Just returned from our birthday Amtrak trip to New England states. Our first train trip since fall of 2019 and after getting our vaccines last month, we decided to venture out.
Left on Tuesday April 13 from Cleveland on Amtrak Lake Shore Limited 48/448 at 5:45am and headed east. We were in Bedroom B in 4820 car. Breakfast near Erie PA in the diner, although the menu and limited seating made it a very different experience. Only about six tables in the dining car were open for service. Our Dining Car attendant was busy waiting tables, "cooking up" the meals and preparing items for SCAs to take back to rooms. We had the egg bacon cheese sandwich, which was actually pretty good, some yogurt, banana nut, blueberry muffin, fruit and milk. We miss the conversations with fellow passengers in the diner but that is life now on Amtrak.
We arrived in Buffalo and had a chance to walk the platform at the station for some exercise. All passengers must wear a mask at all times except when in a sleeping compartment. We book a bedroom so that we had our own bathroom, larger sitting area and all meals included. We could take off our masks when in the room as long as the door was closed to the hallway. Conductors and staff strictly enforced the mask rule and anyone objecting would be put off at the next station.
Lots of Amish riding trains these days and there were several coach loads leaving Cleveland and heading for Utica, NY where many Ohio Amish have resettled for various reasons.
Our next stop was Rochester, NY where a few more passengers boarded and then off to Syracuse where a modern station awaited the afternoon train. Our next stop was Utica where our Amish friends detrained and waited for a van to pick them up.
As we moved across upstate NY we saw remnants of the old Erie Canal appear before a brief stop in Schenectady and then our major transfer stop in Albany. We had already had lunch, which was the chicken marsala. It tasted very good but unfortunately, my intestinal issues did not agree with the contents. We had some discussions with our friendly cafe car attendant Melissa and our sleeping car attendant Ralph. Both had over 20 years of experience on Amtrak which helped save their jobs when cuts took place in service last year. With the reinstatement of daily service at the end of May, I wondered if they would change jobs. Melissa will be heading back to the CZ but Ralph said he will stay with the LSL with only a few years left until retirement.
At Albany our train splits into two parts. Our 448 -front engines, sleeper, cafe business car and coaches head east toward Boston. The back part of the train (48) will pick up new electric locomotives and take its sleepers, and coaches and dining car to New York City on a beautiful ride down the Hudson River. We have taken that train many times and its an enjoyable ride into the Big Apple.
Our 448 train starts a gradual climb into the Berkshire Mts, with a stop at Pittsfield and then to Springfield, MA where it can exchange traffic for several regional trains going to Connecticut and the east coast.
We continued our travels eastbound until we reached Worcester, MA where we detrained at a beautifully refurbished Worcester Union Station. The station serves daily commuter trains on MBTA into Boston. Our hotel Marriott AC was walking distance from the station and since it was still light at 7pm, we opted to walk over to our rooms. A very modern hotel with lots of amenities.
Next morning we had to cab to the Enterprise car rental since they no longer "pick you up" due to Covid restrictions.
By 10 am we were off on our journey to New Hampshire and after a brief trip along the coastal areas, we headed for Exeter, NH where we boarded the Amtrak Downeaster Train 683 for a round trip venture to Brunswick Maine. We had ridden this train to Portland on previous trips, but a newly opened extension to Brunswick made it necessary to add some new mileage to our Amtrak collection. We rode business class which afforded some free beverages, leather seats and a comfortable ride with few people in the car. The route is only a two hour ride each way with a brief stop before reboarding Train 688 for our trip back to Exeter. We picked up an extra deadhead loco and coach in Portland , and arrived on time in Exeter. We stayed at a nice Hampton Inn on Wed evening. Found a little Italian deli where we picked up some great subs for an evening snack. All Hamptons enforce the mask rules, have digital key entries and sealed doors with extensive cleaning. Felt very safe there.
Next morning we had a limited breakfast downstairs. No buffets any more but a nice layout of cereals, pastries and a hot sandwich, etc.
Our Thursday was spent touring Manchester NH and a fantastic Currier Museum of Art. An excellent collection in all genres and we spent a couple hours enjoying the art and ambience. A trip up to Concord to get some photos of the state capitol. Building was closed to public so we did not get a chance to tour which we have done at many state capitols across the country. This is the oldest state capitol building in the country still being utilized for legislative sessions.
It started to rain so we headed south to our next hotel in Nashua NH Hampton. A forecast of heavy snow helped us decide to stay close for the evening. A great pizza at a local Italian place.
The next day we awoke to 4" of heavy wet snow and glad the Enterprise had included a snow scraper and brush to clear the windows. Our plans were to attend a large railroad memorabilia auction about 10 miles west of Nashua and it was nice the roads cleared by noon to allow us to do so. I have collected railroad artifacts for many years and hoped to pick up some pieces for my collection. But the market continues to increase in interest and values and when some railroad lanterns went for over $2,000 I was forced to be a spectator rather than a buyer. Nice to know people are still collecting.
We left the auction around 5pm and headed back to Nashua to celebrate Claudia's birthday at a nice Italian restaurant. I had the lasagna which was superb and Claudia opted for a pasta melody that was also pleasing. A nice day after a snowy beginning.
Next day we went back to the auction for a few hours and then headed south into Massachusetts, passing some historic towns and checking out a few railroad depots along the way. We stayed in Marlborough MA at another nice Hampton. A steak dinner and a quiet evening despite a major hockey tourney filling many rooms.
Sunday we drove back to Worcester and spent a couple hours at the Worcester Art Museum, another excellent venue for thousands of pieces of quality art. The French Impressionist works were note worthy as well as the Renaissance collection. A great sunny morning to celebrate my birthday before we dropped our car, cabbed back to the station and waited for our Amtrak 449 to arrive at 2 pm. An enjoyable conversation with an MBTA police officer and car attendant as their commuter train was boarding ahead of our train.
Our train arrived on time. Our sleeping car attendant was funny and you could tell she loved her job. Cafe car LSA was also very friendly. We got some free burgers from the cafe car for lunch as our train headed west via Springfield and back to Albany NY where the NY half of our train would be reconnected. We had an hour layover so I went up to take some photos of the modern station, although many of the businesses there were closed.
Our combined train left Albany at 7 pm and we had our beds put down around 9pm. We arrived back in Cleveland at 3:30am and then have a 1.5 hour drive back to our home. A great trip, riding trains, taking in two excellent art museums and seeing some New England scenery (and snow). We have almost 100,000 miles riding Amtrak since we retired and look forward to future trips, hopefully with health conditions providing a more traditional ride.
Our first Covid Amtrak trip was a success. I was impressed that the Amtrak conductors enforced the mask rules although some in coach skirted the rules a little. From the 448/449 sleepers you had a long walk to the diner via 6 coaches. Plenty of hand sanitizer dispensers in each car. We brought our own alcohol wipes, a fresh supply of masks and as mentioned, we both had our Moderna vaccines in early March.
Food was really not bad as far as choices although there were limits for those who are vegan or with special diet. You can order ahead to arrange for special meals. Most people chose to eat in their rooms or bought items from the cafe car if you are riding coach. You cannot eat food in the cafe car, only at your seat. Amish brought their picnic lunch thermos. Our trains were close to on-time each direction. For those of you who keep notes, our locos were:
118, 194, 93, 121, 95. 88, 86, 90214 BC Car 48154 & 48183. Looking forward to our next trip.
Left on Tuesday April 13 from Cleveland on Amtrak Lake Shore Limited 48/448 at 5:45am and headed east. We were in Bedroom B in 4820 car. Breakfast near Erie PA in the diner, although the menu and limited seating made it a very different experience. Only about six tables in the dining car were open for service. Our Dining Car attendant was busy waiting tables, "cooking up" the meals and preparing items for SCAs to take back to rooms. We had the egg bacon cheese sandwich, which was actually pretty good, some yogurt, banana nut, blueberry muffin, fruit and milk. We miss the conversations with fellow passengers in the diner but that is life now on Amtrak.
We arrived in Buffalo and had a chance to walk the platform at the station for some exercise. All passengers must wear a mask at all times except when in a sleeping compartment. We book a bedroom so that we had our own bathroom, larger sitting area and all meals included. We could take off our masks when in the room as long as the door was closed to the hallway. Conductors and staff strictly enforced the mask rule and anyone objecting would be put off at the next station.
Lots of Amish riding trains these days and there were several coach loads leaving Cleveland and heading for Utica, NY where many Ohio Amish have resettled for various reasons.
Our next stop was Rochester, NY where a few more passengers boarded and then off to Syracuse where a modern station awaited the afternoon train. Our next stop was Utica where our Amish friends detrained and waited for a van to pick them up.
As we moved across upstate NY we saw remnants of the old Erie Canal appear before a brief stop in Schenectady and then our major transfer stop in Albany. We had already had lunch, which was the chicken marsala. It tasted very good but unfortunately, my intestinal issues did not agree with the contents. We had some discussions with our friendly cafe car attendant Melissa and our sleeping car attendant Ralph. Both had over 20 years of experience on Amtrak which helped save their jobs when cuts took place in service last year. With the reinstatement of daily service at the end of May, I wondered if they would change jobs. Melissa will be heading back to the CZ but Ralph said he will stay with the LSL with only a few years left until retirement.
At Albany our train splits into two parts. Our 448 -front engines, sleeper, cafe business car and coaches head east toward Boston. The back part of the train (48) will pick up new electric locomotives and take its sleepers, and coaches and dining car to New York City on a beautiful ride down the Hudson River. We have taken that train many times and its an enjoyable ride into the Big Apple.
Our 448 train starts a gradual climb into the Berkshire Mts, with a stop at Pittsfield and then to Springfield, MA where it can exchange traffic for several regional trains going to Connecticut and the east coast.
We continued our travels eastbound until we reached Worcester, MA where we detrained at a beautifully refurbished Worcester Union Station. The station serves daily commuter trains on MBTA into Boston. Our hotel Marriott AC was walking distance from the station and since it was still light at 7pm, we opted to walk over to our rooms. A very modern hotel with lots of amenities.
Next morning we had to cab to the Enterprise car rental since they no longer "pick you up" due to Covid restrictions.
By 10 am we were off on our journey to New Hampshire and after a brief trip along the coastal areas, we headed for Exeter, NH where we boarded the Amtrak Downeaster Train 683 for a round trip venture to Brunswick Maine. We had ridden this train to Portland on previous trips, but a newly opened extension to Brunswick made it necessary to add some new mileage to our Amtrak collection. We rode business class which afforded some free beverages, leather seats and a comfortable ride with few people in the car. The route is only a two hour ride each way with a brief stop before reboarding Train 688 for our trip back to Exeter. We picked up an extra deadhead loco and coach in Portland , and arrived on time in Exeter. We stayed at a nice Hampton Inn on Wed evening. Found a little Italian deli where we picked up some great subs for an evening snack. All Hamptons enforce the mask rules, have digital key entries and sealed doors with extensive cleaning. Felt very safe there.
Next morning we had a limited breakfast downstairs. No buffets any more but a nice layout of cereals, pastries and a hot sandwich, etc.
Our Thursday was spent touring Manchester NH and a fantastic Currier Museum of Art. An excellent collection in all genres and we spent a couple hours enjoying the art and ambience. A trip up to Concord to get some photos of the state capitol. Building was closed to public so we did not get a chance to tour which we have done at many state capitols across the country. This is the oldest state capitol building in the country still being utilized for legislative sessions.
It started to rain so we headed south to our next hotel in Nashua NH Hampton. A forecast of heavy snow helped us decide to stay close for the evening. A great pizza at a local Italian place.
The next day we awoke to 4" of heavy wet snow and glad the Enterprise had included a snow scraper and brush to clear the windows. Our plans were to attend a large railroad memorabilia auction about 10 miles west of Nashua and it was nice the roads cleared by noon to allow us to do so. I have collected railroad artifacts for many years and hoped to pick up some pieces for my collection. But the market continues to increase in interest and values and when some railroad lanterns went for over $2,000 I was forced to be a spectator rather than a buyer. Nice to know people are still collecting.
We left the auction around 5pm and headed back to Nashua to celebrate Claudia's birthday at a nice Italian restaurant. I had the lasagna which was superb and Claudia opted for a pasta melody that was also pleasing. A nice day after a snowy beginning.
Next day we went back to the auction for a few hours and then headed south into Massachusetts, passing some historic towns and checking out a few railroad depots along the way. We stayed in Marlborough MA at another nice Hampton. A steak dinner and a quiet evening despite a major hockey tourney filling many rooms.
Sunday we drove back to Worcester and spent a couple hours at the Worcester Art Museum, another excellent venue for thousands of pieces of quality art. The French Impressionist works were note worthy as well as the Renaissance collection. A great sunny morning to celebrate my birthday before we dropped our car, cabbed back to the station and waited for our Amtrak 449 to arrive at 2 pm. An enjoyable conversation with an MBTA police officer and car attendant as their commuter train was boarding ahead of our train.
Our train arrived on time. Our sleeping car attendant was funny and you could tell she loved her job. Cafe car LSA was also very friendly. We got some free burgers from the cafe car for lunch as our train headed west via Springfield and back to Albany NY where the NY half of our train would be reconnected. We had an hour layover so I went up to take some photos of the modern station, although many of the businesses there were closed.
Our combined train left Albany at 7 pm and we had our beds put down around 9pm. We arrived back in Cleveland at 3:30am and then have a 1.5 hour drive back to our home. A great trip, riding trains, taking in two excellent art museums and seeing some New England scenery (and snow). We have almost 100,000 miles riding Amtrak since we retired and look forward to future trips, hopefully with health conditions providing a more traditional ride.
Our first Covid Amtrak trip was a success. I was impressed that the Amtrak conductors enforced the mask rules although some in coach skirted the rules a little. From the 448/449 sleepers you had a long walk to the diner via 6 coaches. Plenty of hand sanitizer dispensers in each car. We brought our own alcohol wipes, a fresh supply of masks and as mentioned, we both had our Moderna vaccines in early March.
Food was really not bad as far as choices although there were limits for those who are vegan or with special diet. You can order ahead to arrange for special meals. Most people chose to eat in their rooms or bought items from the cafe car if you are riding coach. You cannot eat food in the cafe car, only at your seat. Amish brought their picnic lunch thermos. Our trains were close to on-time each direction. For those of you who keep notes, our locos were:
118, 194, 93, 121, 95. 88, 86, 90214 BC Car 48154 & 48183. Looking forward to our next trip.
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