This ride aboard Amtrak train 164 along the electrified North East Corridor takes me to Boston, MA. The Northeast Regional travels the  453.3 mi (729.5 km) in roughly eight hours. Sure, the Acela Express would have been quicker but I wanted more time on a train for less. Also, I opted for the chance to ride 1980s Amfleet equipment. Unfortunately I came too late for seeing Amtrak’s AEM7s in operation, or maybe not…

The North East Corridor – NEC

The NEC is an (the only one) electrified high speed line on the East Coast of the United States connecting the highly populated metro areas of Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Jersey/Ner York and Boston with an alternative means of transportation. The NEC as we know it today came under control of Amtrak in the early 1970s. It has been established by the combined sections of track operated before by the Pennsylvania Railroad (Washington DC – New York) and the New Haven (New York – Boston). It has been built in parts by several railroads during the second half of the 1800s and early 1900s followed by electrification in the 1930s (up to New Haven, the wire to Boston got strung in 2000). The different heritage of the subsections is eminent for example by three different electrical systems (25 kV at 60 Hz, 12.5 kV at 60 Hz and 12 kV at 25 Hz. All in all this is a highly  interesting railway, mixing a more than a decade old infrastructure with modern high speed passenger operation.

All Aboard!

Riding long distance passenger trains in the US is little bit different than doing so in most parts of Europe. Boarding at the main stations is kind of similar to getting on a plane. There are gates where all passengers of a particular train gather. As common in the US, people form a line and the ones that got a seat in the waiting area join the line last. There are pre-boarders as well and the ticket is checked at the gate. An attendant announces the train and then the travelers, business class first, proceed towards the coaches. And yes, there is a last call! On the train, all seats face forward. Conductors greet you when boarding and, if necessary, assist with lifting luggage up into the car. This is a Sunday but for the relatively early morning there are quite some patrons looking for a place. Following old habits I headed for the first car right behind the locomotive (a Siemens built ACS-64). The general ticket for about $107.- provided no reserved seat but I got a good spot at a window. En route the conductors check the ticket and place some mystic snippets atop the seat which identify that the passenger on a particular seat has been checked for tickets as well as the destination. I have seen this on previous trips and it seems to me that every conductor develops a slightly different system. Crews change in New York City and it is a good idea to keep the ticket till reaching ones final destination.

Enjoying the ride!

Exactly on time the trains started to pull out of Washington Union Station. accompanied by a subway line, the downtown area is left behind and soon the set of cars is moving at a steady pace through forests interrupted by residential neighborhoods and industrial areas as well as the occasional train stop. Baltimore is the next big city. Along the way we meet several commuter trains and one MARC set features a pushing AEM7 942 -still in Amtrak colors ! AEM7s, a Swedish design, are a distant relative to the Austrian class 1043.  I am surprised how quickly we approach Philadelphia. All the landmarks known to rail fans are here and I enjoy seeing 30th Street Station, Zoo interlocking as well as the bridge over Schuylkill River. From here we glide through Metropolis. New Jersey Transit trains come in sight more frequently and soon we dive into the Hudson river tunnels to approach NYC – Penn Station. Still on time, the trip contionus and after another 5 minutes in the darkness of the East River tubes Sunny Side Yard with the vast collection of passenger equipment greets us on the left hand side. On we go and climb up to Hellgate Bridge. The poles of the catenary system changed as we transferred from former PRR property onto ex. NH land.

A still working AEM7! Those “toasters” make me happy!

Onward toward New Haven the line leaves the outskirts of New York City and hugs the Long Island Sound. Little harbor towns filled with fisher boats and yachts of all sizes dominate the scene as the trains hops on numerous bridges, some of airy steel truss design, across inlays, bays and rivers. Once entering the state of Rhode Island the track turns inland and straightens out. Modern style overhead wire replaced the classic NH design and enables the train to stretch its legs with some high speed running. From Providence it is just a short leap and several stops till we finally pull into Boston, South Station- right on schedule. The Conductor says good bye and wishes me a Happy 4th of July. “Likewise and thanks for the ride!” – “No Problem, you’re welcome!”

This is Boston- train terminates!

Once in Boston I first enjoyed busy South Station before taking the subway to the Hotel. I had a plan but no idea that the Metro system in this town is kind of British style (pretty tiny, hot and passages built like a foxhole. Not that I do not like that-  but paired with Sunday baseball game crowds and quite some luggage it took a while for me to get around. No big deal, I am not in a hurry. So lets take it easy and enjoy vintage MBTA underground equipment!

Alright, I made it to Boston! What else there is to see in this city will be topic of another story….