So my girlfriend is amazing and surprised me this morning with a trip on the Maple Express. Despite having lived in the area nearly all of my life, I have never actually managed to make things work to get on the A&A in my 33 years (despite protests from my sisters that they insist they were keeping me out of trouble 30 some-odd years ago, I don't remember it so I maintain my claim that this is my first trip). I'd say she picked a great trip too, because of the extra mileage up to North Java. I've been led to believe by one of the organizers that this set of weekend excursions is the first excursion to ever go past Curriers, is that true? Even if not, its certainly a rare experience.
I didn't spend my entire day taking pictures, but got a few to commemorate my day and figured I'd share them with you too in this pseudo report.
Starting as I presume any other excursion would, we gathered at the Arcade Depot. The first thing I noticed was not only was 113 on the head end (north), which sadly I knew about due to the issues with 18, but 112 was also hanging out on the south end. I didn't think this was due to a power issue but simply for convenience, which our Conductor confirmed while underway to Curriers. Pulling out through Arcade, across the creek, and along 98, the ride was decent. Once we turned more northward and pulled away from 98, the ride was actually fairly rough, if I'm honest. Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting Acela comfort here, obviously, but it was a bit rougher than I expected for the main excusrion area. As we kept our seat facing north the entire time, watching 113 through the end window of car 305, this was actually more pronounced on the return trip when 113 was trailing vs leading, but anyway, back to the trip.
After some banter from the conductor, we pulled into Curriers for a quick break before continuing on to North Java.
Quick break at Curriers on the trip North
Back underway, the recent overhaul work on the track showed here. Like I said, I'm not expecting anything immaculate, but the jossling was certainly reduced and we seemed to be going faster. It was fun to see some of the chasers catching us along the way, I presume there were more than normal because of the rarity of coaches beyond Curriers. Through the trip, our conductor had informed us that the reason for two locos was because there were some cars in the way at Residorf and the plan was to disconnect 113 just south of the passing siding, have it move the cars into the siding, and then have 112 push us into position for unloading. As you can see in the picture they changed plans somewhere along the way, and instead decided to just shove the car closer to the Perry Rd crossing, then back off of it to our unloading spot (presumably it seemed, wherever they could find the least wet/muddy spot)
At North Java, we were allowed to visit Kibler Maple's sugar shanty one car at a time.
On the return trip, as it had started to warm up, I convinced the g/f to venture back to the open car with me. We were out there from just north of Welch Rd to Java Center. I got some photos of the nature preserve as well as over Beaver Meadow Rd (while my g/f covered her eyes, she has problems with bridges), and took some video as we approached the crossing in Java Center.
Passing Beaver Meadow on the trip South.
On-train view over Beaver Meadow Road, not something many get to see.
Video approaching Java Center crossing (Sorry for the potato quality at the beginning, it gets better.. I don't know what was up with my phone)
Back at Curriers, we were treated to a very tasty pancake breakfast (Lunch?) and some more time to explore the area, although the depot itself was not open, just the new added buildings. I don't know if this is standard for excursions?
Back at Curriers for pancakes, I got a picture of our "new lead engine"
The return trip from Curriers to Arcade was where I really noticed the worse condition of the track versus what was repaired north of Curriers. With 113 trailing DIT instead of leading, the added motion and in some cases, extreme bouncing where very noticeable through the end door window on the coach. I did also notice that there appears to be some difference in easing on the brakes between 112 and 113. While I understand there may be some difference in experience between leading and trailing (coach 305 was at the north end, so was in the lead on the way up and trailing on the way back) roughness in the braking was definitely more pronounced on the return trip, and this was experienced even on the open car (leading) on the trip south.
Please understand that this is all just observation. I have no complaints about the trip or the A&A. It's an amazing operation and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Like I said, I'm so glad my g/f picked this set of excursions (not knowing about the extra mileage, she's never been on either and didn't know about the normal Arcade/Curriers length of trips), I feel so lucky to have been on this rare mileage trip for my first ride and it absolutely exceeded my expectations!
I didn't spend my entire day taking pictures, but got a few to commemorate my day and figured I'd share them with you too in this pseudo report.
Starting as I presume any other excursion would, we gathered at the Arcade Depot. The first thing I noticed was not only was 113 on the head end (north), which sadly I knew about due to the issues with 18, but 112 was also hanging out on the south end. I didn't think this was due to a power issue but simply for convenience, which our Conductor confirmed while underway to Curriers. Pulling out through Arcade, across the creek, and along 98, the ride was decent. Once we turned more northward and pulled away from 98, the ride was actually fairly rough, if I'm honest. Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting Acela comfort here, obviously, but it was a bit rougher than I expected for the main excusrion area. As we kept our seat facing north the entire time, watching 113 through the end window of car 305, this was actually more pronounced on the return trip when 113 was trailing vs leading, but anyway, back to the trip.
After some banter from the conductor, we pulled into Curriers for a quick break before continuing on to North Java.
Quick break at Curriers on the trip North
Back underway, the recent overhaul work on the track showed here. Like I said, I'm not expecting anything immaculate, but the jossling was certainly reduced and we seemed to be going faster. It was fun to see some of the chasers catching us along the way, I presume there were more than normal because of the rarity of coaches beyond Curriers. Through the trip, our conductor had informed us that the reason for two locos was because there were some cars in the way at Residorf and the plan was to disconnect 113 just south of the passing siding, have it move the cars into the siding, and then have 112 push us into position for unloading. As you can see in the picture they changed plans somewhere along the way, and instead decided to just shove the car closer to the Perry Rd crossing, then back off of it to our unloading spot (presumably it seemed, wherever they could find the least wet/muddy spot)
At North Java, we were allowed to visit Kibler Maple's sugar shanty one car at a time.
On the return trip, as it had started to warm up, I convinced the g/f to venture back to the open car with me. We were out there from just north of Welch Rd to Java Center. I got some photos of the nature preserve as well as over Beaver Meadow Rd (while my g/f covered her eyes, she has problems with bridges), and took some video as we approached the crossing in Java Center.
Passing Beaver Meadow on the trip South.
On-train view over Beaver Meadow Road, not something many get to see.
Video approaching Java Center crossing (Sorry for the potato quality at the beginning, it gets better.. I don't know what was up with my phone)
Back at Curriers, we were treated to a very tasty pancake breakfast (Lunch?) and some more time to explore the area, although the depot itself was not open, just the new added buildings. I don't know if this is standard for excursions?
Back at Curriers for pancakes, I got a picture of our "new lead engine"
The return trip from Curriers to Arcade was where I really noticed the worse condition of the track versus what was repaired north of Curriers. With 113 trailing DIT instead of leading, the added motion and in some cases, extreme bouncing where very noticeable through the end door window on the coach. I did also notice that there appears to be some difference in easing on the brakes between 112 and 113. While I understand there may be some difference in experience between leading and trailing (coach 305 was at the north end, so was in the lead on the way up and trailing on the way back) roughness in the braking was definitely more pronounced on the return trip, and this was experienced even on the open car (leading) on the trip south.
Please understand that this is all just observation. I have no complaints about the trip or the A&A. It's an amazing operation and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Like I said, I'm so glad my g/f picked this set of excursions (not knowing about the extra mileage, she's never been on either and didn't know about the normal Arcade/Curriers length of trips), I feel so lucky to have been on this rare mileage trip for my first ride and it absolutely exceeded my expectations!
