May 25, 2010:

 

            I was woken up by the conductor announcing that it was 40 minutes to Charlotte. I gathered my stuff together in preparation to get off. At one point Amtrak train 20, the New York bound Crescent passed.

 

            Train 23 had made up a lot of time and arrived into Charlotte 23-30 minutes late. I got off and took some photos.

 

 

 

            I went downstairs through a passage which reminded me of Ottawa’s VIA station for some reason. I took a taxi to my hotel which was a Knights Inn. I checked in and once I got my room, I went to bed.

 

            I got up at 8:30 am and went to the lobby for breakfast. I had a waffle which I had to make myself on a waffle iron. I noticed the cooking spray and other things belonged to Wal-Mart’s no-name brand; Great Value.

 

            After breakfast I went to my room and finished packing. I then went to check out. I knew I had to walk a few blocks to catch a bus. I ended up going the wrong direction. However, I was able to find a bus stop and I caught a bus downtown. It was a Nova LFS. When I got off, I photographed it.

 

 

            I had to transfer to another bus here to get to the Amtrak station. While waiting, I photographed a Gillig hybrid similar that took the charter group to the Dayton garage on the Sprinter service to Charlotte’s airport.

 

 

            I also saw a light rail station on Charlotte’s Lynx light rail line. I planned to ride it later.

 

            I had a little difficulty finding the stop for the route 11 bus. However, I found it in time to catch a bus to the Amtrak station.

 

            The Piedmont wasn’t scheduled to leave until 5:15 pm, but I didn’t want to be lugging my suitcase around all day. I got to the Amtrak station and checked my suitcase to Raleigh since it’s a little more than three hours away. The station attendant offered to check it all the way to Newark, but I told her Raleigh would be fine.

 

            I then caught a route 11 bus back to the intersection of Trade and Tyron. I then walked to the Lynx station. I just missed a train. I bought a day pass from a fare vending machine. While I waited, I photographed a train going the other way.

 

 

 

            They were only running 1 car trains on the day I visited. The car I photographed went to the next stop which was the end of the line. It then returned and I got on. Interestingly enough, the car was #110!

 

            I rode to the Bland station. Yes, there’s a light rail station in Charlotte called Bland! I got off and filmed the train leaving.

 

            The reason I got off at Bland was so I could visit Charlotte Trolley. They have an operation that uses a section of the Lynx line. However, I couldn’t find where Charlotte Trolley was, so I caught the next train one stop west because that’s where Charlotte Trolley’s line branches off the Lynx line. When I got off, I saw that Charlotte Trolley wasn’t operating this day. I did see one of their cars in a building which had been set up as a farmers market. I photographed the car.

 

 

 

            After wandering around for a few minutes, I caught a Lynx train back to Bland. It wasn’t until I filmed a train going in the opposite direction that I noticed a building with “Charlotte Trolley” on it. I crossed the line and headed over. There were no tracks leading into it, but I noticed a streetcar body inside through a window which I photographed.

 

 

            I then caught a Lynx train back to the CTC/Arena station which is where I first got on. I rode on car #110 again. When I got off, I photographed it.

 

 

            By now it was raining. I filmed a Lynx train passing by and then went to have lunch at the mall. Before I had lunch, I photographed a car from NASCAR which was on display.

 

 

            I looked around the mall for somewhere to eat until I found a burger place called Five Guys. This would be okay. I noticed there were magazine covers that had articles that gave Five Guys a good review. I photographed one because it had a funny picture on the cover of the cast from the Wizard of Oz going through a metal detector at an airport.

 

I think the Tin Man is going to have a little trouble going through security! I hope he put his axe with his checked baggage!

 

            After lunch, I walked back to the Lynx station. While waiting for a train, I photographed the bus terminal and some other buses.

 

 

 

I caught a train to the 7^th street station which is the end of the line for the Lynx train. However the Charlotte Trolley line continues for another two blocks. Once I got off my train at 7^th street, I photographed it.

 

 

            I then walked two blocks to where Charlotte Trolley goes when it’s operating. I took a photo of the station then one of where the ROW would continue if Lynx ever extended eastward.

 

 

 

            I then walked two blocks to Tyron Street to wait for a bus. The bus came a few minutes later and I rode back to the Amtrak station. By now the equipment that would me my train to Raleigh was parked near the station. I saw it consisted of F59Phi #1755 and three coaches including a combine food service/baggage car.

 

            I was wondering was equipment would be on my train because about a week earlier, the Piedmont struck a truck at a railroad crossing causing the locomotive to derail and catch fire. Fortunately, there were no fatalities in that accident. I watched some freight trains pass the station and a crew doing some track work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            At one point, I walked a few blocks to a convenience store and bought some snacks. I caught a bus back to the Amtrak station. I saw headlight on the Piedmont’s locomotive was on. I photographed the train.

 

 

            I went back inside the station to await boarding of the train. At the time, there was just one daily round trip on Amtrak’s Piedmont service, plus the Carolinian to New York. However, Amtrak was going to add a second round trip on the Piedmont.

 

            The Piedmont is operated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. They currently have two F59PHis plus they bought some ex GO Transit F59PHs. The Piedmont is the only Amtrak route that still uses Heritage coaches.

 

            Boarding commenced shortly after 4:40 pm. I was one of the first to get on the train. I took some photos before I got on.

 

 

 

            I was seated in heritage coach #400002 which is named Dogwood. This was the last car on the train and the coach was nicely refurbished.

 

            The train left on time. We stopped at Kannapolis. I had covered the section between Charlotte and Greensboro the night before on the Crescent.

 

            I decided to get something to eat. I walked to the snack car two cars ahead. I was expecting a lounge car like on other Amtrak trains. Instead, the only food was from vending machines. I resigned myself to get snacks on the train and have dinner in Raleigh.

 

            The train stopped at Salisbury and High Point. At one point, we passed a Norfolk Southern local with a caboose on the end. There was an SBU on the caboose, but I believe this was the first time since my Dallas trip that I saw a caboose on the end of a freight train.

 

            As we were approaching Greensboro, I filmed a center beam flatcar and three tank cars derailed. This reminded me of how I had seen some derailed boxcars on my 2005 trip to Timmins, some derailed hopper cars on my Arizona trip, the derailed freight cars on my western Canada trip, and the 25 derailed freight cars I saw on my 2007 Adirondack trip.

 

            The train stopped at Greensboro. East of Greensboro, I filmed Amtrak train 79, the westbound Carolinian passing. I went to the snack car and was talking with the train crew. After awhile, I bought some more snacks and went back to my seat.

 

            The train stopped in Burlington and Durham. The sun started to set as we stopped in Cary.

 

            Soon, we were approaching Raleigh. We arrived three minutes early. I got off and took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            I then got my suitcase and took a photo of the engine.

 

 

            I then filmed the train pulling out past a railway crossing at the north end of the station. The train stopped past the crossing after passing a switch. The train reversed towards the crossing. I started filming the train after the gates had come down when all of a sudden a taxi owned by Green Cab illegally swerved around the gates and I got the whole scene on video! However, it wasn’t hit and I went back to filming the train as it passed.

 

            I then walked out to catch a bus to where I was staying. After waiting several minutes, a bus finally came. After going the way I was expecting, it turned right and went into a bus terminal. I tried to find a connecting bus, but eventually gave up and took a taxi to my hotel which was a Days Inn. I made sure not to use a taxi from Green Cab as a result of what I saw at the Amtrak station!

 

            I checked in and went to my room. When I got there, I discovered the light bulbs in two of the four lamps were either burnt out or missing! I phoned the front desk. The clerk was very apologetic and said she didn’t have access to the cabinet where they keep the replacement bulbs. She offered to give me another room, but all the other rooms were smoking rooms! I opted to stay in my room.

 

            I was now hungry so I went out searching for anywhere to have dinner. I eventually found a place that served hot dogs, so I bought dinner to go and walked back to my hotel. Along the way, I saw a Norfolk Southern freight train with five locomotives and passed the Greyhound station.

 

            I got back to my hotel and asked for a wake-up call at 7:00 am. I watched some TV before I called it a night.

 

May 26, 2010:

 

            I got up and 7:00 am and got dressed. I had breakfast in the lobby of my hotel. I then went back to my room and finished packing. I then checked out and walked out looking for a bus stop. I was unsure where to go. I ended up taking a cab to the Amtrak station. Once again, this cab was not from Green Cab.

 

            In hindsight, I should have done a bit more research about Raleigh and how to get to my hotel from transit should I ever return.

 

            Meanwhile, I got to the Amtrak station in plenty of time. I called Julie to find out when train 92, the northbound Silver Star was due. I found out it was on time. While waiting, I photographed an Orion 5.

 

 

The Silver Star arrived a few minutes early. As it pulled in, I filmed it.

 

 

            I was seated in Amfleet 2 coach #25119, a refurbished coach. One thing to note is that 25119 was in the consist of the Three Rivers when I rode it in 2005! Back then, 25119 was still unrefurbished. I noticed a large number of empty seats. I was assigned a window seat on the left hand side of the train. Throughout the trip, I would not get a seatmate.

 

            The train departed on time. Shortly after we left, I went to the lounge car. I bought some snacks and headed back to my seat. At one point, I filmed a caboose that was on display near the main line.

 

            The train stopped at Rocky Mount. As we were approaching the station, I photographed a six axle covered hopper and business car on display near the station.

 

 

 

            Rocky Mount is where the Silver Star and Silver Meteor diverge between here and Savannah, Georgia. I had previously covered the mileage between Rocky Mount and Lorton, Virginia in 1995 when my family and I had ridden Amtrak’s Auto Train to Florida. I also watched some buses; mostly Orion 7s stop at a terminal near the station.

 

            The train departed. I noticed we were running on time and at some places, early.

While I was seated in my coach, the crew was taking lunch reservations. I chose the first seating at 11:30. Amtrak train 89 passed, but I was unable to film it. The train crossed into Virginia.

 

            When 11:30 came, I went to the dining car. This diner was not a Temoinsa refurbished diner. While I was having lunch, the train stopped at Petersburg. After I paid for my lunch, I photographed a poster in the diner and went back to my seat.

 

 

            Soon, we were approaching Richmond. This would be a smoke stop. I got out and took some photos of the train.

 

 

 

            I then went and photographed the locomotives.

 

 

            I got back on the train and waited for the train to depart. The train departed a few minutes late. However, I figured the train could make up the time.

 

            At one point, I filmed two Buckingham Branch GP40s at a junction. Train 79 passed, but I was again unable to film it.

 

            The train passed through Ashland, Virginia where the line runs through the middle of Center Street though not pure street running. Other Amtrak trains stop in Ashland, but not the Silver Star.

 

            Later, the train passed through Fredericksburg and Quantico without stopping. As we passed the Lorton Auto Train terminal, I filmed it. My view of the train was blocked by several of Amtrak’s auto carriers, but I did see Deluxe sleeper #32502 was in the consist of the train. Superliner #32502 was formerly named “W. Graham Clayton Jr.” and was the sleeper my family and I were in when we took the Auto train in 1995. However it was now in Amtrak’s phase 4b paint and lost its name on the outside of the car.

 

            Soon, the train stopped in Alexandria. I saw a few WMATA metro trains. We soon departed and when we crossed the Potomac River, I saw and photographed the Washington Monument.

 

 

            We passed near the Smithsonian and then passed the southbound Silver Star, but I was unable to film it. We entered the tunnel and soon arrived into Washington Union station. This was another smoke stop while the two P42s were swapped for an electric locomotive. As we entered the station, I filmed the Capitol Limited on the adjacent track. It reversed to the Amtrak yard for servicing as I got off, I filmed the train backing out and took some photos of the Silver Star, an Acela parked nearby, and two P42s awaiting the southbound Crescent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I filmed a Virginia Railway Express commuter train arriving into the station. Moments later, I saw AEM-7ac #944 approaching my train. I photographed it and then filmed it coupling up. I also noticed another passenger taking pictures.

 

 

            I then went back to my coach. Soon, power was restored. I noticed someone had boarded my coach. He was on his cell phone. From what I heard, I think he was a railroad employee deadheading to New York as Amtrak normally doesn’t allow people to ride from Washington to New York on the Silver Star.

 

            The train soon departed. I filmed some MARC commuter trains in the station as well as the VRE/Amtrak yard north of the station. The train picked up speed and raced past some regionals and Acela expresses. We raced through BWI Airport non-stop and a few minutes later, we stopped at Baltimore. We soon left. We had made up the time we lost in Richmond and were now a few minutes early. After we left Baltimore, we passed through a tunnel.

 

            Once I was clear of the tunnel, I phoned my friend Dan who I had met on my 2007 Adirondack trip and had joined up with my on my Quebec City trip to see if we could meet up. He said we might be able to and to call him later.

 

            A few minutes after I hung up, Amtrak’s Crescent passed, but I was unable to film it. The train stopped in Wilmington. Past Wilmington, I saw Amtrak’s Bear shops and got a brief video, though I missed the interesting stuff.

 

            I filmed a SEPTA commuter train passing and got a blur of the southbound Silver Meteor. The train stopped in Philadelphia. While we were stopped, I filmed an Acela Express arriving. As we departed, I filmed a southbound Regional. I noticed the café car was a 48000 series car which has business class seats. I guess Amtrak couldn’t have any 43000 series café cars available and substituted that café car when it was put together.

 

            After we left, I filmed Amtrak equipment stored north of the station and a Sperry Rail car. At one point we passed under SEPTA’s blue {subway} line. A little while later, I was finally able to film the lot with the ex SEPTA PCCs that I noticed when I rode the Acela on my New York trip.

 

            The train stopped at Trenton. After we left, I called Dan again. We agreed to meet at Newark station. We passed another Norfolk Southern local with a caboose, but I was unable to film it. As we approached Newark, I filmed a PATH train from the Silver Star. Photography on PATH is all but prohibited so since I wasn’t on PATH property, I could film their trains as I pleased.

 

            Train 92 arrived into Newark 21 minutes early! I got off and took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            I filmed the train as it departed for New York about 10 minutes away. I also saw a Keystone train arriving. I went downstairs and looked for Dan. When I couldn’t find him, I phoned him. He said he was outside. I went out and found him.

 

            Dan’s car was parked nearby. I put my bags in it and we headed out for my hotel. Along the way, we passed underneath a long abandoned railway overpass. We saw a train of New Jersey Transit Arrow commuter cars. Dan said that the Northeast Corridor runs on two different voltages and while the arrow cars can run on either voltage, they can’t switch modes on the fly, so they are also confined to lines that run on either one voltage or the other.

 

            We also saw some PATH trains. Dan and I talked about how their restrictive photo policy and told me his strategy for getting photos by waiting until no one’s looking.

 

            I was staying at the Howard Johnson near the airport. We headed towards Newark Airport. However, we weren’t sure where the hotel was exactly. We drove around the area, but couldn’t find the Howard Johnson.

 

            However, I had the address and phone number of the hotel. We pulled over and Dan phoned the hotel and got directions. We soon arrived and I checked in to my room.

 

            I showed Dan the photos I had taken on the Piedmont. The Piedmont is one of the few Amtrak routes Dan has never ridden and he would have liked to have joined me in North Carolina, but he was busy. I showed him the video of the taxi swerving around the gates at the crossing in Raleigh. I also showed him some pictures of BBC 110.

 

            When I first told Dan of my plan to go to Dayton for the BBC charter, he asked me if they had trolleybuses in Dayton and if they didn’t how would they run it. I couldn’t help but say “Well, they have a really really long extension cord!” My friend Greg in Chicago would most likely have said something similar!

 

            Dan had to leave. I decided to go with him as far as the lobby. There, I saw goodbye and then went to have dinner in the restaurant in my hotel. After dinner, I went back to my room and watched some TV. I asked for a wake-up call at 7:00 am and called it a night.

 

May 27, 2010:

 

            I got up at 7:00 am and got dressed. The elevator was acting up when I went down for breakfast. I ended up getting off at the second floor then took the stairs to the lobby. I had breakfast in the restaurant. I then went up to my room and finished packing.

 

            Whatever was wrong with the elevator was fixed and I had no trouble taking it downstairs. I checked out and asked for a shuttle to the airport.

 

            The shuttle came just before 8:00 am. I got on and we soon headed out. Instead of taking me directly to the terminal, the shuttle took me to a station for the monorail that would take me to the terminal. Newark airport has a monorail that runs between some parking garages, the three terminals, this shuttle drop off, and the Newark International Airport Amtrak/New Jersey Transit station.

 

            A train arrived and I rode to Terminal A. I was flying Air Canada once again. I checked in and then dropped my suitcase off. I then went to clear security.

 

            I didn’t have any problems what so ever going through security though I did have to take off my shoes.

 

            One of the planes that were hijacked on September 11, 2001 took off from Newark; United Airlines flight 93 which crashed south of Pittsburgh after the passengers rushed the hijackers.

 

            After I cleared security, I got my stuff together and photographed a SLF that is used to ferry passengers between the terminal and a Jet Blue Embraer 190.

 

 

 

            I tried to photograph a United Airlines jet, but a security person said I couldn’t take pictures. This is the only time I’ve had trouble photographing planes at an airport.

 

            I bought some snacks and waited for my plane to arrive. While I was waiting, I saw a United Airlines Airbus A319 in the older livery depart. I used Dan’s method of taking pictures and took a couple when I felt it was safe.

 

 

            I saw the United Airlines jet that I was unable to photograph earlier being towed out to a spot where it was more visible. I was able to photograph it.

 

 

            My flight was supposed to leave at 10:35, but the plane was delayed because the aircraft was late arriving. I was flying on an Embraer 175 like what my family and I flew on to LaGuardia on our New York trip in 2007 and what I flew home from Dallas on at the end of my Dallas trip. I saw another passenger photograph the plane and I also photographed it without incident.

 

 

            Boarding soon commenced. I had a window seat. I was given a card to fill out for customs which I did while the plane was still at the gate. The plane left 44 minutes late. I took some pictures from the plane and then filmed the takeoff.

 

 

 

            I entertained myself with the on board entertainment system. However, I had a little trouble getting the audio to work. The flight attendants had to reboot the system, but I was able to watch with audio.

 

            I watched a couple programs and started on a program about the history of projectiles when I looked out the plane window and saw the CN tower and the Rogers Centre. I knew we were almost to Toronto.

 

            A couple minutes later, the entertainment system was shut off in preparation for landing. I filmed the landing. As we taxied to the gate, we were told they had to change the gate because of our late arrival. I photographed a United Express jet at the terminal while waiting.

 

 

            We arrived just over 20 minutes late. I got off the plane and took a so-so shot of the plane.

 

 

            I then went to clear customs. The inspection went okay and the agent wasn’t anal. I then went to get my suitcase. Mine was the 7^th-10^th suitcase to emerge. I then handed my customs card to an agent and headed out to catch a bus. While waiting, I phoned home and let my dad know I was at the airport.

 

            When I got to the bus stop, I saw I had missed a route 40 GO bus to the Richmond Hill Centre. If my plane was on time, I would have made that bus! The route 40 runs hourly so I had a long wait for the next bus.

 

            I decided to take another GO route to the York Mills subway station which was coming sooner. When the bus arrived, I got on and rode to York Mills. When I got off, I had lunch in a McDonald’s in a food court. After lunch, I took a subway to Finch and a VIVA bus home. I got home just before 3:00 pm.

 

Conclusions:

 

            Despite the rough start, this trip was excellent! VIA train 95 was surprisingly the latest train I rode. The BBC charter was great and I got some excellent shots. Even though 110 was not one of the coaches the TTC leased between 1989 and 1993, it was nice to ride a BBC again; especially since I can’t ride them in Edmonton anymore!

 

            As for BBC #110 after the charter; the last I heard it was still at RTA’s main garage.

 

            My trip to North Carolina was good except for my stay in Raleigh with my room having two of the four lamps useless. I should have done a bit more research on how to get to my hotel on transit which would have saved some money. It was also nice to see my friend Dan again. As for what happened at Newark airport while trying to take pictures, I think I’ll avoid flying out of Newark if possible; or at least on Air Canada or United Airlines.

 

            This trip is the last trip I’ll take while working at Wal-Mart as I’m planning on leaving in early July. After that, I plan to head to Washington DC again with a side trip to Lancaster PA. Until next time…

 

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