For my Summer Railfanning Trip this year, I felt it was time to visit somewhere that I otherwise have not yet visited. This would be my first time visiting the State Of Massachusetts along with it being my 20th Amtrak Trip. I also conveniently planned this trip so that it would fall on my 25th Birthday of August 12th. I purchased 2 of the 4 tickets I would need as "Rail Sale" tickets with the other 2 being purchased with an Entertainment Book Coupon. The Total Cost for my tickets came to $93.80. I would end up staying at 2 hotels and would get in a decent amount of trainwatching in both Massachusetts as well as Albany and Amsterdam, New York.
   This travelogue compiles the events of this trip which was also taken in the absolute most oppressively hot week of the entire summer with temperatures in the mid to upper 90's for most of the trip! Because of the oppressive heat, and the recent derailment of Amtrak's Capitol Limited in Kensington, Maryland just 2 weeks before, a large-scale speed restriction was put into effect which severely delayed a couple of the trains I rode, namely the Lake Shore Limited to Massachusetts. The speed restriction reduced our cruising speed to a mere 40mph for a majority of the trip. As you read through this travelogue, keep in mind that the only serious problem I ran into was the lateness of the train which I firmly understand was out of Amtrak's control and I do not blame Amtrak for it one bit. The lateness didn't adversely effect my travel plans but it did for other passengers. I generally plan some "padding" into my own itinerary when I take a trip should some kind of long delay occur. I hope you enjoy what you read here, putting aside the train's lateness, this was a great trip, click in the tables below to continue...