This is a link to show pictures from my trip.
http://steve4031.smugmug.com/gallery/19450.../7402357/Medium
July 14
The next morning I woke early at the Marriott to make sure I would get a good breakfast. There would be no dining cars today. The buffet breakfast was filling and delicious. The service was attentive. I checked out and went to the lobby to confirm my shuttle arrangements to the station. I pretty lady, the hotel manager, was bustling around ensuring that guests needs were met. She stopped to talk with me, and when I shared my experience at dinner the night before in the hotel restaurant (the service had been somewhat rude and dismissive) she was immediately concerned. She tried to comp me breakfast, but I did not feel that was appropriate. Her demeanor indicated that the idiots who had been rude and dismissive the night before would experience consequences, and thus I was satisfied. Then the manager insisted on getting a bell hop to drive me to the station using the second van (the first was on another trip and I was waiting for it to return). This extra effort allowed me to catch an earlier train to New York’s Penn Station. I was pleased with her efforts.
The train arrived (a string of amfleet one cars) on time. I boarded and found a window seat on the left side. The train filled up quickly as it made all of the stops on the way to New York. I enjoyed my music. At one point as we accelerated to top speed, my MP3 player enhanced the moment as it randomly selected Rocket Ride by Kiss.
Arrived Penn station on time, and I wandered around investigating restaurant for lunch options. Eventually, I found a place that sold bagels with lox and cream cheese spread. I bought two to eat on the train later in the day. It was not about 10 a.m, and time to meet the Railfest crew under the departures board. I ambled on over, and like rail fans everywhere, they were on time. Kevin Korell, the organizer of several Railfest trips, was there with his son Michael. Alan Burden and a few others there too. When #284 was ready for boarding, we all situated ourselves in the same car. The plan was to ride to Syracuse, get off in Syracuse and ride the ONTRACK RDC commuter train to Syracuse University and back. And then continue on to Buffalo exchange street station on a later train.
Kevin and Alan have an encyclopedic knowledge of the extensive railroad operations around NYC. And they provided commentary as we proceeded up the Hudson River to Albany. Our plans began to look compromised as we experienced a series of slow orders and meets on the way into Albany. We discussed the possibility of remaining on the train and just continuing on to Buffalo.
Then we began to discuss how late 48 was. Harry Sutton would be taking that train into Buffalo the following day. So we called Julie, and she seemed to struggle with Kevin’s pronunciation of “48”, New York City, etc. So I stated, “Julie ALWAYS gives me MY train status”, and then my cell phone proceeded to lose its signal. Eventually we discovered that 48 was running around 4 hours late.
We arrived and departed Albany late. There was enough time to stand on the platform and admire the new station. As we departed, Kevin noticed that the turboliner train set was sitting in the yard rather than making its trip to and from New York City. He began to speculate that he would not be riding the turboliner from Albany to New York on the last leg of his trip even though he had arranged his itinerary to do so.
#284 stayed even, and possibly made up some time between Albany and Syracuse. At times, CSX had us on the “wrong main” to overtake freight trains. Our plans for Syracuse were looking better until a rainstorm arrived moments before we arrived in Syracuse. Earlier, we had received permission from the conductor to remain on boar to Buffalo if our plans in Syracuse fell through. With the downpour, we decided to stay on the train to Buffalo.
At Syracuse, the train had been close to on schedule. However, between Syracuse and Rochester, we were stuck behind a freight train, and rode along at about 40 mph for 30 minutes. Thus we were 20 to 30 minutes late into Rochester, and also into Buffalo Exchange Street.
With most of us staying at the Doubletree hotel near the medical center and one staying in the hostel, the light rail line was the best way to get to the evening’s lodgings. The light rail was 2 to 3 blocks away from the Amtrak station. The stop for our hotel was about 4 stops down the line, or 15 minutes away. A brisk 10 minute walk later, we were at the Double tree hotel. While a bit far from the Amtrak station, the hotel provided an excellent level of comfort, plus Amtrak reward points at a reasonable price. The pizza served in the hotel bar was a highlight. The hotel provided a business center free of use, so all of us checked Email and checked the status of Harry Sutton’s 48 out of Chicago. It left Chicago pretty close to on time.
http://steve4031.smugmug.com/gallery/19450.../7402357/Medium
July 14
The next morning I woke early at the Marriott to make sure I would get a good breakfast. There would be no dining cars today. The buffet breakfast was filling and delicious. The service was attentive. I checked out and went to the lobby to confirm my shuttle arrangements to the station. I pretty lady, the hotel manager, was bustling around ensuring that guests needs were met. She stopped to talk with me, and when I shared my experience at dinner the night before in the hotel restaurant (the service had been somewhat rude and dismissive) she was immediately concerned. She tried to comp me breakfast, but I did not feel that was appropriate. Her demeanor indicated that the idiots who had been rude and dismissive the night before would experience consequences, and thus I was satisfied. Then the manager insisted on getting a bell hop to drive me to the station using the second van (the first was on another trip and I was waiting for it to return). This extra effort allowed me to catch an earlier train to New York’s Penn Station. I was pleased with her efforts.
The train arrived (a string of amfleet one cars) on time. I boarded and found a window seat on the left side. The train filled up quickly as it made all of the stops on the way to New York. I enjoyed my music. At one point as we accelerated to top speed, my MP3 player enhanced the moment as it randomly selected Rocket Ride by Kiss.
Arrived Penn station on time, and I wandered around investigating restaurant for lunch options. Eventually, I found a place that sold bagels with lox and cream cheese spread. I bought two to eat on the train later in the day. It was not about 10 a.m, and time to meet the Railfest crew under the departures board. I ambled on over, and like rail fans everywhere, they were on time. Kevin Korell, the organizer of several Railfest trips, was there with his son Michael. Alan Burden and a few others there too. When #284 was ready for boarding, we all situated ourselves in the same car. The plan was to ride to Syracuse, get off in Syracuse and ride the ONTRACK RDC commuter train to Syracuse University and back. And then continue on to Buffalo exchange street station on a later train.
Kevin and Alan have an encyclopedic knowledge of the extensive railroad operations around NYC. And they provided commentary as we proceeded up the Hudson River to Albany. Our plans began to look compromised as we experienced a series of slow orders and meets on the way into Albany. We discussed the possibility of remaining on the train and just continuing on to Buffalo.
Then we began to discuss how late 48 was. Harry Sutton would be taking that train into Buffalo the following day. So we called Julie, and she seemed to struggle with Kevin’s pronunciation of “48”, New York City, etc. So I stated, “Julie ALWAYS gives me MY train status”, and then my cell phone proceeded to lose its signal. Eventually we discovered that 48 was running around 4 hours late.
We arrived and departed Albany late. There was enough time to stand on the platform and admire the new station. As we departed, Kevin noticed that the turboliner train set was sitting in the yard rather than making its trip to and from New York City. He began to speculate that he would not be riding the turboliner from Albany to New York on the last leg of his trip even though he had arranged his itinerary to do so.
#284 stayed even, and possibly made up some time between Albany and Syracuse. At times, CSX had us on the “wrong main” to overtake freight trains. Our plans for Syracuse were looking better until a rainstorm arrived moments before we arrived in Syracuse. Earlier, we had received permission from the conductor to remain on boar to Buffalo if our plans in Syracuse fell through. With the downpour, we decided to stay on the train to Buffalo.
At Syracuse, the train had been close to on schedule. However, between Syracuse and Rochester, we were stuck behind a freight train, and rode along at about 40 mph for 30 minutes. Thus we were 20 to 30 minutes late into Rochester, and also into Buffalo Exchange Street.
With most of us staying at the Doubletree hotel near the medical center and one staying in the hostel, the light rail line was the best way to get to the evening’s lodgings. The light rail was 2 to 3 blocks away from the Amtrak station. The stop for our hotel was about 4 stops down the line, or 15 minutes away. A brisk 10 minute walk later, we were at the Double tree hotel. While a bit far from the Amtrak station, the hotel provided an excellent level of comfort, plus Amtrak reward points at a reasonable price. The pizza served in the hotel bar was a highlight. The hotel provided a business center free of use, so all of us checked Email and checked the status of Harry Sutton’s 48 out of Chicago. It left Chicago pretty close to on time.
