On the way from Toronto to New York City, Amtrak train #64 – “The Maple Leaf” gets its single locomotive (right) exchanged for a pair of P42s (lead engine far left). The action takes place in Albany, NY and I do not know if this is a common procedure- as the crew changes as well- or if the smoky exhaust on the engine that pulled the train out of Toronto was a sign for an overdue stop at the shops. Anyway, the short brake gives passengers a chance having a cigarette, stretching the legs on the platform or, in my case, take some pictures.

The 544-mile (875 km) long route from Lake Ontario to the Atlantic has some kind of waterways paralleling the track most of the time. As we head deeper into Upstate New York, the green rolling hills framed by magnificent clouds give notice that I come close to the beginning of my trip.