A View From Above...

Last week, I took the day off from work to travel into Boston for the day with my Dad.  While driving is an option, we are fortunate to have Amtrak's Downeaster service close by.  Starting at the end of August and through much of the month of September, Amtrak added its Ocean View Dome Lounge car to one of the consists.  The dome is one of the former Great Northern dome cars that were purchased in the 1950s for service on the Empire Builder.  A chance to ride in the dome was well worth taking an earlier train into the city.



 During the week, the early run for the dome was on Train 682.  On this day P42DC #109 powered the consist, seen here arriving to pick us up for the trip south.

Passing through the yard at Dover, we met BODO.  BODO and its counterpart DOBO haul sand from the New Hampshire Northcoast to Boston Sand and Gravel, just outside the city.  Here, the train is waiting for the Northcoast crew to board to take the train north to the quarry at Ossipee.

After meeting train 681 at Stateline, we crossed back to the #2 Main at CPF-HA.  From here west the #1 Main is currently out of service to allow repairs on the bridge over the Merrimack River.

Passing through the yard at Lawrence we found crew LA-1 with one of Pan Am's new B40-8s working the yard. 

We were followed into North Station in Boston by a commuter train off the Fitchburg Line.  On the left is Amtrak 406, one of the remaining F40s used as Control Cars.  On the right is one of the MBTA's new HSP46 locomotives.

 Amtrak's Dome Lounge Ocean View, our ride into the city.

Across the platform we found one of the two MP36PHs operated by the MBTA.  A rare find. 

 We spent the afternoon at the USS Constitution museum.  History, in particularly maritime history is a significant interest for both my Dad and I.  This was the first chance we've had to visit the ship, in past trips we'd found the ship was closed.

Looking down the gun deck, with a line of 32 pound cannons at the rail. 

Finally, we took in a game between my beloved Red Wings and my Dad's favorite Bruins.  The result was not favorable in my eyes, but fortunately it was just a preseason game.