Time to use our pass again, there is another rapid transit line here called the Silver Line. It connects South Station to Logan Airport, so we hop on to one of the articulated diesel and electric buses that serve the route. Under ground, they are powered by overhead wires, above ground further out they switch to diesel operation. There turns out to be a dedicated busway (electric) from South Station to the docks and convention center area, there the poles come down and the buses run through one of the new tunnels to the airport (with regular traffic).

Back at South Station, we now transfer to the Red Line and head for the end of the line at Ashmont. The subway comes above ground for much of this run south of the city, but the real treat is when we get to Ashmont. Disembarking from the train, we see signs directing us to connecting buses and the “Mattapan High Speed Line”. Further investigation turns up an incredible conveyance—restored and updated original PCC cars! This is not to be missed, so we climb aboard and are off, running a private interurban like right of way on a classic PCC! The shops are at Mattapan, and there are many cars in evidence, at least a dozen or so must make up the fleet.

December 31—Time to head for New York City—we have reservations on Amtrak’s Acela Express #2253 at 1115. (photo, page 21) The departure is right on time, and the ride swift as this is an express, stopping only at Boston’s Back Bay and Route 128 stations, then Providence, Rhode Island, New Haven Connecticut, Stamford Connecticut and New York’s Penn Station. We arrive on time at 1445, but don’t have a good start here—the escalator from the platform is not working, so it is quite a chore to lug our luggage up to the station level. Once there, a quick taxi to our hotel and we settle in and unpack for the next four days.

It’s 1600 hours—we head over to Times Square to check things out—there is already a very large crowd assembled! Well, we are not going to try and stand there in the cold yet, so we retreat and debate our strategy. In the end it works quite well, we head up to 57th street and across Broadway and then back to 53rd where we enjoy dinner at one of our favourite New York places—Ellen’s Stardust Diner (with a singing wait staff). It is jammed, of course, but we get in and have some fun, emerging after a thorough bathroom visit! around 1830 to try and join the mob (there are no facilities with the Times Square event!).

Now we have to walk up to 59th Street before we find a spot we can enter the throngs—there are thousands of police around, and we are scanned as we enter the area, then we make our way south as far as we can on 7th Ave. (the street from which you can see the ball drop). The street is closed, of course, and fenced sections are set up all along the street from 47th Ave. (where the ball is) back to Central Park at least 14 blocks back. We manage to get into a section around 52nd Street—five blocks away. Even through the 300 mm zoom, the ball is tiny and far away. We debate the merits of staying (cold, jammed in the crowd, poor view) but decide to stick it out!

For five hours we stand in the mob of more than a million people, in temperatures of around 40 degrees F. but dry—it’s really quite a good night for weather! You get to know your neighbours (they are all from other parts of the country, New Yorkers would never think of doing this!) as well as the NYPD troops in the area (they turn out to be a lot of fun). The disappointment is that with this world renowned event, there is not even an audio transmission of the special concerts and stars going on at the stage. So, most there just stand around for hours and try to entertain themselves!

Midnight comes—the ball is a bright speck of light in the distance, the countdown loud from the crowd, the fireworks and confetti fire, and everyone hastens to their accommodations and the nearest bathroom! That’s it—we did it!

January 1 & 2, 2008—we have a very special start to 2008 as we meet up with friends from my Harvard class of 1993 (who live in New York) and enjoy a fabulous New Year’s Day brunch at Manhattan’s University Club. It is incredible to say the least—not just the food, but the full ambiance of this eight story restored building from the 1890’s. The remainder of the day and the next day are spent on foot enjoying the sights of the city. Especially neat are the Christmas windows at several department stores—think Woodward’s windows times three of four and still major attractions on Fifth Avenue and other main streets.

January 3—It has been sunny, but getting much colder as a cold snap moves in. Last night it was so cold we had to take a taxi the ten blocks to the theatre to see Jersey Boys (great show!) so we know outside is not for us today, given the AM temperature reading of 10 degrees F! What to do? Well, let’s try a train ride to Long Island. So, off to Penn Station we go to explore the Long Island Railroad (we had checked possibilities on the internet from the hotel room).

We can ride the entire Island to Montauk, NY—a roughly three hour journey, passing through the Hamptons on the eastern end of the run. We descend to the platform for the 0749 Long Island Railroad express to Babylon. This is a ten car set of new MU equipment, with three and two seating, but very attractive compared to the older equipment that has been around for years. We are off through the tunnel under the East River and run non-stop to Jamaica, arriving at 0810 (a major transfer point). Here we note a very busy station with at least ten platforms in operation, and a mix of electric third rail MU equipment and diesel hauled train, many with new double deck equipment. We continue on to Babylon, arriving on time at 0847. We transfer across the platform to the Montauk train, and depart smartly at 0852.

Now we are on a diesel hauled double decker—again very new and nice equipment, with one of Long Island RR’s new locomotives (don’t know their model—see photo) at each end and four cars in between. This ride is very pleasant, single track and many small towns, nice scenery through the Hamptons, and several short views of the ocean. We arrive at the end of the line—and the end of Long Island—at 1053.

As we walk from the train on the platform, it is very cold—made worse by the wind. Clearly walking to the town is not an option, so into a taxi we climb. The driver is delightful, he takes us to the main street of the town (only a couple of blocks of shops), and then to the beach (we vow we are at least going to attempt a short walk. He recommends a place on the main street for lunch, and we arrange for him to pick us up at the local Chamber of Commerce building at 1210. Out onto the beach we go—wow is it cold (but beautifully bright and sunny).

We beach comb our way for a couple of blocks, then—cheeks feeling the cold, we almost run the 2 blocks up to the main street and into John’s Pancake House. Hot soup and a sandwich never tasted so good! After warming up it was time to venture out again, we had 30 minutes before our pick up. A few of the shops were open, and we ended up at the Chamber building for about 10 minutes with a delightful lady telling us all about then area. The taxi arrived on time, and we headed off—but detoured with another call to pick up a local with her clothes baskets going to the laundry. The driver gave us a scenic tour back to the train, then dropped us off to get his other passenger to her destination.

The platform had a roof, but no wind free zones—five minutes there seemed an eternity until the local to Speonk pulled up—a diesel on each end and three double deck cars. (photo on rear cover). We were the only passengers boarding here, an on time departure of 1228 hours. The ride was again pleasant as we warmed up and enjoyed the scenery. We chatted to the female conductor, who recommended we go to the LIRR station at Speonk where we had 25 minutes awaiting a train change. We arrived at 1346 and sprinted across to enjoy warm drinks and a cookie.

Speonk is a service point for the LIRR, and we would board the next train which departed 1407 for Jamaica. (photo page 25) This train consisted of the new double deck equipment, but with a cab control car, five coaches and one locomotive pushing. We boarded and were off, again an enjoyable ride and a fast one as we were express from Babylon to Jamaica, arriving at 1542.

Another across the platform change—although a very busy one as we connected to the 10 train, many with new double deck equipment. We continue on to Babylon, arriving on time at 0847. We transfer across the platform to the Montauk train, and depart smartly at 0852.

Now we are on a diesel hauled double decker—again very new and nice equipment, with one of Long Island RR’s new locomotives (don’t know their model—see photo) at each end and four cars in between. This ride is very pleasant, single track and many small towns, nice scenery through the Hamptons, and several short views of the ocean. We arrive at the end of the line—and the end of Long Island—at 1053.

As we walk from the train on the platform, it is very cold—made worse by the wind. Clearly walking to the town is not an option, so into a taxi we climb. The driver is delightful, he takes us to the main street of the town (only a couple of blocks of shops), and then to the beach (we vow we are at least going to attempt a short walk. He recommends a place on the main street for lunch, and we arrange for him to pick us up at the local Chamber of Commerce building at 1210. Out onto the beach we go—wow is it cold (but beautifully bright and sunny).

We beach comb our way for a couple of blocks, then—cheeks feeling the cold, we almost run the 2 blocks up to the main street and into John’s Pancake House. Hot soup and a sandwich never tasted so good! After warming up it was time to venture out again, we had 30 minutes before our pick up. A few of the shops were open, and we ended up at the Chamber building for about 10 minutes with a delightful lady telling us all about then area. The taxi arrived on time, and we headed off—but detoured with another call to pick up a local with her clothes baskets going to the laundry. The driver gave us a scenic tour back to the train, then dropped us off to get his other passenger to her destination.

The platform had a roof, but no wind free zones—five minutes there seemed an eternity until the local to Speonk pulled up—a diesel on each end and three double deck cars. (photo on rear cover). We were the only passengers boarding here, an on time departure of 1228 hours. The ride was again pleasant as we warmed up and enjoyed the scenery. We chatted to the female conductor, who recommended we go to the LIRR station at Speonk where we had 25 minutes awaiting a train change. We arrived at 1346 and sprinted across to enjoy warm drinks and a cookie.

Speonk is a service point for the LIRR, and we would board the next train which departed 1407 for Jamaica. (photo page 25) This train consisted of the new double deck equipment, but with a cab control car, five coaches and one locomotive pushing. We boarded and were off, again an enjoyable ride and a fast one as we were express from Babylon to Jamaica, arriving at 1542.

Another across the platform change—although a very busy one as we connected to the 10 car train to Penn Station which was absolutely full as it pulled out at 1550, arriving New York Penn at 1611. It had been quite a day, we agreed as we rode a taxi back to our hotel.