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BTP Fest live reports


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#1 KevinKorell

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Posted 06 November 2008 - 07:58 PM

Day 0: Thursday, 11/6/08

It's Thursday, and many of the participants for Friday are now either in Boston or are on their way.

We had a decent trip up on Acela 2160, albeit 1/2 hour late mostly due to a bridge opening in Milford, CT. Before that, Michael and I got to experience the NJT Atlantic City Line Cherry Hill to Philly, and Amtrak Keystone 644 before boarding Acela in New York. We rode our fourth conveyance, and second commuter train of the day, as we took an MBTA Old Colony train from South Station to JFK/U-Mass and our hotel.

The purchase of a 7-day Link Pass is simple from any ticket machine. Even I could figure it out quickly, and that's saying a lot. Being in the downtown 1A Zone our Link Passes were accepted on the short commuter train ride.

It's been pouring rain much of today; hopefully things will clear out of here by tomorrow, our first official fest day.

Our only people flying to this fest, namely Mike Hammond and his wife Railette (Lynn), were delayed a little over an hour leaving Cleveland because of the weather here on the Boston end.

Tomorrow evening, an update on Day 1, which will feature the Worcester and Fitchburg commuter rail lines, and small pieces of the Blue and Red Lines not ridden before by this esteemed group of people.

Edited by KevinKorell, 06 November 2008 - 08:00 PM.


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#2 EdFindlay

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Posted 07 November 2008 - 07:21 PM

Day 1 is complete. Rides out to Worcester and Fitchburg were relatively on time with minor delays. The group decided to delay dinner plays to take a bonus ride out to Mattapan. The weather held out, only drizzle with lots of fog and clouds but no real rain. Hopefully Day 2 will fare better in terms of weather.

#3 KevinKorell

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Posted 07 November 2008 - 10:41 PM

What Ed said.

Day 1, Friday 11/7/08

We had a total of 14 people involved, including our Railette, who only rode on a train with us for the huge journey between South and Back Bay Stations (that counts!). However, there were never more than 13 at one time.

The weather could have been better, but thankfully it didn't cause us any problems when we were walking. Ed made a great suggestion that we walk from Bowdoin to North Station, rather than waiting for the Blue and transferring to the Green. That worked out perfectly, as most of us got lunch at a Subway shop along the way and then took it into North Station to dine in style on the station benches.

Those still left standing by 7 PM also had dinner together at Prudential Center's food court before going our separate ways.

Day 2 we will ride commuter rail north of Boston. A few of the faces will be different as well.

More tomorrow night!

Edited by KevinKorell, 08 November 2008 - 10:40 PM.


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#4 BillMagee

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Posted 07 November 2008 - 11:19 PM

Sorry I missed you guys, and gal, up there. Hope to catch up with you next time. Have fun tomorrow!

#5 KevinKorell

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Posted 08 November 2008 - 10:39 PM

Day 2, Saturday, 11/8/08

Well we had another total of 14 people today, and once Ed was located in the subway, all 14 were together for the third of our 3 planned turns on Northside commuter rail lines.

Another unplanned ride was taken tonight, this time on two branches of the Green Line. We did so to kill time so we could have dinner together at a time we were comfortable with.

We have people en route home as this is being written. The rest of us who travel home will do so tomorrow.

A small wrap-up when I get home, and then of course we'll have a report someday.

If anyone would like to add anything about their impressions of the fest, this would be the place to do so.

Thanks to all who came out to ride the rails in Boston. Having 14 people involved each day was, to me, an impressive turnout.

We look forward to our next meet in the New York area in a little over 2 months!


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#6 AlanB

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Posted 08 November 2008 - 11:08 PM

We have people en route home as this is being written. The rest of us who travel home will do so tomorrow.


Actually that's not 100% accurate, as Mike and Lynn don't leave Boston until Monday.
Alan,

Take care and take trains!

#7 KevinKorell

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Posted 09 November 2008 - 11:30 PM

Mike and Lynn notwithstanding, the rest of us are home. Thanks once more to everyone who participated, including the late night trips after dark. Those unplanned jaunts may have been a little uncomfortable with the trains being so crowded. Those 7-day Link Passes went a long way, especially as they allowed us to take those after dark trips at no extra expense. The fact that they are also accepted on commuter rail within the city fare zone was very helpful to Michael and me, as we were able to ride Old Colony trains instead of the Red Line when we had luggage and when we met the first Fest morning at South Station.


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#8 jis

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Posted 10 November 2008 - 07:57 AM

Those 7-day Link Passes went a long way, especially as they allowed us to take those after dark trips at no extra expense. The fact that they are also accepted on commuter rail within the city fare zone was very helpful to Michael and me, as we were able to ride Old Colony trains instead of the Red Line when we had luggage and when we met the first Fest morning at South Station.

Now only if we can get the New York area to do a LinkPass like thing that would be valid on everything within city zone. Well first we will have to define a reasonable city zone for the area, but that is another issue for another board.




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