Fall 2002 Railfanning Trip:
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I waited on the platform in Sandusky for Train #44, The Pennsylvanian to arrive. A quick call to Julie said it was set to arrive at 8:15am in Sandusky. I began to wonder since the Amtrak Station in Cleveland was scheduled to close at 8:30am, whether or not it would remain open until our train arrived. I talked to a ticket agent who was able to tell me that the station would in fact remain open. I had to ask this because I had a large suitcase that I really didn't want to have to carry around all day while visiting Cleveland. While I waited, I got in some Trainwatching, a few NS Freights passed by before my train would arrive. At 8:33am, Train #44 arrived with P42DC's #129 and #54 for power. I boarded Amfleet II Coach #25013, a refurbished coach with all the bells and whistles that I mentioned regarding the coach I rode in on Train #49. The coach was about half full. I would come to find out that that was the only one of the 3 coaches in the train that was actually open! At least now with having some daylight, I could see the fall foliage across Northeast Ohio which was very nice. We left Sandusky at 8:33am, 1 hour and 44 minutes late. Next stop was Elyria, we left there at 9:05am. We began to parallel the RTA Red Line Light Rail Line in Berea until just before Downtown Cleveland where we headed towards the Lake and the Lakefront Area where we would cross the Drawbridge over the Cuyahoga River and arrive into the Cleveland Amtrak Station. At 9:33am, we arrived, 1 hour and 13 minutes late, having made up some time due of course to some padding in the schedule. I quickly ran inside to have my suitcase and umbrella stored for the day as the station was about to close until 5pm. Amtrak has this set up this way because there isn't another train here until 7:30pm. It cost me $3.00 to check both pieces and I was on my way. This was a short run, lasting a little more than an hour but it was my chance to possibly take my last ride on the Pennsylvanian should it be eliminated or modified. At the time this travelogue was written, the elimination of this train was ONLY SPECULATION and had not been known fact. Ultimately, I hope this train will remain on Amtrak's schedule as it is the only train right now through Northern Ohio that runs in daylight. Again, a friendly crew who was happy and professional. I struck up a short conversation in the Cafe Car with the Conductor whom after I had told him that this was my 21st Amtrak Trip, he was quick to tell me it was his 270th trip on this train this year! Well now I'm in Cleveland and there's lots to see, so after reading the Consist Info below, please click in the table at the bottom of this page to see what I saw in Cleveland that day! |
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Amtrak's Pennsylvanian - Train #44 - Friday, October 18th, 2002
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