2/28/13

Between 2/28/13 and 3/8/13, I decided to take a "short" train ride. The origination station was KIN and the destination station was KIN. Except for the required connections, there were no stoppers! Most of this trip was completed using AGR points.

I departed from KIN on #190 headed to BOS. #190 was on time, and since I had no bags to check, I rode to BOS (South Station) instead of the suggested BBY (Back Bay).

#190 arrived into BOS early. I secured a Red Cap to hold my bags while I was at the station, and to allow for "pre-boarding". This was done using the Red Cap at 11:25 am, or about 30 minutes prior to departure.

Since I was riding on #449 to ALB (where I would "change" to #49), I rode coach BOS-ALB. It turned out this particular car was an Amfleet I. It didn't bother me since I was riding in this car "a short distance". But if I had to ride in this coach all the way to CHI, I would be mad! The other coach out of BOS was an Amfleet II.

For those who are not aware, an Amfleet I has a seat pitch much like on a domestic coach airline flight. By contrast, the seat pitch of an Amfleet II is comparable to International Business Class seats on a plane. In other words, night and day!

CSX was up to their "bad old self" within 90 minutes of departing BOS. Including slow orders to the end of the siding, #449 was in the hole for over 30 minutes waiting for an eastbound CSX freight!

Many passengers boarded #449 in SPG, with many seated in my coach. (Remember that it was an Amfleet I.) Many had destinations according to their seat checks to places like ERI, CLE, TOL and CHI. These are all overnight destinations!

#449 arrived in ALB around 5:30 pm, but would not be combined with #49 (arriving from NYP) and depart until after 7 pm. So I went into the station.

I had grown up in this vicinity, and had used ALB for years. Thus I know that this is the 3rd Amtrak station to serve ALB. This one is by a long margin the best of those 3 stations!

Another AU bum (er - I meant member) Jim Hudson, was going to meet me in SDY, but the conductor on his train (#64) informed him that due to possible freight interference, he should disembark #64 in UCA and wait for #49 there.

As it turns out, there was no freight interference. As #49 pulled away from the platform at ALB, we had to hold for another train to arrive. (This was due to a single track between ALB and SDY. 20 years ago, this was double tracked, but one was removed. Now NYS is paying $$$ to replace the 2nd track!)

The train that came in was ...... #64! Jim could have easily made it to SDY to join #49.

I kept our SCA (Sharon) apprised of Jim's situation. She informed me that she would meet him at the car door in UCA. She also asked me if I wanted to wait for him to have dinner. I said I'd wait.

Due to #49 running late, and worried the Dining Car may close, I went to dinner before UCA. Jim boarded and they were still serving, so he also joined me in the Dining Car.

After a good dinner, we retired to our room and had a good nights sleep.