEP was restored to train 56, we departed. I filmed train 54 as it grew further and further. We then stopped at Brockville. We soon departed.

 

            I read an article about a tourist train being launched in September running from Quebec City along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.  We passed a couple CN freight trains and VIA train 61 passed, but I was unable to film it. The train stopped at Cornwall. We soon departed Cornwall.

 

            We passed a westbound CN freight. We crossed into Quebec. We were soon running parallel to the CP main and we crossed a bridge. I saw a hi-rail truck on the CP line. A few minutes later, we caught up with an eastbound CP freight. The train was being led by two SD9043MACs and an HLCX SD40. We then passed a westbound CP intermodal led by a GEVO and an AC4400.The train stopped at Dorval. We departed a couple minutes later. We passed a CN switch job. We were soon approaching Montreal Central station. I photographed a J-train that was deadheading back to VIA's Montreal Maintenance Centre.

 

 

            Train 56 arrived 13 minutes late. I got off and took some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

            I saw VIA train 24 a few tracks over. I saw that it had a refurbished LRC coach in the consist. I photographed it.

 

 

 

            I then headed upstairs and phoned home. I then walked over to the Metro and bought a day pass. I was not staying at the Hotel Parc Avenue this time. Instead, I rode the Metro to Snowdon and filmed it departing. Next I rode the Blue line two stations to Universite-de-Montreal station. I filmed that train leaving before I headed out. I photographed STM Classic #14-157.

 

 

I then boarded STM Classic #14-063 and rode a couple stops and got off and photographed the bus.

 

 

            I filmed it pulling away. I went to where I was staying which was Les Studios Hotel. I checked in which took longer than it had to because of the clerks constantly answering the phone. After I checked in, I had a little difficulty finding my room on the 14^th floor, but finally found it. My room was a college dorm with a single bed and a shared bathroom down the hall. I got there and worked on this report some more.

 

            A few minutes later, I decided to go out. Less than a week earlier, I had heard that some of STL's MCI Classics had been seen in service, so I walked over to the Edouard-Monpetit Metro station and rode to Jean-Talon and transferred to an orange line to Montmorency. The first northbound train was being short turned at Henri-Bourassa. For some reason, EVERY TIME I try to head to Montmorency from Jean-Talon, the first Orange Line train that arrives is short turning!

 

            I waited for the next train and rode to Montmorency. I went outside and saw several Nova LFS buses. I didn't see any Classics though. However, I believe I saw the security guard who gave me trouble when I came to Montmorency during the 2010 TTS Transportation Weekend. I walked out to the street and photographed some buses without incident.

 

 

 

 

            No Classics showed up for awhile and I contemplated going to Cartier station to see if I would stand a better chance there, but then I saw a STL Classic in the distance. It turned out to be #6510, one of the Nova Classics. I photographed it.

 

 

 

            I waited for 6510 to depart Montmorency and then photographed it and filmed it pulling away.

 

 

            No more Classics showed up, so I got on the Metro and rode to Cartier. I saw STL 6502 and photographed it.

 

 

            Again, no more Classics showed up. I decided to try to see if I could catch an RTL 9-000 series Classic so I got on the Metro and rode to Bonaventure. By the time I got there, all the route 55 buses were gone and there was one route 47 departing at 6:31 pm. I got in line in case it was a 9-000 series Classic, but it turned out to be a Nova LFS so I left the line and went into Central Station briefly before I caught an Orange line train to Namur. I filmed the train departing Namur before I left the station.

 

            I looked around the area before I had dinner at a place that looked like a giant orange. I photographed it before I had dinner.

 

 

            I then stopped at a gas station and bought some candy and a fruit punch before I walked back to Namur. I rode the orange line to Lionel-Groulx and transferred to the Green Line. When my train arrived, I saw it was younger equipment instead of the older cars that usually run on the line! I photographed it as it arrived.

 

 

            I rode the train to LaSalle. I was hoping I could ride a bus by CAD which is where VIA's F40PH-2s are being rebuilt. At LaSalle, I photographed an old STCUM bus stop sign

 

 

I thought bus route 108 would take my by CAD, but it wasn't the case. I rode the 108 back to Lionel Groulx and got on the Green line. I rode to Beaudry. This time the train was the older cars. I filmed the train pulling out before I caught a train back to Barri-Uqam. I photographed the train when it arrived.

 

 

            I rode to Barri-Uqam and photographed the train leaving.

 

 

            While waiting for my train, I photographed an orange line train going the other way because it had the cars that were wrapped for 150 years of service in Montreal.

 

 

 

I then caught an Orange line train to Jean-Talon and a Blue line train back to Edouard-Monpetit. I filmed the train departing and walked back to my hotel. I went to my room before I walked to a convenience store a few blocks away were I bought some milk. I then caught a route 51 bus back to my hotel and returned to my room. I set my phone's alarm for 8:00 am and worked on this report some more before I called it a night.

 

            Click here for part 2:             Part 2