RIDING AMTRAK’S DOWNEASTER – 22 JUNE 2024

Does Ray like trains? Yes. I need to get back on long-hauls with sleeping compartments, but also need to travel on Amtrak’s “named trains.” The DOWNEASTER, running from Boston to Brunswick, Maine, is an ideal, close-by, day’s outing. Gary and I picked a date, David joined in, and tickets purchased for 22 June, but made most sense to depart Woburn, Massachusetts, at the station close to Gary’s home as well as David’s. At least I have ridden on the T from Winchester to Boston – same tracks, so I only lack the few miles from Winchester to Woburn to have been on all 146 miles.

Sharing the older schedule to the right so you get a feel for the train. Catching the 9:08 out of Woburn for a “full day on the rails,” I had to be in position at Gary’s Friday night. But had fun heading out on Friday.

I headed out on Route 2, but decided to drive through Concord and down the Battle Road Trail since it had been awhile. As time approached, in conversations with Gary and Ilana, I would be in the right place to pick Ilana up at the Waltham Hospital after a procedure. I would be about ten minutes away from there stopping at Paul Revere’s capture location along the Battle Road. I parked and walked down to the site.

Paul Revere may get the credit for sounding the alarm, but he never made it to Concord being captured here. This plaque tells the story. The proverbial “bottom line” – “Samuel Prescott, not Paul Revere, carried the Alarm to Concord and beyond.”

You should know me and timing. While reading this plaque my phone rings, “Is this Ray? You may pick up Ilana now.” And off I went south on I-95 looking at a parking lot on the northbound side following the Celtics victory parade downtown.

As a result, Ilana routed me on some amazing back roads home up through Belmont (some amazing estates) towards Arlington. Much green space just so close to the city (Boston) and miles of bike trails for her. Then off to Gary’s – and the adventure continues. Gary and I visit on Zoom each week sharing things we have learned and intrigue us, and the “rabbit holes” of research we stumble into. I am currently preparing a talk on printing in Walpole. Colonial printer, Isaiah Thomas, had a satellite in Walpole, and a snippet I read (just two sentences in all the history books) tell of his wife running off with Benjamin Thompson. Benjamin Thompson, was born not far from Gary. Getting even more fascinating, he later married a Concord woman from the founding family of Concord. Concord was originally called Rumford, and it is another story how the name was changed. Still extant, the oldest house in Concord, was his wife’s family home, and I have visited the home, now owned by friend Lucy. A British sympathizer and spy he later left the Colonies for Europe gaining fame for his work with heat and he invented the modern fireplace and chimney, the double boiler, a portable stove, and the drip coffee- pot. I could go on and on about him – fascinating life – culminating with his naming himself Count Rumford – after Concord, NH, of course. I cannot wait to see the museum at his birthplace.

It gets even more interesting. Walking to school, Benjamin met the older Loammi Baldwin who soon became a mentor to the young brilliant mind. Baldwin is known as the Father of American Civil Engineering, and his home too still stands, although offices and several restaurants. Here a not so good view from Gary’s car window.

Another noted personage from Woburn is Charles Goodyear who developed vulcanized rubber, used for our automobile tires. Gary has some competition for fame, but not having been born in Woburn does not have to compete for a Wikipedia listing here.

We later met David (on his way back from a mountain adventure) at TULIP Lounge Hibachi Asian Cuisine in Stoneham. Amazing food – but much fun watching the ROBOT bring take out orders from the kitchen past us to the front.

Saturday could not come sooner. Mari brought David to Gary’s and we arrived with time at the Anderson/Woburn Transportation Center serving Amtrak, the T, and buses to Logan.

an excited trio – only two generations, younger “third generation” claimed, “that’s a grandpa thing.” Boy did he miss out – just wait.

and then, join in clicking on this video —-

and, off we went at 9:08 to arrive in Brunswick at 12:10 – three hours later for a five and a half hour vacation in Brunswick, Maine. Below our coach view — the conductors are wonderful with loading (and information) and we were seated in facing seats for four.

The coffee shop at the station in Woburn was closed (guessing only open for commuters on the T) so we headed to the cafe car for Gary’s “fix.” Amtrak cafe cars have the serving area, tables, and half the car is Business Class.

and, coffee time for the “young man”

Remember I visited the Wells, Maine, transportation center in April? You can visit that post for that great trip – below is Wells from the rails; The Chamber of Commerce had welcoming folks on the platform to help visitors.

I enjoyed many conversations with several conductors. I “know enough to be dangerous” and also to phrase hopefully good questions. I learned there are three train sets daily making the five round trips from Boston to Brunswick. Except for a very few sidings (such as at the Portland station) it is a single track for the entire distance. Those bypass sidings make it all work. Thus any hiccup disruption will have cascading implications and possible delays. Setting the stage for the rest of the day, David captured this schedule update on the Amtrak APP.

Take a look at Old Orchard Beach. Do you see the disconnect? Instead of a few moments at the Old Orchard station the train rested there for over 2 1/2 hours. Why you ask? Seems as though a freight train with over 170 cars ahead of us lost its air-brakes, and had to be moved out of the way. “It could be a few moments,” we were told, “or longer.”

Stopped there we were told we could go out on the platform and I did. Here is the train looking in each direction.

at the same time Gary looking at me from our coach seats.

coming back inside I found David deep in research. He proposed we get off here in Old Orchard Beach – it was lunch time. The next northbound train would be three hours after our original arrival time – so when would it come? I checked and the conductor said we could travel south with our tickets from here on the same – eventual – train, or get off, but get back on if our northbound was still there. David bought three tickets for the next train to Brunswick, and we headed off to the Pier and amusement area, looking back at our delayed train.

Four block walk to the “in area” and main corner at Old Orchard Beach.

and up to the pier

a model of the pier which was originally built in 1898

and looking back to the beach on this overcast and potentially stormy Saturday (we never did experience the expected rain)

we had lunch at the end of the pier

we started a leisurely walk back, not knowing if our train had left or not. We did not really feel like looking at all the games and amusements, so David ran down to see if the train was still there. Reporting back he said it was. We rushed back.

and boarded — remember my knack of timing, and “timing is everything” – the conductor called “all aboard” as I turned around. David got on the Amtrak APP, cancelled our reservations on the next train and got his money refunded. Can you believe? An extra, unplanned experience with no consequences or cost.

one of the few sidings for passing is at the Portland transportation center. We pulled into that siding as the southbound (also delayed) train approached and traveled through.

and finally we arrived in Brunswick, a tad over three hours late – on a three hour trip.

as we were a few paces from the station we looked back, and our train was already heading southbound.

Often there are engines at each end, but I learned (yes I asked) on this consist (that is train talk) you see the engine above, and at the other end is a “control car” where the engineer will go for the opposite direction, but control the engine from there.

We walked to Main Street. Bowdoin to our right and “downtown” to the left. At the end of Main Street, on the Androscoggin River is this old mill – now antique shops – return trip?