October 8, 2012:
I
got up at 4:30 am and got dressed. The train I would ride departs at 5:45 am. While I could have been able to take a later train to Boston, I chose to
take the earlier train for two reasons. First would be just in case something
happened since the Downeaster and Lakeshore Limited departs from two different
stations 1.4 miles apart. Second, I wanted to squeeze in a little bit of
transit riding in Boston before my train left.
I
finished packing and went out. I saw the lobby was closed and dark. I rang a
bell. My taxi arrived early. The driver pointed a place to drop my key in. I
figured I could try and phone later. I dropped my room key off and got in the
cab. The cab got me to the station at 5:01 am; 44 minutes before
Downeaster train #680 would depart and one minute after I wanted to be picked
up! I paid the driver and went inside the station. I photographed what I
thought would be my train to Boston which was the same equipment I rode into Portland on three
days earlier.
I
went inside the station and waited. Boarding began about 15-20 minutes prior to
departure. I was seated in Amfleet 1 coach #82517. I realized this was not the
same train I photographed earlier. I logged into the train's Wi-Fi. The
Downeaster departed on time.
Shortly
after 6:00 am I phoned my hotel back in Portland. Someone
answered. I made sure I was alright which I was. The train stopped at Old Orchard Beach and Saco. I went to the cafe car
for breakfast. The train stopped at Wells. I returned to my seat.
The
train stopped at Dover and Durham-UNH. We then stopped at Exeter a little
while later.
We
crossed into Massachusetts and stopped at Haverhill. We passed a couple MBTA commuter trains. The train stopped at one
point for a few minutes. We were soon underway again as we stopped at Woburn. As we
approached North Station, I filmed the two RDCs sitting on dummy trucks. Train
680 arrived into Boston North Station two minutes late. I got off and
photographed the train.
I
then went inside and then out to the Orange line. The pass I bought earlier was still valid. I went to the
inbound Orange line platform and photographed the train when it arrived.
I
rode the train to State station and filmed it pulling out. I then went to the
Blue line. Today was Columbus Day; a holiday in the U.S. I
wasn't sure if the Bowdoin station would be open or not. I filmed a blue line
train arriving and got on. After the train departed. I learned it would be
going out of service at Government Center; the next stop and Bowdoin was closed. I got off and photographed
the train.
I
then transferred to the green line. I photographed a train before I got on.
I
rode to Boylston and filmed the train pulling away. I then photographed Type 5
#5734 and PCC #3295 on display at the station.
After
I was done, I boarded the next Green line train and rode it to Park Street and
photographed the train before I filmed it pulling away.
I
then transferred to the Red Line. I boarded the next train to Ashmont. At
Ashmont, I transferred to the Mattapan line. I had to wait for over 15 minutes
for a streetcar. The streetcar that came was PCC #3230. I photographed it
before I got on.
I
rode the car to Mattapan. I noticed #3230 was the only PCC on the line. At
Mattapan, I photographed #3230 and the other PCCs in the yard. I also filmed
#3230 going around the loop.
I
got back on #3230 and rode back to Ashmont. I photograph #3230 and filmed it
pulling away. I also photographed a bus lettered for a company called BAT.
I
them boarded a red line train. I still had plenty of time to kill so I extended
my ride to Porter station. The train was made of older cars. I noticed as the
doors closed, there was a noise that sounded like something you'd hear in a
'80's videogame. At Porter, I filmed the train pulling out.
I
then waited for the next train going the other way to take me back to South
Station. When it arrived, I photographed it.
I
rode seven stops east to South Station. As I was going to film the train
pulling out, the driver gave me problems for photography. I told him MBTA
allows photography. I believe he thought I was going to go into a restricted
area, but I just was moving to the end of the station to film the train. I
filmed the train pulling out.
This
was the last MBTA train I'd ride regardless. Up to this point, I didn't have
any problems with MBTA employees. Feeling annoyed, I entered South Station. I
had 38 minutes before my train left. I stuck around the station. The equipment
for today's train #449 backed in 20 minutes prior to departure. I photographed
it and an Acela Express train.
I
then made my way onto the platform and photographed the Lakeshore again.
A
few minutes later, we were allowed to board. I was seated in Amfleet 2 coach
#25009. I was one of the first people to board the coach. I found a seat and
then phoned home. I pulled out my laptop and worked on this report some more.
The Lakeshore departed on time.
I
filmed a MBTA Red Line yard from the train. We stopped at Back Bay station a couple
minutes later. I gained a seatmate. I would hear that the train was sold out.
After we left Back Bay, the cafe car opened. I bought lunch as I was hungry. I
watched the DVD I bought at Seashore the day before. The train stopped at Framingham. We
stopped at Worcester a few minutes later. We were stopped for several minutes. When we
finally departed, I attempted to photograph the passenger cars I saw when I
rode #449 last year, but was unsuccessful.
At
one point, I saw an F-unit but was unable to film it. I worked on this trip
report some more.
Between
Worcester and Springfield, we were passed by an eastbound Amtrak train. I was unable to film
it. I'm not sure what train it was since #448 is supposed to pass us just
before Albany. We later stopped at Springfield. Springfield was a
smoke stop. I used the time to photograph the train as well as a shuttle train.
I
saw the Vermonter pulling in. I filmed it pulling it. I noticed it had P42 #156
which last year was painted into Amtrak's Phase 1 livery. I photographed it.
I
was unsure if I'd have enough time to get a head on shot, so I got back on the
train and went to the lounge car. When we departed Springfield, I
filmed the train and photographed #156 from the rear of the car.
This
was the first time I had seen any of Amtrak's heritage locomotives other than
the 40th anniversary train last year! I went back to my coach seat
and worked on this report some more. I went to the lounge car a couple times. I
saw a kid doing schoolwork in the lounge car. This shows one advantage train
travel has compared to flying or taking the bus; space to work. The train
stopped at Pittsfield. We ended up making a double stop before departing. We later
crossed into New York State. I went to the lounge car to try and film train 448, but it passed
on the opposite site I was sitting. I managed to get a going away shot though
the back window. Train #448 had three locomotives and five coaches. Most likely
Amtrak was moving power to Boston since one P42 can handle the train. I returned to my coach seat.
Later, I saw some people were having a campfire.
We
were soon approaching Albany. We were given an option to stay on the train or get off. I chose
to get off. I had 90 minutes before our scheduled departure.
Train
449 arrived into Albany 10 minutes early. I stepped off and took some photos.
I
went upstairs and photographed P32AC-DM #703 which was waiting for train #68.
I
went into the station and bought a bottle of lemonade. Train #291 arrived. I
photographed it.
I
then filmed the Adirondack pulling in behind P42 #41. I then photographed it.
#41
was removed from the train and #703 was coupled up. I learned the Adirondack was sold out. I
watched train #291 depart and the Boston section of the Lakeshore Limited pull ahead. A little while later,
the New York section of the Lakeshore Limited arrived. I photographed it before
I filmed it pulling in.
I
saw the train had a heritage dining car and not Viewliner diner #8400. I then
filmed the Adirondack departing. Moments later I went down onto the platform. I saw the
dining car was a Temoinsa refurbished diner. I took
some photos.
I
made my way to the front of the New
York section where I saw
passengers smoking. I took some more photos.
P32AC-DM
#715 had brought the New York section from New York it was uncoupled so they could add the Boston section. As
the Boston section backed towards the New York section,
I photographed it.
I
filmed the Boston Section coupling up to the New York section.
After the joint was made, I saw a P32AC-DM running light to the station in
preparation for the arrival of the Maple Leaf. I then got back on the train.
The HEP was off, but several minutes later, it was restored. I worked on this
report some more.
We
departed Albany one minute late. By now it was dark. As we passed Amtrak's Albany
Maintenance yard, I attempted to film it.
After
awhile, I went to the dining car for dinner. While I was in the dining car, we
stopped at Schenectady. At Schenectady, we had
to make a double stop. Following dinner, I returned to my coach seat. When I
passed through the lounge car, I saw a huge line up. I worked on this report
some more.
I
went to the lounge car and saw the line was nowhere as long. I bought some
peanut M&Ms. The train stopped at Utica. We departed
a few minutes later. I returned to my seat and worked on this report some more.
A
nearby passenger was playing music loud enough I could hear it, but they soon
stopped.
Shortly
after 9:20 pm, I phoned Julie to find out if we were on time and Julie said we
were. The train was moving along at a good speed as well.
The
train passed a CSX yard on the outskirts of Syracuse. I readied
my stuff in preparation to get off.
The
Lakeshore Limited arrived 3 minutes late. I got off and took some photos.
I
then took a taxi to my hotel which was the Super 8 I stayed at on my 2008 Boston trip and my
Washington-Lancaster trip. I checked in and dropped my stuff off in my room. I
went out and bought some milk. I returned to my hotel and phoned home. I asked
for a wake up call at 8:30
am. I watched some TV before I called it a
night.
October 9, 2010:
I
got up at 8:31 and got dressed I went to the lobby for breakfast. I then returned
to my room and watched a little TV and finished packing before I checked out. I
went to catch a bus to the Amtrak station. I had to wait for almost an hour and
almost gave up by the time the bus came. I rode it to the Amtrak station. I
noticed the Carousel Center mall had been renamed! It was now named Destiny USA.
While we were at Destiny USA, a
man stepped onto the bus to tell the driver a joke. He stepped off the bus
after. I found that odd as in all the transit riding I've done, no one has ever
told a joke to the driver.
The
bus arrived at the Amtrak station a few minutes later. I had just missed the
Lakeshore Limited, but I still had more than 30 minutes before the Maple Leaf
departed. I had stayed at the Super 8 because I believed the transit service
was decent. The wait kinda made me regret not staying in Schenectady. I
photographed the bus after I got off.
I
bought lunch at the Subway restaurant in the station. I phoned Julie and found
out the train was on time. However, it was later running about 15 minutes late.
Train #63 finally arrived 12 minutes late. I filmed the train pulling in.
I
was seated in Amfleet 2 coach #25103. We departed a few minutes later. As we passed the Syracuse fair
grounds, I filmed the railway equipment on display on the grounds. They have a
GG1 electric locomotive on display, but it was behind some passenger cars and I
could only see its pantograph. I decided to go to the cafe car for a few
minutes. I logged into the Wi-Fi since I was having problems at my seat.
The
train stopped at Rochester. We soon departed. Train 64 passed, but I got a blur of the train
passing. I then returned to my seat. The crew announced that the cafe car will
be closing at Buffalo in preparation to cross the border. I bought a milk from the cafe
car and took it back to my seat as I worked on this report some more.
We
stopped at Buffalo Depew station. We passed the CSX yard past Depew. We then passed the old
Buffalo Central station. At one point, I saw three deer as we passed through
the outskirts of Buffalo. We stopped at Buffalo
Exchange Street a few
minutes later. After we departed Exchange Street,
I was given a form for customs. I filled it out.
The
train stopped at Niagara Falls, New York. This was a smoke stop. We had 30 minutes. I used the time to
photograph the train.
I
got back on and worked on this report some more. The train departed Niagara Falls, New York at 4:35 pm. I got my passport out and got ready for the customs inspection.
Just
like last time, I was made to get off the train and go through customs in the
station. I had no problems though I saw other people having their bags put
through an x-ray machine. I wasn't asked to have my bags put through the x-ray
machine though. Once I was done, I photographed the train.
I
went into the station and waited for the boarding announcement. The train
started boarding less than 15 minutes before the scheduled departure. I was now
seated in Amfleet 1 coach #82695. The train managed to depart on time. We were
going pretty slowly and then we stopped at the end of the old CN yard. I could
see a van driving in the yard. We started moving again a couple minutes later.
We were travelling slowly. My ticket was taken. When riding the Maple Leaf
across the border, one is given two tickets; one for the Canadian side and one
for the American side. This may be because the Canadian portion of the Maple
Leaf is run as a VIA train and picks up and drops off people within Canada.
We
were travelling slowly due to a slow order but once we passed the yard, we
gradually increased speed. The cafe car opened at 6:00 pm. I
decided to watch Unstoppable on DVD. We were now moving quickly.
The
lift bridge over the Welland Canal was down. However, it would be raised shortly after since I saw a
ship heading towards the bridge passing under the lift bridge before the one
the Maple Leaf uses. The train then stopped at St. Catherines. A CN freight
passed as we departed St. Catherines.
I
went to the cafe car and stayed there for awhile. The train stopped in Grimsby. I stayed
in the cafe car until VIA train #95 passed. When it passed, I filmed it. VIA
train #95 and its counterpart #90 will be discontinued in a little more than a
couple weeks because of cutbacks and that GO Transit serves Niagara Falls. The
Maple Leaf will still run for now. I
bought dinner and ate it at my coach seat.
The
train stopped at Aldershot and Oakville. We passed a few GO trains on the way. Another GO train passed while we were at Oakville which had
an F59PH on the west end of the train and an MP40 on the east end. We soon
departed Oakville.
VIA
train #79 passed. As it passed, I attempted to film it. A little while later,
we passed VIA's Toronto Maintenance Centre. As we passed, I filmed the equipment in the
yard. In the yard I saw the Canadian being prepared prior to its 10:00 pm departure from Union Station. A few minute later, we passed the
equipment from VIA's Grey Cup train which is touring the country. The Grey Cup
train is led by recently rebuilt VIA F40PH-2 #6445 which has been wrapped along
with two VIA coaches and two other coaches. This is the first rebuilt F40 to
have been wrapped.
We
were soon approaching Union Station. I readied my stuff in preparation to get
off.
The
Maple Leaf arrived into Toronto on time. However, while there was a crowd of passengers waiting to
get off. While I was waiting, the Grey Cup Train pulled into the track next to
the Maple Leaf. When I got off, I photographed the Maple Leaf and the Grey Cup
train.
I
then went downstairs and phoned home. I then got on the subway and rode to
Finch. I met up with my mom and headed home.
Conclusions:
Aside
from the lateness of the plane, the trip was good. I wish I could have seen the
eastbound Lakeshore Limited depart from Syracuse on the
last day of my trip. I’m glad I got to ride the whole Downeaster route until
November when they extend some trains to Brunswick.
My
time in Boston was enjoyable. I am disappointed that the Museum of Science got
rid of most of the cardboard blocks in the exhibit where you program a Roomba.
I just wish the last Red Line operator hadn’t given me trouble for photography
since I otherwise had no problems in Boston.
Once
again, I enjoyed myself at Seashore. If any Canadian vehicles had run, it would
have been better though, but I’m glad I got to ride the Blue line Hawkers and
Seashore’s Redbirds again. I also got my first ride on a GM Old Look, a 30 foot
fishbowl, a Suburban fishbowl, and a glass top fishbowl!
I
chose to go to the 2012 Transit Weekend just in case the world ends on December 21, 2012. If the world doesn’t end, I can always revisit Seashore in a
couple years. Hopefully by then they’ll have finished their trolley loop and
I’ll be able to ride HSR 518203 and Edmonton BBC #125. I also hope that in a
few years Toronto Peter Witt #2890 will operate as well.
2012
was a good year for me as I got in ten train trips. However, this is my last
trip of the year unless I win the lottery. Since the world didn’t end on December 21, 2012, my next trip will be in late March when I go to Washington DC again. I plan
to use the voucher I got from Jetblue for that trip. Until next time…
Click to go home.
