|
Late June and early July saw your editor away for a two week period, to the Boston and New York areas. As has become the case, the trip was a combined business and holiday trip, but this time the emphasis was on the holiday part.
Air Canada got me east on Saturday, June 24 via Toronto, and on to Boston with a slight delay due poor weather at Boston—turned out to be very low cloud and rain as we landed at Logan Airport. The first part of the trip was the business part, but as we zoomed along the Boston Turnpike we paced a CSX freight of empty container platforms at speed—led by three big GE units on the point. We settled in to Babson College, where the next five days would be spent.
Thursday, June 29 — we are off to New York, and have booked first class seats on the 1515 departure of the Acela Express. We arrive at South Station, Boston and get the tickets from our internet printed at the Fast Trak machine (works great) and then check out the Acela Lounge. It is peaceful and comfortable for Amtrak First Class passengers, and offers snacks and beverages complimentary as well as priority boarding for the train when it is ready. We are escorted down to Track 6 by the attendant and board our car which is at the front of the Acela trainset that makes up Acela 2171 (Boston to Washington, DC, photo page 28)
We settled into comfortable seats (First Class is 2 / 1 seating) and there was a good load of passengers aboard the train. We pulled out right on time at 1515, and toasted departure with a glass of wine (all food and beverages, including drinks, were complementary in First Class, menu left). Service was attentive with a fairly full car, and as we traveled the route it filled to capacity on this busy Thursday afternoon. We chose the braised beef for dinner and, while just heated on board, was quite acceptable.
The trip hit top speeds (up to 125 mph) on the Boston to Providence, RI stretch, we rolled in to Providence at 1550—just 35 minutes form Boston! We then continued on through a foggy seaside in Connecticut—New London 1635, New Haven 1714 with a note of several New Haven painted FL9 units still in service. On through Stamford at 1802 and into New York City’s Penn station on time at 1840.
It was hot, humid and—just as we exited the station—a heavy downpour with all the thunder and lightening you could imagine!
The weather was much better in a couple of hours, and New York City was great as always. June 30 saw us head off on foot, then take the classic Circle Line 3 hour boat tour right around the island of Manhattan. From the water of the Hudson, East, Harlem and Little Rivers you get fabulous skyline views and—interestingly—good views of railroad and transit action. The Hell’s Gate bridge (used by Amtrak ) is clearly visible as are several subway bridge crossings overhead, MTA’s 207th Street shops, Metro North Commuter Railroad’s shops and their mainline to the Hudson River (photo below) and Amtrak’s rail bridge that connects Penn Station to the Hudson River Line to Albany and points west.
We enjoy New York City for all its attractions—the Hudson River Walk, two Broadway shows, Times Square and the lights at night, views from the Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center), great dining, Central Park and more.
Sunday, July 2 - Back to Boston, we head for Penn Station and another Amtrak Acela ride on Acela Express #2254. Penn Station isn’t quite as civilized as Boston—sure, there is an Acela Lounge and it is fine, but boarding is in a hot and sticky underground hall with long line ups and crowds—it is, of course, the July 4th holiday coming up!
The trip back to Boston is fine—service excellent. The First Class car has only a light load on this Sunday afternoon, and delays in running show the difference between the USA’s high speed corridor and those in Europe. This is the not so express Acela as we weave our way around a stalled regional train and track slow orders, arriving Boston at 2000.
(To be continued next month)
|
