Well, I talked about it and talked about it. Now I've gone on my trip and I'm back at home. First of all, let me say that I had a great time!
The adventure began at five in the morning last Wednesday. My friend's son knocked on my door. I'd hired him to drive me from Ithaca, NY to Syracuse, NY's Amtrak Station. He was right on time. We arrived at the Amtrak Station at 6:20 AM. My train was at 6:55 AM.
The Syracuse Transportation Center is relatively new. Greyhound also uses it. There were plenty of Greyhound passengers. There was a large group of Amish people. I went to the Amtrak ticket counter. It was open, but nobody was on line. I wondered why, in contrast, Greyhound across the lobby was so busy. The Amtrak agent asked me for my reservation number and a photo ID. Moments later I had my tickets in hand. He also issued me an international baggage tag for my backpack. They were in an envelope with a giant Geico gecko printed on one side. Okay, so we're selling car insurance *and* promoting rail travel!
There was a Dunkin Donuts in the lobby. I bought two donuts and a medium coffee, specifically asking for "milk and two sugars". I decided a long time ago that a man should never ask for his coffee "light and sweet".
I was on the platform at 6:40. Syracuse only has one platform. Since trains going both directions must use it, and considering the train frequency of this corridor, one platform seemed like poor planning to me. But I guess the experts had thought it all out, I ruminated. There must be high-speed crossovers at both ends. Maybe the money for two tracks just wasn't there. Or maybe two tracks really weren't required.
Then I heard a train horn! It was Amtrak 280, 15 minutes early! The locomotive roared as it decelerated along the platform. It sounded like the engineer was applying reverse thrusters, if there ever were such things. The train squealed to a stop. The coaches looked new and snappy. But how could that be? They were Amfleet I's. Had they been refurbished? Before I boarded, I paused. I had not ridden a train since the 80's. Where had the time gone? I stepped aboard. The coach was deserted. The train had originated at Niagara Falls, NY at 3:45 AM. I could sit anywhere I chose.
We waited at Syracuse Station until the advertised departure time. Then the engine tooted twice and quietly we began to move. Without a doubt, to anyone watching, the red markers on the rear must have seemed to dissolve into the early morning mist.
The conductor came to punch my ticket. Maybe he was going to punch me too, I don't know. But he was interested that I was going to Montreal. Not many people make the connection at Schenectady. The sad truth is, in life, a fair number of people never make any connections at all. The conductor was a very young guy. I envied his position. In fact, during the trip I envied a lot of the Amtrak workers. They all seemed happy with their jobs.
The scenery from Syracuse to Schenectady isn't exactly remarkable. It's all good if you're a train buff though. We moved along at a pretty fast clip past forests and marshes. I was pretty sure poisonous water mocassins and bloodsucking leeches, or maybe a rare northeastern croc, inhabited the marshes. I wouldn't want to walk in the marshes wearing just a pair of flip-flops. But I learned a long time ago that a man should never discuss his fears.
Everything was going according to plan. I sat back in my chair. I was nursing my coffee when I decided to break out the donuts I'd bought. Then, trouble came! When I bit into a jelly donut, a big glob of jelly shot out of it and landed all over my shirt. I had to go to the restroom and clean up. But rather than get heated up, I took it as a teachable moment. Don't bring jelly donuts on train trips.
At Utica, I saw power and rolling stock of The Adirondack Scenic Railroad. It looked to be in good shape. I rode this scenic tourist line all the way to Lake Placid 25 years ago. It doesn't go that far anymore. I imagine the volunteers who keep that rusty old ex-NYC RR line open at all do so with great effort.
After Utica we traveled along the north bank of The Mohawk River. It was nicer than the scary marshes. I saw several canal locks. The water coming over the spillways was a shiny, polluted, brown color. I didn't see any kids swinging out over the river on old tires suspended from tree limbs like in olden days. Maybe it was because it was only seven in the morning, on the other hand.
We passed a lot of freight trains going the other way. The former Water Level Route is busy. The line is serious business for CSX. The roadbed is very smooth. When we encountered a westbound freight, the coach was buffeted from the air rushing between the two trains.
Then, near Amsterdam, NY, we came to a complete stop. The power save mode came on after a few minutes. We sat and sat. There was a single-track bottleneck ahead. We'd been stabbed in the face! The result? After an opposing freight finally passed by, we began to move and thus arrived 45 minutes late into Schenectady. So much for our head start. CSX wouldn't be getting bonus money for 280's run that day after all.
I photographed the westbound Maple Leaf while waiting for The Adirondack at Schenectady.
END OF PART ONE
Posted by TBlack (Member # 181) on :
Dave, You write well; fun to read (amusing and philosophical); can't wait for part two! Frank (SBALAX) wants me to write a trip report from my adventure next week, but you've set the bar awfully high!
TB
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
weighing in in my highly unsought for opinion I think everyone should write up their trips for all of us to enjoy. Everyone has his own style and after all this is not a writing class where we critique each others writing. Honestly unless there are a tremendous amount of mistakes I don't even notice the style. I am too busy enjoying the report.
Posted by Stourbridge Lion (Member # 1796) on :
I with you, nothing better then hear about trips that folks have taken and even better when there are images that go with the story.
Did you get a photograph of the Schenectady Depot? Somehow I missed getting that shot when I was there last.
Posted by dns8560 (Member # 15184) on :
Thanks for the compliment TB. I'm sure your trip report will be interesting. I'm happy mine was for you. Despite my effort, I'm sure my college English professor would rip my trip report to shreds.
I didn't take any photos of the station building. I was a bit disappointed in the lighting. It was overcast.
Dave
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Thanks for the trip report. I never get tired of reading them. Yours was especially entertaining.
Tom--
Never fear. I recall that you were pretty good at putting words together.
Frank in cool and overcast SBA Viva la Fiesta!
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
As a professional writer I can find nothing amiss with this piece. It's lively and informative. Makes me want to take the train again.
TrainLady is right about individual prose styles. They are revealing, of character among other things.
Only one thing: Did you ever ask who that man was who was sleeping in the back seat?
Posted by dns8560 (Member # 15184) on :
About three quarters into the ride I mustered up the initiative to ask. I was told he was, "just a friend."
Thanks Henry,
Dave S.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
I meet people who have 'missed connections' every day. Sometimes I'm able to help them reconnect in small ways but the lot of 'school counselor' is mostly triage stuff. The real heavy lifting comes from outside professionals.
Tremendously enjoyable writing. Point taken on the jelly donuts.
Posted by Railroad Bob (Member # 3508) on :
quote:Originally posted by dns8560: The conductor was a very young guy. I envied his position. In fact, during the trip I envied a lot of the Amtrak workers. They all seemed happy with their jobs.
Well, this is good news! We've had some posts recently about surly, mean Amtrakers who didn't seem to like what they were doing for a living; glad you got an upbeat crew. Railroading is a pretty unique line of work that is not a good fit for all; the long crazy hours, bouncing around on the bottom of a seniority list, going to work on Christmas Day while your kid opens his presents, etc. But for the right person, the railroad is the perfect job; some hire in late in life. I remember a high school principal who signed on as a TA in his 60s, to satisfy a lifelong dream of RR work....thanks for your trip report; look forward to Pt. II!
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
quote:Originally posted by Railroad Bob:
quote:Originally posted by dns8560: The conductor was a very young guy. I envied his position. In fact, during the trip I envied a lot of the Amtrak workers. They all seemed happy with their jobs.
Well, this is good news! We've had some posts recently about surly, mean Amtrakers who didn't seem to like what they were doing for a living; glad you got an upbeat crew. Railroading is a pretty unique line of work that is not a good fit for all; the long crazy hours, bouncing around on the bottom of a seniority list, going to work on Christmas Day while your kid opens his presents, etc. But for the right person, the railroad is the perfect job; some hire in late in life. I remember a high school principal who signed on as a TA in his 60s, to satisfy a lifelong dream of RR work....thanks for your trip report; look forward to Pt. II!
The guy I envy right now is a locomotive engineer at Tweetsie Railroad. Tweetsie is a cheesy amusement park near us where the train gets held up AND attacked by indians on every one of it's three mile loop trips......
BUT those little narrow guage steam locomotives are absolute gems. They are meticulously maintained and as authentic as they come...... that young hogger is a practitioner of a nearly forgotten art.