Day 4, Train Watching from North Point Park

Amtrak Downeaster, front than back.

MBTA Work Train.

MBTA Commuter Rail, leaving or arriving North Station.

Boston, Day 3 (Wed.) part 2

From Mass. Ave. subway station, I boarded the Orange Line outbound to the next station, Ruggles Station. The nice thing about Ruggles is that it is both a Subway and Commuter Rail Station. Still, no direct live of view from one platform to the other. My complete interest here was the commuter rail, south of Boston and on the road Amtrak, including Acela Service, on the road.

I have been taking pictures for many years. Since the advent of the Internet that term has expanded to collecting pictures of others, from the Internet. I had been taking some pictures of MBTA stuff, from the internet. Now, I would take them in person. My intention was. if I see it, I would delete the internet ones from my collection. Antother point is how long to take pictures. For me, schedule makes a difference. Two hours is about the limit of my energy. However, there is also a limit to the number of trains, or rather, the frequency of trains. This means in a light train session with, let's say, one train per hour or less, I might stay for two trains, or about an hour. Waithing tires me out more than frequent activity. If the number is largge, let;s day one ever 10 to 15 minutes apart, I might keep saying, just one more and stay much longer. Than again, unless there is variety, it might be 3 to 4 trains and I out of here.

At Ruggles, I knew that there was a certain frequency of trains that was favorable. However, the vareiety of equiptment was the question. Two or three commuter rail, one regional service Amtrak, and at least one Acela service Amtrak, might me my limit. So, How did I fare? Let's see! I had noted the times of trains on my itinerary and remember, it is as follows: 9:14iP, 9:20oAa, 9:40oAr, 9:41iP, 9:54iAa, 9:59iF, 10:46iP, 11:00iAr, 11:10oAr, 11:12iP. Capitol letter indicated line P=Providence, F=Framingham, A=Amtrak (small a=Acela, and small r=regional). in two hours I saw one Amtrak regional, two Acela service, and four Commuter Rail.

Amtrak Regional Service

Amtral Acela Service South from Boston (on my notes listed as outbound)

Amtral Acela Service North to Boston (on my notes listed as inbound)

Commuter Rail South from Boston (on my notes listed as outbound)

Commuter Rail South from Boston (on my notes listed as outbound)

Commuter Rail South from Boston (on my notes listed as outbound)

Commuter Rail South from Boston (on my notes listed as outbound)

Tuesday Evening, Copley Square

The mention of North Point Park in the last post, opened me to a discussion to cameras and other toys we take on vacation. I have three cameras. The first is a DSLR and used for all my real photography. This is taken always. The second is my camcorder. I have a mini DVD recorder to replace my older 8ml. The third is simply my cell phone camera. I decided at the last minute not to take the camcorder. For static, they are not a good recorder of vacations. They are better for moving objects. As railfan, I am using them for passing trains. However, I have taken still photographs of trains longer and still do.

With a camcorder, it is best to set it on a tripod so as not getting camera shake. If you are good, and you edit right, you can do it without a tripod. However, I like to take still picture of trains as the camcorder takes motion. The tripod become better. However, I did not want to carry the tripod for the few times I wanted to use it. North Point Park would have been good for the camcorder and having the car made it easy to have. Other that that, the points where I would watch trains and the amount carrying, was more than I wanted. Leaving out the tripod was a good idea. But leaving the camcorder behind would limit what I took with me.

Tuesday evening (the second day), change again, the itinerary. I walk around the area near the hotel. I made it done to Copley Square and got picture of the church and the library. Strick that from the list of things to do on the third day. My first leg, instead of hoofing it, would be by subway, to Arlington. I walk past the Copley Hotel. Years ago, before I moved to Boston, I attended a seminar and stayed at the Copley. Even then, it was majestic.

The Copley Square Hotel

The seminar was in the Library, which has been enlarged since then

Facade of the Public Library, a I first saw it.

I love that old church on Copley Square.

Facade of the Public Library, a I first saw it.

Trinity Church on Copley Square

At this point, a reflection of what seen to this point. The Harbor was beautiful and worth the effort to photograph in day one and 2 even more reflection will come, of course.

Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf

If going back would I try to picture it again. Probably not. What about my visit to South Station?

South Station

I am a railfan. I will visit and picture trains in and out of the station. This would be especially true if new equiptment is brought in. What about the North Shore trip? Here I would try something new such as Saugus Iron Works, Lynn Reservation, or Salem. There are more train watching activity on the North side of Boston.

Day 2 Continued

Swanscott Train Station

As I planned my visits, I did find a beautiful picture of the Swanscott Train Station. It is still used a the stop for the MBTA.  After my coast drive I drove to the station. As After I took some pictures, I saw the MBTA Work train.

MBTA work ttrain. I have never seen any MOW in such good looking shape.

MBTA work ttrain. I have never seen any MOW in such good looking shape.

And as would be my luck, I spotted the northbound commuter rail from Boston.

MBTA northbound at Swanscott

This was good fortune, but not the end of pictures of MBTA north of Boston. Nor, is it end of the day. To be continued.

Schedule

I first created a schedule. This was more a shedule to see if my trip would work. Here is my last draft before leaving:


Day 1, Monday


(7:00 from Richmond, US Airways 3742) to Logan Airport Boston
(Silver Line, 19 min.) to South Station (20 min.) 
Round Trip A. South Station to South Station Walk, View Larger Map      
                    B. (4 min.) to Independence Wharf Observation Deck (1 hr.) 
                    C. (9 min.) to Courthouse (30 min.) 
                    D. (15 min.) to South Station (30 min.)(1 hr lunch) 
(Red Line to Potter Square, walk, 26 min.) to Fairfield Ave. Apartment, (10 min.), see area map      
(walking, Bus 77, 4 min.) to Porter Square (10 min.) 
(Red Line, 3 min.) to Harvard Square (1hr.), see area map      
(Red Line, 14 min.) to South Station (20 min.)
(Red Line to Park Street, Heath Street (E) Green Line, 22 min.) to hotel
(10 min) to Prudential Skywalk (1 hr.) 

Day 2, Tuesday 
(9:00 from hotel, 11 min.) to Car Rental
Driving Tour A. Car Rental, View entire route map
                      B. (27 min.) to Nahant Rd. (10 min.) View of Lynn Shore and Boston skyline    
                      C. (4. min.) to Lynn Shore Dr. park (10 min.)
                      D. (2 min.) to Swampscott Beach (10 min.)
                      E. (3 min.) to Swampscott Train Station (10 min.)
                      F. (4 min.) to Estes Street, Ritz Carlton Apartment (10 min.)
                      G. (1 min.) to Goldfish Pond (20 min,)
                      H. (1 min.) to Christ Church (10 min.)
                      I. (3 min.) to High Rock (20 min,) 
                      J. (5 min) to Capitol Diner (1 hr. lunch)
                      K. (5 min.) to Lynn Common (10 min.)
                      L. (22 min.) to just across water on Summer Street, in Fed Express center parking, if there are cruise ships at Black Falcon Terminal (10 min.) 
                      M. (4 min.) to opposite Pleasure Bay from Fort Independence. (10 min.)
                      N. (2 min.) to Fort Independence (1 hr.) 
                      O. (14 min.) to Old Ironsides (1 hr.). While on Atlantic, see if it would be worth it to extend walking trip from Christopher Columbus Park to Battery Wharf, walking or busing or other.
                      P. (6 min.) to North Point Park, watch trains 4:10o, 4:20o, 4:25o, 4:30o, 4:33i, 4:40o, 4:40o, 4:45o, 4:49o, 4:50o, 4:52i, 4:58i, 4:59i, 5:00oA, 5:00o, 5:10i, 5:10i, 5:10o, 5:10o
                      Q. (10 min.) to Car Rental
       (11 min.) To Hotel

Day 3, Wednesday
(from hotel, 8:55, 3 min.) to Massachusetts Ave. T station to watch: 9:14iP, 9:20oAa, 9:40oAr, 9:41iP, 9:54iAa, 9:59iF, 10:46iP, 11:00iAr, 11:10oAr, 11:12iP). see area map   
Walking tour to Park Street A. Massachusetts Ave. T station    View route map
              B.  (4 min.) to Hotel (10 min) to drop off tripod
              C. (12 min) to Boston Public Library (20 min.)
              D. (16 min.) to Esplanade (Hatch Shell) (20 min.)(1hr. lunch)
              E. (12 min., 10 min. to Cheers) to Swan Boats (20 min.)
              F. (15 min.) to State House (10 min.)
              G.  (2 min.) to Park Street Church (10 min.)
              H.(4 min.) to Park Street Station/Downtown Crossing(1 hr.) 
              (Orange Line, 10 min.) to Hotel
Add more, pictures around the Hotel, i.e. Symphony Hall, Christian Science Park, Harcourt, Copley, etc., see area map       
(Green Line, Blue Line at Government Center, 20 min.) to Sunset Cruise: Schedule. Departs from Long Wharf, Daily, 7:00 PM
(Heath Street (E) Green Line, Blue Line at Government Center, 21 min.)

Day 4, Thursday
(9:00 from hotel, Heath Street (E) Green Line, to Park Street, Red Line, 22 min. Red Line) to South Station (30 min.) 
 walking Tour Downtown A. South Station, View route map
              B. (11 min.) to Rowes Wharf (20 min.)
              C. (8 min.) to Long Wharf (10 min.)
              D. (8 min.) Christopher Columbus Park, (20 min.)
              E. (7 min.) to Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market (1 hr.), (1 hr. lunch)
              F. (4 min.) to Old State House and State Street Station (10 min.)
(Red Line to Ashmount, Mattapan-High Speed Line, 34 min,) to Cedar Grove (1 hr) 
(Mattapan-High Speed Line to Ashmount, Red Line to Park Street, Green Line, 48 min, Orange Line) to Lechmere (45 min.) 
(Heath Street (E) Green Line, 21 min.) to Hotel

Day 5
(9:00 from hotel, Green Line to Government Center, Blue Line to Airport, Shuttle, 38 min.)  to Terminal B (20 min.)  
(Shuttle to Airport, Blue Line, 23 min.) to Revere (45 min.)
(Blue Line to Airport, Shuttle, 24 min) to  Terminal B Airport    
(US Airways 4041) to Richmond (US Airways)                  

I am needing a vacation. For some reason, I started to think about a trip to Boston. To make it more, to my liking, it would be a train trip to Boston. As a railfan, you can see how this might work out and how it would be exciting. How would a train trip to Boston work and why Boston. First the why. Twenty-five years ago, I moved to Boston from Virginia. I was already a railfan and had taken train specific trips before. However, as a railfan, there is a different way of thinking, when taking a out of town watching trip and watching trains at home. Traveling out of town to watch trains, the goal is to watch trains in specific locations at specific times. Around home, "some day" becomes the mantra on watching. As is often happens, some day never comes and you move without taking those pictures. This is both true for train watching and local landmarks. Interesting, I took commuter rail to work every morning and transferred to the subway. I would go into town and take the various lines of the subway to get around. I took very few train watching trips in and around the area. Even local attractions were overlooked as far as photography were concerned.


I lived on the North Shore in the city of Lynn, MA. I lived several blocks from the commuter rail station. I did a lot of touring in Boston and Lynn. I particularly liked to walk down to the Bay and just reflect. Yes! I have no pictures of Lynn Shore. I did go inland and north and again, no pictures. The only pictures of the North Shore and Boston was a little park called the Goldfish Pond. My memory was scant on the details of when and where. I remember that at this time, the abutments for the bridge, bringing the commuter rail into North Station, caught fire. Trains coming into Boston from the north stopped at a temporary station in Charleston where commuters would transfer to the Orange line. This was at or near the Charleston T station.

MBTA pictures taken in 1984	Goldfish Pond, Lynn, MA 1984