When I was in college from 1996 to 1998, I would take Amtrak trains (then NortheastDirect) from Boston to Old Saybrook, and took one trip down to New York City. In 1998, I also took the Vermonter from New Haven CT to Brattleboro VT. But this time, things would be different.
Saturday October 30:
My trip would be from Essex Jct VT to Meriden CT on the Vermonter (My plans to take the trip October 15 were cancelled due to the tracks being washed out). I met the station "caretaker" at ESX who was very nice and talked to him for a while - I was in my old conductor's outfit as I was going to a Halloween party in CT. Contrary to what the folks at 1-800-USARAIL told me, I was able to use my exchange voucher on board the train, which arrived on time at Essex Jct, the station for Burlington, at 8:58AM on Saturday October 29. The consist was a P42 leading, then the cafe/coach, then 3 coaches, then a cab/coach. All the coaches and the cafe car which was half dinette tables and half business class 2-1 seating, had the newer blue interior, a big change from the old red interior I was used to riding in during the 1990s.
Leaving ESX, the train moved along at a pretty good clip and even arrived at Montpelier a little ahead of schedule. Past Montpelier, the announcement was made that Bob from the NPS would be talking about Vermont towards the rear of the train. I opted to sit back and watch the scenery. Arriving at White River Jct, there was a mobscene of people. Was I back in the 1920s and 1930s when this place hosted dozens of trains a day? Not quite, but there were two passenger trains in the station at once - a Green Mountain Railroad/VTRS excursion train was on the north Conn River line behind the station. People were everywhere on the platform. Later I found out this was a Mystic Valley Railway Society charter.
Past Windsor, I photographed the longest covered bridge in the world spanning the CT River. We moved along briskly down the Conn River Line. Along the way, I noticed the B&M-era CTC signals still functioning but also saw some new ones. Walked to the cafe car and got lunch: a cheeseburger, chips, and a beer. Departing Brattleboro, we slowed down approaching VT Yankee, then were up to speed again heading down to Palmer. Just before the diamond, we were delayed for about 15 minutes due to track work. This was all announced to us by our friendly crew. The reverse move seemed to go faster than it did back in 1998. Maybe because there was a CSX freight on the main waiting to head west and we got the right of way. An Amtrak train getting the right of way ahead of a CSX train on a CSX-owned line. Yes, I know, sounds shocking.
Arrived at Springfield 15 min down and after we left, meandered back to the cafe car for a beer. By the time hit Meriden CT we were 10 minutes down. I got off and my ride was waiting.
Sunday October 31
A little tired from the party, I went to the OSB station and bought my ticket for the return trip to VT. My mom dropped me off at Meriden and my train was right on time. Again, same consist as the previous day's trip, with the cab control/coach leading, then 3 coaches, cafe car/business class, and P42 #142. Found a seat facing the wrong direction but it was the last seat in the car so there was extra legroom, and past Hartford, I had both seats to myself. Leaving Springfield, we were delayed 15 minutes due to the Late-For-Sure Limited arriving from Boston. We got on the move, did the reverse move at Palmer, and were off to VT. I headed to the cafe car for a cheeseburger, chips and Pepsi. We managed to make up some time enroute by bypassing Bellows Falls, Claremont, and Randolph stations as there was noone there to get on or off. We hit WRJ at about 10 min down. Past Randolph, the dreaded sound of the engine shutting down and the lights going out freaked me out. Then I glanced over to the right and in a field were hundreds of lit pumpkins. The train crew announced it and we crawled through, our train darkened to soak up the ambiance. We arrived at Essex Junction at around 9:00, just under 15 minutes late.
All in all, it was a great trip. I can't wait to travel again, as the cost was just about what it would take to drive my truck from VT to CT. Of course taking the train there is no wear-and-tear on your vehicle and you can sit back and relax. I was in no rush so the fact that it was 2 hr longer than driving didn't matter. I hope I can take the train again, if its schedule and mine work out again.
-JH
Saturday October 30:
My trip would be from Essex Jct VT to Meriden CT on the Vermonter (My plans to take the trip October 15 were cancelled due to the tracks being washed out). I met the station "caretaker" at ESX who was very nice and talked to him for a while - I was in my old conductor's outfit as I was going to a Halloween party in CT. Contrary to what the folks at 1-800-USARAIL told me, I was able to use my exchange voucher on board the train, which arrived on time at Essex Jct, the station for Burlington, at 8:58AM on Saturday October 29. The consist was a P42 leading, then the cafe/coach, then 3 coaches, then a cab/coach. All the coaches and the cafe car which was half dinette tables and half business class 2-1 seating, had the newer blue interior, a big change from the old red interior I was used to riding in during the 1990s.
Leaving ESX, the train moved along at a pretty good clip and even arrived at Montpelier a little ahead of schedule. Past Montpelier, the announcement was made that Bob from the NPS would be talking about Vermont towards the rear of the train. I opted to sit back and watch the scenery. Arriving at White River Jct, there was a mobscene of people. Was I back in the 1920s and 1930s when this place hosted dozens of trains a day? Not quite, but there were two passenger trains in the station at once - a Green Mountain Railroad/VTRS excursion train was on the north Conn River line behind the station. People were everywhere on the platform. Later I found out this was a Mystic Valley Railway Society charter.
Past Windsor, I photographed the longest covered bridge in the world spanning the CT River. We moved along briskly down the Conn River Line. Along the way, I noticed the B&M-era CTC signals still functioning but also saw some new ones. Walked to the cafe car and got lunch: a cheeseburger, chips, and a beer. Departing Brattleboro, we slowed down approaching VT Yankee, then were up to speed again heading down to Palmer. Just before the diamond, we were delayed for about 15 minutes due to track work. This was all announced to us by our friendly crew. The reverse move seemed to go faster than it did back in 1998. Maybe because there was a CSX freight on the main waiting to head west and we got the right of way. An Amtrak train getting the right of way ahead of a CSX train on a CSX-owned line. Yes, I know, sounds shocking.
Arrived at Springfield 15 min down and after we left, meandered back to the cafe car for a beer. By the time hit Meriden CT we were 10 minutes down. I got off and my ride was waiting.
Sunday October 31
A little tired from the party, I went to the OSB station and bought my ticket for the return trip to VT. My mom dropped me off at Meriden and my train was right on time. Again, same consist as the previous day's trip, with the cab control/coach leading, then 3 coaches, cafe car/business class, and P42 #142. Found a seat facing the wrong direction but it was the last seat in the car so there was extra legroom, and past Hartford, I had both seats to myself. Leaving Springfield, we were delayed 15 minutes due to the Late-For-Sure Limited arriving from Boston. We got on the move, did the reverse move at Palmer, and were off to VT. I headed to the cafe car for a cheeseburger, chips and Pepsi. We managed to make up some time enroute by bypassing Bellows Falls, Claremont, and Randolph stations as there was noone there to get on or off. We hit WRJ at about 10 min down. Past Randolph, the dreaded sound of the engine shutting down and the lights going out freaked me out. Then I glanced over to the right and in a field were hundreds of lit pumpkins. The train crew announced it and we crawled through, our train darkened to soak up the ambiance. We arrived at Essex Junction at around 9:00, just under 15 minutes late.
All in all, it was a great trip. I can't wait to travel again, as the cost was just about what it would take to drive my truck from VT to CT. Of course taking the train there is no wear-and-tear on your vehicle and you can sit back and relax. I was in no rush so the fact that it was 2 hr longer than driving didn't matter. I hope I can take the train again, if its schedule and mine work out again.
-JH
