BOSTON REVISITED
An Official Trip Report
©2021—Walter E. Zullig Jr.
Because of the COVID virus it has been 18 months since my last visit to Beantown. Now that most people were vaccinated, it was time for a return visit. Most of my past trips had been by taking an Amtrak Acela Express train from Stamford shortly after 7AM that reached South Station about 10:10. Due to service reductions that train no longer runs so I used NE Regional #190 that departed Stamford at 7:55am (7:53) and reached South Station at 11:08 (11:10). After breakfast in the café car of an AmMcMuffin and coffee I returned to my seat to enjoy the scenic ride along the Shoreline of the former New Haven Railroad. The previous evening Amtrak’s website showed the train as at 60% of capacity. Because of the early 6:55 am departure from New York City the train was at about 25% when I boarded. However more riders joined us at each station and after Providence it was at 60% or more.
Tony Fitzherbert had come down from northern New Hampshire and was at South Station when the train pulled in. After adding some dollar value to my senior CharlieCard (or is it ChalieCahd?) we entered the Red Line subway and rode to the JFK/UMass station. There we went outside to a bridge over both Red Line branches and the commuter rail line to Greenbush, Plymouth and other southeast MA destinations.
After photographing four commuter rail trains and a number of Red Line trains with various equipment types, we reentered the station and rode the Red Line to Ashmont, thence an MBTA bus to the Morton St. Station on what now is called the Fairmont Line. This is an alternate route between South Station and Readville; years ago it was a single track freight route but was rebuilt for Amtrak use during the years the former NHRR line was closed for reconstruction, electrification and incorporation of the MBTA Orange Line. Once Amtrak moved back to its now-electrified route via Back Bay, the MBTA began commuter service with a few on line stops, now expanded to 8 including the terminal station of Readville. After photographing a 6 car outbound train we rode to South Station on an inbound train comprised of the same equipment. All the passengers were in one car. Although some tickets had been collected, there was no revenue collection from us or anyone else boarding at Morton St. or the subsequent stops. There were “on’s” and “offs” at each station, thereby indicating that this service is used for local travel within the area and not only to downtown.
After looking around South Station we entered the Red Line subway, riding it to Park St. where we went upstairs to the Green Line. A C-Cleveland Circle train was ready to leave so we jumped on board. The ride to the end at CLE Cir was pleasant but uneventful. Originally we had contemplated riding the Highland Branch from CLE Cir to Riverside but it was closed for construction between Beaconsfield and Riverside so after photographing “C Line” cars we walked up Chestnut Hill Ave. to Commonwealth Ave. After a little photography there we boarded an inbound “B” train for the ride back to town. En route we passed the two new stations nearing completion at Boston University. The 2 new facilities will replace 4 existing stops.
Back at Park St. we went downstairs to the Red Line for a few photos and a ride out to Wollaston station which is a good afternoon photo location. Once finished there we rejoined the Red Line for the trip back to South Station. Since this was a short one day trip there was no time to ride the Orange or Blue lines or to do any riding on the former Boston & Maine RR.
Tony had a 5:30 bus back to Concord, NH, and my NE Regional Train #177 was scheduled for a 5:35 departure. The equipment for my 8 car Amfleet train backed in at 5:15 and boarding began about 5:25. I had ridden this train in the past and found that although good seats were available at South Station, about 200+ boarded at Back Bay to fill the train. Thus I visited the café car only to learn that, unlike on past trips, it would not open until departure. When the time came I purchased a cheeseburger and a beer, returning to my seat just as we reached Back Bay. A large crowd did board there and a man heading to Providence took the aisle seat next to mine. The previous evening the train was shown as at 90% of capacity but I’d say it turned out to be about 98%. The conductor made the normal admonishments to “remove all items from the seats as this is a sold out train.” This may have been the first time he’s had to do that for quite some time. The majority of the passengers seated near me were heading to NY City and perhaps 75% of them were under the age of 30. It’s good to see people traveling again and especially young people. Years ago some anti-rail passenger people would say that only old people ride trains and when they’re gone the trains can come off.
Departure had been on time at 5:35 and we had been on time or a minute or two late at each station. After Providence the train stopped at Kingston, RI, Westerly, Mystic, New London, Old Saybrook, New Haven, Bridgeport and Stamford, arriving there at 9:19 pm (9:13). From there it would continue to New Rochelle and NY Penn, its destination. The empty seat next to me was occupied after New London by a gentleman heading to NY City. All the passengers and crew I saw on this train as well as all but one on the Boston subways were wearing masks.
My auto was in the adjacent garage and the drive home from Stamford took only 35 minutes due to very little traffic. It had been a good trip but now I needed to head for home and some much needed sleep.
WEZ
06/29/2021.
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