March 24, 2013;
I got up and got dressed. I went to the 7-11 across the street and bought some fruit and milk. I ate it on the way to the bus stop.
The reason I got up so early was so I could see the Northbound Crescent pass through Washington DC so I could film the Viewliner dining car. I finished my breakfast and caught the first bus to Largo Town Center. I boarded a Blue Line train that just came in from the yard east of the station and rode to L'Enfant Plaza. I realized I had plenty of time, so I transferred to the Yellow Line and rode to King Street-Old Town station which was next to the Alexandria, Virginia train station. I left Metro and headed to the Alexandria station.
I had phoned Julie and found out that the train was early, but I still made it. I just had to wait. After awhile, I heard a train which turned out to be a CSX intermodel. I photographed the freight train.
The Crescent didn't arrive until 11 minutes after its scheduled arrival time. When it pulled in, I filmed it. Not only did it have #8400 in the consist, one of the Viewliner sleeping cars had been replaced with an Amfleet 2 coach. I guess that Viewliner was bad ordered in New Orleans and it's a reasonable assumption that many people weren't happy.
I then took some photos of the train.
I then headed back to the Metro station where I filmed the train depart Alexandria. I then caught a Blue Line train to Metro Center. When I passed Reagan National Airport, I filmed it.
When I got to Metro Center, I originally planned to ride to Glenmont, but found a train going in the opposite direction was arriving much sooner so I headed up to Rockville. At Rockville, I photographed a 40 foot Orion 5 belonging to Ride-On.
I rode to Bonifant and Layhill and got off and had lunch at the McDonald's I had lunch at the day before. I then walked down to NCTM. When I arrived I saw PCC 1329 was running as well as a Toronto PCC. For some reason, I thought it would be #4603, but when I got closer, I saw it was #4602! I was excited since I have never ridden 4602. I went inside and paid my admission. However, 1329 would be leaving before 4602. I opted to wait even though my ticket allowed unlimited rides.
I hung around the Visitors' Center until it was time for 4602 to depart. While I was waiting, I watched a 12 minute film about streetcars. When 4602 loaded, I photographed it before I got on.
4602 soon departed. Just past where NCTM's old loop used to be, the car dewired! The motorman had to get out and rewire the car. We were soon underway again.
At the new loop, the motorman gave a brief talk on the history of 4602 though I corrected him at a couple points. I also asked if I could step out and take a photo of 4602 which I was told I could. I did just that!
I got back on and 4602 and we headed back to the Visitors' Center. I took one more picture of 4602.
I once again went inside the display barn and photographed the equipment on display.
I decided to go on the next trolley ride with #1329. After the ride was over, I photographed 1329 and 4602.
I visited the display barn one more time.
I went on another ride on 4602. I photographed the car after I got back.
I then hung around the Visitors' Center until 4602 went out again. I filmed it pulling out on its next run.
I then left the museum and walked back to Bonifant and Layhill where I caught a bus back to Glenmont. I then boarded the Metro and rode downtown. I got off at Gallery Place and then switched to a train to L'Enfant Plaza. Once again, I was going to the Smithsonian. This time, I was going to the Air and Space Museum.
I went inside and photographed the exhibits in the museum.
I then photographed an exhibit dedicated to the Space Shuttle.
I then photographed some more exhibits.
I then decided it was time to leave. I took a train to Gallery Place and transferred to the red line where I rode to Union Station. I was hoping to have dinner there, but the restaurants were closing up so I left. I rode around getting very thirsty. I eventually had dinner at a Mexican place near Gallery Place.
After dinner, I took a train down to L'Enfant Plaza where I got off to connect to the Blue Line. I just missed a Blue Line train to Largo Town Center and the next train wasn't due for over 10 minutes. To pass the time, I rode one stop the opposite way and waited for a Blue Line train to take me east.
When the Blue Line train came, I rode to Morgan Park Blvd hoping there would be a taxi stand there. However, there wasn't. The next Blue Line train was due in 19 minutes. While waiting, I photographed two signs which I believe are to display bus information, but all the buses were done for the night. It had been raining earlier and by now, the rain had turned to snow.
I went back into the station and caught the next train to Largo. At Largo, I took a taxi to my hotel. I worked on this report some more and paid to use the Wi-Fi at my hotel. I eventually called it a night.
Click about my last full day in
