June 3, 2013:

 

            I slept on and off between South Bend and Toledo. At Toledo, I stepped off briefly and took some pictures of the train.

 

 

 

            I then got back on the train. I noticed quite a few seats that were empty. I asked the conductor if I could move. She said I could until Cleveland. I moved there between Toledo and Elyria. At Elyria, I saw a large crowd was about to get on so I moved back to coach #25094.

 

            Soon we were approaching Cleveland. However, we stopped next to the red line on Cleveland’s light rail system. A couple of RTA red line trains passed by while the Lakeshore Limited was stopped. After several minutes, I found out what we were waiting for. Amtrak’s westbound Lakeshore Limited passed by. I filmed most of the westbound train. Train 49 was running two hours late. After 49 passed, we headed down to the station. I again stepped off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I saw a taxi operated by the taxi company that made me miss the Lakeshore Limited back on my Washington-Cleveland trip in 2007. I booed at the taxi. I then got back on the train. I went to the dining car for breakfast, but found it wasn’t open yet. I went to my coach seat and worked on this report until it was time.

 

            I returned to the dining car and had breakfast. I then made my way back to my coach seat. I went to the café car as we stopped at Erie. The Business Class seats were still taped off.  After we departed Erie, I filmed the General Electric locomotive plant. I saw several units on flat cars that looked like they were being exported to South America. I saw they had four axle trucks instead of typical three axle trucks. I then returned to my coach seat after buying something to drink.

 

            I worked on this report some more and played Plants vs. Zombies.

 

            A little while later we were approaching Buffalo. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off. Train 48 arrived into Buffalo Depew station 50 minutes late. I got off and photographed the train. I saw in addition to the Amfleet 1 Business Class café car, there was an Amfleet 1 coach in the Boston section instead of an Amfleet 2 coach.

 

 

            I then filmed the train departing Buffalo. I took one last photo of the train.

 

 

            I then walked back to the station building. I phoned home and let my mom know I was in Buffalo. I then took a taxi to Niagara Central Hobby. I looked in the hobby store for awhile but I didn’t buy anything. I then left and photographed the caboose in front of the store.

 

 

            I then walked over to the Galleria mall and had lunch in the food court. I looked around for a few more minutes before I went to catch a bus back to the station. However, the bus schedule wouldn’t get me back to Depew before the New York bound Maple Leaf got there, so I started walking.

 

            By a stroke of luck, I found a taxi in the parking lot of a nearby hotel. It was driven by the driver who drove me to the airport on the first day of my trip! I took the cab to Depew and paid the driver.

 

            While I was waiting, I photographed a CSX freight train.

 

 

 

            45 minutes later, Amtrak train 64 arrived. I filmed it pulling in and then photographed the train.

 

 

            I then filmed the train departing Buffalo Depew and took one more photo of the train.

 

 

            I went into the station and worked on this report some more. A few freight trains passed but I was only able to photograph two of them.

 

 

 

 

 

            I found out that train 63 was delayed. I went outside. Train 63 ended up arriving an hour late. I filmed the train pulling in.

 

 

            I noticed the train was led by P42 #103. I rode behind that locomotive in 2005 on the Maple Leaf out of Toronto when I went to ride the Three Rivers for the first and last time. It was on that same trip that I first got to ride CTA’s 2200 series El cars in service. Now after the last time I rode them in service, it was leading the Maple Leaf back to Toronto. It must mean something, but I don’t know what.

 

            I boarded the train and was seated in Amfleet 2 coach #25103. The train soon left Depew. We stopped at Buffalo Exchange Street a few minutes later. I was given a form to fill out for customs. We then stopped at Niagara Falls, New York. I was able to step off and photograph the train.

 

 

 

            I got back on the train and sat down. We departed Niagara Falls, New York and crossed into Canada. Just like the last few trips into the U.S, customs made us get off and do the inspection in the station. I had no problems when it was my turn. After, I photographed the train.

 

 

            I then went back into the station and waited for reboarding of the train. When it happened, I was in the same coach as earlier. The train departed 23 minutes late. I worked on this report some more.

 

            The bridge over the Welland Canal was down. We then stopped at St. Catherines. After we left St. Catherines, I went to the café car for dinner. I ate it at my seat. The train stopped at Grimsby and Aldershot.

 

            A few minutes after we left Aldershot, I noticed an ex TTC New Flyer D40HF in a scrap yard near Bronte. VIA train 79 passed, but I was unable to film it. The train stopped at Oakville. We soon departed Oakville.

 

            When we passed VIA’s Toronto Maintenance Center, I filmed the equipment in the yard. I noticed VIA RDC-2 #6205 was in the yard. That unit was assigned to the Sudbury-White River train. However, VIA’s acquired some refurbished RDCs for the run. As a result, it appears the RDCs that were previously assigned to the run have been stored.

 

            We were getting close to Toronto. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off. The Maple Leaf arrived into Toronto 19 minutes late. I got off and took some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

            I then went downstairs and phoned home. I then got on the subway and rode to Finch where I met my mom and headed home.

 

Conclusions:

 

            Aside from getting drenched in the rain on the day before the charter, this trip was great. The charter was enjoyable. I’m glad my Jetblue saga is over. Even though both flights were early and didn’t loose my suitcase, my previous times flying with them will make me pause to consider flying someone else as I don’t want a new saga. Right now the next time I fly will be with either Air Canada or Westjet, but that won’t happen until September.

 

            I’m glad I finally rode PCC 4609 in Kenosha. I have now ridden all six of their ex Toronto PCCs. However, once 4617 has been painted into San Francisco colours, I will go back to see and ride it like that.

 

            On August 6, 2013, CTA ran the last eight 2200 series el cars for a farewell run. It’s sad that the 2200 series era has ended. I’m glad I got to ride them on numerous occasions and that cars 2243 and 2244 are preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum. I can say that I’ll have to visit them at IRM some point in the future.

 

            My next trip is in a week when I head out to Montreal. Until next time…

 

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