New England 1978

So! this past week was my last day trip of the season. That was somewhat dramatic. It may best be seen as the last of the regular day trips. The winter will be stunted by cold weather so the day trips will be thus oriented. In these pages I just might dig up past trips. Not all railfan chances oriented around just railfan trips. Remember Boston? It combined the usual tourist sites such as the USS Constitution with a bit of nostalgia of my life at Lynn, MA and a bit of shopping. Than there was what was expected railfanning along with many other chances missed.

This first combining of railfanning with other interest goes back to a vacation more than thirty years ago. I took a two week tour of New England. I began the trip with an excursion on the Chessie Steam Special, leaving Richmond and heading for Balcony Falls (Glasgow) and than return.



I went from there through DC and I 95 past NYC. My first stop in New England was Mystic to see the seaport. But I had to go by to see the station at Mystic and take a picture of at least one train, an Amtrak.



From Mystic I found my way into Providence, where my uncle and aunt lived. From there I took the train into NYC, to visit a sister. No trains except for the ride and one picture while on a boat Ride around the Island, showing some early Amtrak.

Onward to Plymouth, MA. One problem, I missed my exit and ended up in Boston. Later, I learned that I was at the backside of Boston's South Station. I got these pictures of Amtrak (in Delaware and Hudson Paint, common in early Amtrak) and Commuter Rail ready for their runs



Onward to Plymouth for the night an touring non railroad. I than across southern Mass. to Carver, the home of Edaville Scenic Railroad. (for more pictures of Edaville Scenic Railroad click here Edaville Scenic Railroad click here). Thirty years has seen great change but at the time it was a railroad and museum. It was fun to ride as see this two foot gauge line.

More scenic and historic touring including Sturbridge Village and Hancock Shaker Village. My sight turn for home via Strasburg PA.

Day 4, Train Watching from North Point Park

Amtrak Downeaster, front than back.

MBTA Work Train.

MBTA Commuter Rail, leaving or arriving North Station.

Day 4 continues, some time at the beach

A day at the beach might be nice. However, my reasons for going to Revere Beach were not to swim or sunbathe. First there was the T ride on the Blue Line. This was different. the Red and Orange are third rail electric while the Green is overhead electric. The Blue Line is a hybrid, third rail underground and overhead electric above. The line gets to Logan Airport and there the pantographs go up if going north and come down coming south.

Blue Line at Revere Beach heading north to Wonderland Station, current end of the line.

Blue Line Train at Revere Beach, coming into the station

Blue line is the current manifestation of an older railroad, somewhat realigned. The current Blue line continues on the Wonderland Station. There have been expansion plans in the past to extend The Blue Line all the way to Salem. Revere Beach is billed at the nations first Public Beach. Inside the the T station is the picture, when it was a popular public beach, people coming out of Boston, for the day.

Revere Beach in a different time. Pictures in the Revere Beach T Station

Revere Beach is still an active beach and now a suburb of Boston

The original bandstand and pavilions.

Day 4, Begins, North Station

I begin my last full day in Boston. I had done most of what was on the itinary of this day. I had been to Rowe's Wharf and Long's Wharf the evening before. I went to Ashmont the day before. And I only had one place to go that was on the itinary. I missed North Point Park to see trains coming out of North Station. So what better way to start the day but to take the Green Line to North Station, have breakfast there, and watch some trains.

A Commuter Rail coming into the station, with its control car in the lead.

There is only one Amtrak on schedule for coming in and out of Norht Station, the Downeaster. It is a push pull with powere on both ends.

Downeaster Ready to Depart North Bound. The F40 is on the south end,

There are, of course, numerous commuter rail, ready for service.

Day 3, Some Typical Tourist Traps

I original Itinerary included a long walk to the Boston Commons. I was to go via Copley Square but since I had done that the previous evening, changed the itinerary. This part of my visit was to do typical tourist things but without all the tourist baggage. I started at Boyston T station. I took the Green Line. I had been through this station many times and wanted to stop for pictures of some displays in the station.

Old work car for the subway. In Boyston Station

Old  car for the subway. In Boyston Station

Sign explaining the next picture. In Boyston Station

Old  car for the subway. In Boyston Station

OK! Not really typical tourist fare. As a train lover and loving all kinds of railed transport, this was fascinating.

Day 3 begins

Day three is a combined rail watching and other. First objective is to get better pictures of the Orange Line at Mass. Ave. At Mass. Ave. Station, the Commuter Rail parallels the Orange line. However, from all vantage points there is no good line of sight to the commuter rail for taking pictures. I did get some pictures of the Orange line.

Orange Line at Mass. Ave. Train Station

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.