Final Notes On This Excursion

The train loaded in Boston and home I go. I actually got some sleep, on the train. 10:30 the next morning I arrive in Richmond, Main Street. So as the train departs, . . .

I reflect on how it could be better while omitting the shortfalls and I begin looking at future trips.

One thing that I do not always have control is the nature of platforms. At 128, there were two platforms, one northbound and the other southbound. They were high platform. When I take and look at pictures and video I want to see the full train, top to bottom. A high platform will hide the wheels sets/ This arrangement can overlook this problem with videoing accross the track. It means being at the end of the platform on the side where the train will load. You video that train before it get to the platform while the other direction is not obscured by the platform. When I looked Anderson, It had the disadvantage of having high platforms, central of the two lines. I do not like to use these as watch sites. It seemed from the research that the parking lot was an alternative, however my research was wrong. Another drawback at Anderson was that I could not go all the way to the end of the platform, in one of the directions. I had done some research on Winchester and it would have been better, if my research was correct. I prefer low platforms.

One note at this point, this was mostly a train watching trip. As I look at other trips have varying degrees of train and sight watching. As I plan ahead, there are things that I like and things that I don't. I am not into amusement parks. I love the high view as in cityscapes and landscapes. I do love architecture, but I do not duplicate my pics, of styles, too often.

As I planned this excursion, I wanted on south side watching location. Amtrak stops at 128, so this station had a good advantage. The alternatives were to go into South Station or Back Bay and took a local commuter to another station. The arrangement of platforms overcame (if set up was right) the high platform problem. I wanted a northside watching location, as well. I chose the Lowell Line because it had the Downeaster. I did look at other sites on the line. However, I change lines when I thoughts the trains on that line were not running. I had looked at Lynn, MA. It was a place I lived, way back then. It was high and central platform. Only one other stop, outbound and before the lines split. It had a low platform. The schedule was not ideal, but I could make it work. But I chose the alternative. Maybe next time, I will use better.