Traveling on Amtrak to Maine-June 28-July 19, 2006

The train rolled into Poplar Bluff at 6:21 A.M., 6 hours and 10 minutes late with Gary Weatherly as the Conductor and Dan Kelly as the Assistant Conductor. I rode the Train #422 Section of it this trip. The train screeched to a halt and Dennis and Betty Glaze who were also riding the train boarded. Dennis and Betty were scheduled to leave tomorrow, but left today due to frequent Eagle Delays, good move!

We went in front of this UP Manifest off the Jefferson City Sub. at Tower Grove.

There's three units you'll probably never see coupled together again. Pure Amtrak.

That's pretty cool.

Nothing like an Old F40PH to power your Commutor Train.

I don't get to see these too often.

One of the Sightseer Lounges basks in the sunlight.

While waiting on the bus to go out to O' Hare to the Wyndham Hotel, we caught this shot of CUS before a thunderstorm.

Kevin and I were put up at the Wyndham Hotel at O'Hare Airport. This morning we saw a southbound Metra Train about a block from the hotel.

This train was sitting south of the crossing as the Metra Train passed. It was a real treat to see some IC on the CN's former WC line.

A BNSF Switcher was backing 6 Metra Bilevels back into the Metra Coach Yard as view from the Sears Tower Skydeck.

A Chicago CTA Elevated Train heads east over a bridge in Downtown Chicago over Amtrak's Tracks and Lake Street Tower.

Here is where Amtrak works on their Chicago Assigned Units and Passenger Cars.

As we left Chicago on the train we see #57 getting ready to go out on The Cardinal Train #50.

I guess if I had a favorite Amtrak Unit, it would be 157. I've crossed paths with it several times since 2003 in like 7 different states.

I think these are some of the best looking Dash-8's outside of ATSF's, CNW's, or SP's. That silver just looks good, and nothing like a Widecabbed 4 Axle Unit!

We saw this ex-SOU GP50 sitting in a yard at sunset.

Here we are, my first time in Pennsylvania at 6:44 A.M. looking at Train# 42 which will leave at 7:20 with our train at the right. AMTK 171 is one of the recent rebuilt units with no nose ldgo. We arrived here at 6:44, 2 hours and 44 minutes late of our 4:00 A.M. scheduled arrival.

Here's our power as viewed on a curve just north of Cumberland. We have been passing a CSXT Track Gang all day.

We saw these 4 engines parked in the yard.

On the left we seen an ex-CR SD40-2 and my first SD80MAC, an ex-CR which is the "Spirit of Bennington", the First CSX "Spirit" Locomotive I've ever seen.

Two more old units, an ex-WM and an ex-CR.

Another Older CSX unit sitting in the yard.

I always loved their paint scheme, this was my first look at it, very impressive. This was also the first time I'd seen a Seattle Sounder Car.

Or should I say...Union Station. What a cool place!

We arrived here into Boston at 7:50 A.M., this was taken at 7:59 A.M. We arrived on time. We were pulled up here by an AEM7. That was a fun ride, but I don't remember much of it, I was sleeping in my Amfleet Coach Seat.

This has to be one of the coolest trains I've ever been in the presence of! Wow, what a cool piece of equipment!

This has to be one of the most impressive machines I've ever been in the presence of. Wow, what a cool train! This is Trainset #9.

A Guilford Rail System MEC GP40 takes a rest at Rigby Yard as we breeze in. This was the first Guilford Rail System Unit I'd ever seen.

We arrived at 12:15 P.M. on time and we see the spare unit parked on the siding.

Here's the engine that will pull our train today, a 1918 Vulcan 0-4-4.

Their Only Diesel MNGRR 1 GE 23 Tonner is seen as we leave the Portland Station. They even have ditch lights, a bell, and a good sized horn on it.

Kevin and I decided to come ride the MNGRR today. We got a discount off the $10 Ticket. $2 off for a total of $8 a piece for me being an NRHS Member. You're welcome Kev. This is the train as we were waiting to run back into Downtown Portland.

At 3:41 P.M. Kevin and I decided to take the ferry and a cab over to the Portland Transportation Center to watch Amtrak leave. This turned out to be true Failfanning. The train backs up from here, which never crossed our minds as we got shots of the "back" of the train. Way to go us! The Backup Locomotive is to the right.

Smooth move, oh well, squint your eyes, it's pulling in, and while your squinting your eyes, look at us, we're not really stupid.

The train was sitting behind the Portland Transportation Center at 12:27 A.M. prior to its departure as Train #684.

At 12:56 P.M. the train departs the Portland Transportation Center right on time. Great to see an NPCU Former F40PH up front.

The Genesis unit pushing heads south.

At 2:37 P.M., the train came in 3 minutes late, not bad Amtrak.

The Rear Cabbage on the train heads into the station carrying the markers.

Our train has just arrived and we shot pictures of it at 11:29 A.M. We couldn't have asked for a better crew today. Seeing so many Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority trains really was a treat.

A couple more trains sit at the northbound platforms.

Peeeking in the cab of MBTA 1013.

We rode down to South Station on the T to see an Acela. We were in luck and got a couple photos. This is Trainset #5.

We walked down under the covering to shoot the other end. Kevin happened to recognize the Amtrak Engineer and he came out for a chat and ended up letting us into the cab. Notice he had the mirrors out to look for any Amtrak Officials. This is Trainset #5.

The engineer let us in the cab for a look around, very ergonomic setup, extraordinary seats. I mentioned it was a lot different from the freight units, he said, "Ya think?" Thanks so much for the cab tour!

The Acela waits at the platform for its departure.

An Inbound Commuter Train comes into the platforms.

Our train waits at the platform for its 6:15 P.M. departure surrounded by Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Passenger Trains.

Here are 3 trains parked at the platforms.