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Just returned from a trip on the Downeaster BON to SAC and return. We were visiting relatives in Old Orchard Beach, but that stop is not made at this time of year.
As many on this forum may be unfamiliar with the route, I will present a few facts and highlights. The train consist had two push-pull Amfleet coaches, an Amcafe car that offers a business class section and engines on both ends. The coaches have 82500 numbers and the Amcafe was #48182. They were renumbered from older series during renovations.
The train kept very good time. Having traveled on some very late long-distance trains, I was amused when the conductor made an announcement apologizing that we would be arriving back in Boston five minutes late! TrainRiders Northeast, the organization that long fought to establish the Downeaster, puts hosts on most trains. The ones I've seen are elderly, well-dressed folks with name tags. They walk the train from time to time conversing with passengers and answering questions. I noted that the busiest intermediate stop was Durham, NH. It serves the University of New Hampshire campus.
Saco currently has an open, covered platform with a few panels allowing some shelter from the wind. A newspaper article while we were there announced that bids have been received on a new station that will cost between 2 and 2.5 milion dollars, expected to be completed in late 2008. It will be a model of "green" building techniques, featuring a wind turbine and a geothermal heat pump.
The station, to be shared with the chamber of commerce, will play a role in the project of turning nearby vacant mill buildings into a residential and commercial neighborhood. It will be a hub for shuttle bus service and probably a stop on a commercial bus line.
This encouraging development is just one of several along the Downeaster route that are making this train a resounding success story.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Two engines? Aren't there a P42 on one end and an ex F40PH NPCU "cabbage" unit on the other?
Bob from MA Member # 4686
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Sorry, I'm not very knowledgeable about the power. There was something on both ends.
Geoff M Member # 153
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A candidate for DMU service if ever there was one! A ratio of 1 engine per 1½ cars is severely overpowered! Surely that's not cost effective, even if only one engine is powered?
Thanks for the highlights. Can you expand a bit more on the scenery?
Geoff M.
[Edited for mathematics]
Bob from MA Member # 4686
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As to the scenery: after leaving North Station, the train runs through the urbanized area north of the city. Near Haverhill, there are views of old brick factory buildings . The Merrimack River bridge is crossed at about 5 miles per hour, I suppose as a cautionary measure. College and academy buildings can be seen at Durham and Exeter.
The route is inland, so the ocean is never seen. I have not ridden it all the way to Portland as yet, although I've seen parts of that by car. Coastal marshes and wide river mouths mark that section. I believe a shuttle bus must be taken from the northern terminus to reach the downtown area of the city.
I have the route highlighted on topographic maps and tried to follow them carefully along the way.
palmland Member # 4344
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Thanks for your good report. I have heard that the amcafe food is a cut above normal fare for regional trains in the NEC. Did you try it?
Bob from MA Member # 4686
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We did not sample the cafe fare, as each way was only a couple of hours. There were menus distributed on the seats when we boarded on our return. I believe the food service on the Downeaster is run by a company quite separate from the rest of Amtrak trains. I noticed on a previous trip that they offered Coca Cola, whereas everywhere else I've been on Amtrak, it's Pepsi.
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