More Tourist Stuff

Route around the Charles River, Public Gardens, and the Commons.

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My route skirted the Commons, coming past the bandstand and out again to the Public Gardens.

I walked through the Gardens, past the Swan Boats.

I did take a picture of one of the performers. Of course I paid him for his services. I feel bad for them. They have such a hard job in such heat.

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.

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)

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

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, part 4

Day 2 went as expected, until lunch. There were only a few surprises. One was that I could see High Rock from the train platform. What was surprising was that in a year of commuting by train, I never saw that. The only thing left in Lynn, was a drive though Lynn, Commons and south back to Boston. The afternoon potential was to go to Pleasure Bay and Fort Independence in South Boston, than around to the Constitution. From there across the interstate to a place called North Point Park, to watch trains. One problem at North Point Park, no parking.


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Google map indicatied there was parking, however there were no available spaces. I did drive to the nearest MBTA parking lot, too far to walk. I did make it to Lechmere Station on the Green line. I took pictures of Green Line cars coming out of the station.

Older Green Line LRVs. I rode these when I lived in Boston.

Old and new LRVs coupled together.

Two genereations LRVs couple together.

I will return to Lechmere to take more pictures. The green line was ridden more than any other. This was the line that went closest to the Hotel, between the Prudential Center and Symphony Hall. North

day 2, part 3

My drive from Swamscott train station, took be by the apartment building that I lived in 25 years ago. My route took me by a park and church which is withing my personal history. One thing I seem to have missed during my time in Lynn was High Rock Tower. I don't know how I missed it. I went by and from that high place I tood another picture of the Boston Skyline.

Boston Skyline from High Rock Tower

High Rock Tower from Central Square Train Station, Lynn, MA

Downtown Lynn need not be dwelled upon. I ended up at the train station in Lynn. It has moved a block South. the old train station is, in part, still there.

Central Square old staion, where I got my first taste of Lynn, MA. The arch to the extreem left had the station, 25 years ago, if memory serves.

The last duty of the morning was to find the Capitol Diner. It was as pictures had shown. I never did see the place when I lived in Lynn.

Capitol Diner. Timing was bad as the diner had been repainted but the letter not returned to the front.