Trip Report
OTOL New England RailFest 2013
January 18-20, 2013
by Kevin Korell
Chapter 0: Introduction
The New England RailFest 2013 came about as both a continuation of the winter "Request Fest" series, and the need to complete the last of the commuter rail lines in the Boston area not yet ridden officially by our group. Another purpose for some of the activities was to cater to the newer people in our group who had not yet ridden some of the lines. We also had a newly opened extension in Rhode Island to get under our belts.
Chapter 1: Preparation
Given the potential for winter weather, the original intent was to limit the Fest to two days. At the same time, with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) having recently cut all weekend service on several lines, and commuter service starting later in the morning than other days, there was not much we could do on a Sunday. It soon became apparent that this Fest had to include a Friday, in order to do the Rhode Island extension of the Providence Line and another interesting line, the Plymouth-Kingston Line. Since we last rode it, many trains on the latter had been combined so that one train visits both the Kingston and Plymouth endpoints before returning to Boston, instead of two separate trains alternating between each endpoint.
Therefore the initial plan was a Friday-Saturday Fest. Then, with the majority of the group planning to still be in town on Sunday, we decided to turn it into a three-day event. The "Request Fest" element of the weekend was the Sunday activities, as participants chose ahead of time between an all transit option, and riding one of two commuter lines or even possibly the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited route out to Worcester and returning by commuter rail. The option for remaining close to the city and doing rapid transit was chosen, as we would be able to partake of the entire Green Line (including all branches), and Red Line (including the Mattapan Trolley).
The extension of Amtrak's Downeaster to Freeport and Brunswick had opened within the past three months, but its initial schedule was not conducive to a group going up and back the same day. It was therefore decided that one of our Saturday trips would be a simple short trip to Wells, ME, where we would have about a 40-minute layover before returning to Boston.
A homepage kept those planning to come to the Boston area in the loop on our plans, including a frequently changing itinerary, and the list of participants.
The last major change to our itinerary was the addition of a Saturday afternoon round trip on the Blue Line to kill some time between our arrival on the Downeaster and our dinner appointment.
Chapter 2: Friday, January 18, 2013
Today's activities would feature routes into and out of Boston South Station. Many in the group had arrived here the previous day on various other Amtrak trains, including the Lake Shore Limited Boston section, Northeast Regional, and Acela Express.
Before our first scheduled departure, participants managed to find one another in the main hall. The first group of eleven were Dave Walajtys, Misty Robinson, Kevin Noell, Dick McCauley, Penny Jacobs, Mike Hammond, Ed Findlay, Piotr Dzwonek, Grace Burden, Alan Burden, and me. We waited together under the departures board watching for a track assignment for our first MBTA train to Kingston/Plymouth. Once it was posted, we followed the crowd out to Track 13, taking the longest possible walk one has between the station and a train.
Chapter 2.1: MBTA Kingston/Plymouth Line, Train #061, Boston-South Station to Kingston
Our first official ride of our Fest was our outbound Old Colony trip to the Kingston endpoint, although Plymouth was also an eventual destination. Train #061 left Boston on time at 8:56 AM. We arrived in Kingston at 9:48 AM, five minutes early. We remained on board the train in Kingston for what turned out to be a 17 minute dwell. We learned that passengers are not asked to leave the train at either the Kingston or Plymouth endpoints because of the two pronged nature of this route.
Chapter 2.2: MBTA Kingston/Plymouth Line, Train #061, Kingston to Plymouth
Our departure from Kingston was on time at 10:05 AM. We headed north about five minutes until we arrived at the junction point between the Kingston and Plymouth branches. As soon as the entire train cleared the switch, we stopped. We were soon surprised at how quickly the train changed direction and headed south again, this time on the line to Plymouth. We arrived there at 10:23 AM, right on time.
This time there was a scheduled 25-minute layover. The train continues a little past the actual station to where it has always stopped to be turned, but for most of us it was the first time we were on board when it did so.
Chapter 2.3: MBTA Kingston/Plymouth Line, Train #060, Plymouth to Boston-South Station
After our third and final direction change, our train was now #060. We moved back up to the Plymouth platform and picked up originating passengers. Our train departed from there on time at 10:48 AM. The uneventful ride ended when we arrived back at South Station at 11:45 AM, one minute early.
Chapter 2.4: Lunch at Boston South Station
Lunch was available from one of many fast food eateries on one end of the station. Being prime lunchtime, it was hard to find seats. We finally came across some scattered in different locations upstairs, and just ate in smaller groups.
Once completed, the majority of us went up into the Club Acela to get out of the lunchtime crowds. In there we awaited our Northeast Regional trip to Providence. By this time, Rick Metcalf and Bill Magee had joined us. To avoid some confusion and to ensure that those who wanted window seats would get them, we had a Redcap take us down from the lounge to the train before general boarding took place.
Chapter 2.5: Amtrak Train #137, Northeast Regional: Boston, MA to Providence, RI
Jack Suslak joined us on board just before we departed, making our group now 14 people. The first of three Amtrak segments during the official Fest was a quick 40 minutes from Boston's South Station to Providence. The relatively inexpensive trip gave many of us another 100-point segment to kick off 2013's Guest Rewards earnings. Our trip departed South Station on time at 1:40 PM, and arrived in Providence one minute early at 2:20 PM.
In the Providence waiting room, we were joined by Lou Petrillo and Steve Weagant, who had recently arrived on other trains from points south. We had now reached our peak for the day at 16 people.
We watched the departure monitors for the track assignment for our MBTA train to Wickford Junction. It wasn't posted until two minutes before the scheduled departure time. Luckily, we all made it downstairs in time.
Chapter 2.6: MBTA Providence Line, Train #809, Providence to Wickford Junction
Train #809 departed from Providence on time at 2:54 PM, on a very rare MBTA commuter rail trip entirely outside the agency's home state. Our train ran on Amtrak's New York-bound track, except at the two stations (T.F. Green Airport and the endpoint of Wickford Junction), where the single side platforms are on a third track west of the mainline. We arrived at Wickford Junction at 3:22 PM, four minutes ahead of schedule. That began an 18-minute layover during which most of us again remained aboard the train.
Chapter 2.7: MBTA Providence Line, Train #820, Wickford Junction to Boston-Back Bay Station
Friday's last official trip was aboard the same MBTA equipment, now headed for Boston as Train #820. We left from Wickford Junction on time at 3:40 PM. As we moved back into Massachusetts, the train got more crowded despite the fact we were running against the rush hour. We arrived at Back Bay Station at 5:14 PM, one minute early, and detrained. Two of our local participants left us to head home, leaving 14 that walked all the way to the restaurant for dinner.
Chapter 2.8: Dinner at Joe's American Bar & Grill
Joe's American Bar & Grill in the Copley Square district had served us before on our previous Boston visits, but they have moved to a larger location. They had an entire room reserved for us with a long table strategically placed diagonally so that we could all get in and out of our seats and move about at will. The food was delicious and the service was great!
Chapter 2.9: End of Friday's activities
With dinner completed, so was our first day together. We left the restaurant separately or in much smaller groups, and went to our respective hotels (while those who live in the area went home). Another busy day lay ahead of us, involving even more participants.
Chapter 3: Saturday, January 19, 2013
Our Saturday agenda took us north of the city, and involved three states. We would ride one commuter line and then an afternoon Downeaster round trip.
Chapter 3.1: MBTA Lowell Line, Train #1303, Boston-North Station to Lowell
Our participants for this trip included everyone involved on Friday (with the exception of Rick, who would meet us later), as well as Will Malpartida and Chris Wyatt. Chris was supposed to have been with us on Friday, but he was delayed 24 hours by a very late Texas Eagle, which resulted in a misconnect in Chicago.
So it was initially 17 people who met in North Station to await our train to Lowell. We boarded together, and were on our way north precisely 10:00 AM as scheduled. Train #1303's trip up to Lowell was quick, and we arrived at 10:40 AM, three minutes early. We stayed aboard the train in Lowell to await its return southbound run.
Chapter 3.2: MBTA Lowell Line, Train #1304, Lowell to Anderson-Woburn
Once again this equipment left its origin station on time, as we departed from Lowell at exactly 11:00 AM. However, we did accumulate a couple of minutes delay en route, as some stations had a lot of people boarding. We arrived at Anderson-Woburn at 11:21 AM, two minutes late.
We walked up a long ramp into the Anderson-Woburn Station, where we were able to keep warm, use the facilities, and some bought snacks or warm beverages. We were there about half an hour before going down to the platform again to await our Amtrak train.
Chapter 3.3: Amtrak Train #693, Downeaster: Anderson-Woburn, MA to Wells, ME
The Downeaster showed up right on time, and the 17 of us boarded it. We departed from Woburn at 11:53 AM. During our hour and a half journey, most of us went to the cafe car to get lunch. On board we met Rick, who had come up on this train from Boston. Between Woburn and Wells, we reached our peak for the day and for the Fest, at 18 people.
We ended up three minutes late into Wells (1:22 PM), where all but one of us detrained. Bill remained on board to Portland, and flew home from there.
The Wells Station is a small structure. It was manned the day of our visit by a volunteer caretaker who appeared very interested in trains. He was in tune with the progress of the trains coming through. The building was chock full of tourist information and Downeaster memorabilia.
Bill, still aboard Train #693, informed us that he had passed Train #694, which in turn was behind a freight train. We later saw that same freight train pass by the station in the Boston-bound direction.
There were a few inches of snow on the ground here, which was a lot considering we hadn't seen any in Boston. It was a tremendous amount for Penny, who had come up from Florida for this Fest and had never in her life seen snowball in person.
Chapter 3.4: Amtrak Train #694, Downeaster: Wells, ME to Boston-North Station
Our train was eight minutes late, more than likely because of the freight train we had seen. Perhaps our host Pan Am Railways could have scheduled it a little better so as not to interfere with passenger train operations.
Our group of 17 rode back to Boston, finally arriving there at 3:58 PM, 13 minutes late. The remainder of our day would be spent riding transit, although we began quickly shedding people as we went along. Jack and Rick departed the group before we headed for the subway entrance, leaving 15 people.
Chapter 3.5: MBTA Green Line, North Station to Government Center
At 4:09 PM we were headed south on a Green Line car. Three minutes later we got to Government Center, where Lou left us to go back to his hotel. The other 14 went downstairs to transfer to the Blue Line.
Chapter 3.6: MBTA Blue Line, Government Center to Wonderland
We left Government Center at 4:16 PM. When we emerged from the tunnel near the Airport station about five minutes later, it was almost dark outside. The train got to the endpoint at Wonderland at 4:38 PM. Ed left us here to take a bus home, while the remaining 13 went up to an overhead passageway and then down to the inbound platform. As expected, we had to use our fare media to re-enter the system.
Chapter 3.7: MBTA Blue Line, Wonderland to State
We began our inbound Blue Line trip at 4:46 PM. We got off at State at 5:00 PM. Here our split was a lot more drastic. Steve and Mike went off to ride the Green Line since they would not be around all day Sunday with us. Piotr, Misty, Kevin N., and Will headed for South Station to do a late night Amtrak run to Old Saybrook, CT and back. That left Penny, Grace, Alan, Dick, Chris, Dave, and me to have dinner in downtown Boston.
Chapter 3.8: Dinner at Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Faneuil Hall Marketplace was chosen as tonight's venue as it offers a little bit of both fast food and full service restaurants. As things turned out, we all went to various food stands and ate together upstairs.
Chapter 3.9: End of Saturday's activities
As it turned out, the seven who survived until the end all were staying at the same hotel that evening. So we rode together on the Orange Line and Red Line back to JFK/U-Mass.
It had truly been a great day, as we accomplished our goals of riding the Lowell Line and doing the short turn on the Downeaster. We were all pleased with the fact that in both Anderson-Woburn and Wells, we had ample shelter during our long waits for the next trains.
Some folks would be starting for home on Sunday, but those who remained in town had another busy day ahead of them!
Chapter 4: Sunday, January 20, 2013
Twelve people were involved in our all transit day, as we explored all of the MBTA's Red and Green Lines. Our number peaked in the morning, as several needed to leave us to begin their trips home.
Chapter 4.1: MBTA Red Line A, Various points to Ashmont
We began with a "rolling meet" as we were coming from different places. Participants knew to get on the same Red Line train so we would all be together. The majority boarded the first train at JFK/U-Mass since we were staying nearby. The train left there at 8:48 AM. When we got to Ashmont, we met up with others from our group who had been on the same train. Our group totaled 12 at this point, as we walked over to the Mattapan Trolley loop.
Chapter 4.2: MBTA Mattapan Trolley, Ashmont to Mattapan
We boarded our Mattapan Trolley and were on our way from Ashmont at 9:03 AM. It's always a thrill to ride PCC cars, and this was no exception. Our ride was over at Mattapan eight minutes after it started. We crossed to the inbound side and waited for the next car.
Chapter 4.3: MBTA Mattapan Trolley, Mattapan to Ashmont
Our next trolley trip left Mattapan at 9:16 AM. Again it was eight quick minutes before we arrived back at Ashmont.
Chapter 4.4: MBTA Red Line A, Ashmont to JFK/U-Mass
Now began a two hour tour of heavy rail. We had a slight wait here, as the next train left at 9:40 AM. We rode back to JFK/U-Mass, the transfer point for the Braintree branch of the Red Line. Chris remained on this train when we got off, as he was headed for South Station to catch an Acela Express train. That left 11 of us, who at 9:49 AM went up one flight of stairs and then down another to the Braintree platform.
Chapter 4.5: MBTA Red Line B, JFK/U-Mass to Braintree
Our next Red Line train left JFK/U-Mass at 9:53 AM headed south to Braintree on the longer of the two branches. Our arrival in Braintree was 10:19 AM, still just a few minutes later than our schedule called for. We remained on the same train to await our next trip.
Chapter 4.6: MBTA Red Line B, Braintree to Alewife
Our longest run of the day, an end-to-end jaunt from Braintree to Alewife, began at 10:24 AM. During our trip, as we passed by South Station, Mike and Steve left us to catch the Lake Shore Limited. We were now down to nine people for the remainder of the day.
Our trip continued to the Alewife station in Cambridge, where we arrived at 11:11 AM. We went across the platform to another train that was preparing to leave.
Chapter 4.7: MBTA Red Line, Alewife to Park
It was 11:12 AM as we left Alewife to return to downtown Boston. We'd been at this endpoint station for only a minute. We got to the Park station at 11:29 AM, having now completed our official runs on the Red Line. At this point we went upstairs to the Green Line platform.
Chapter 4.8: MBTA Green Line E, Park to Heath Street
Our Green Line trolley marathon began as we left at 11:40 AM on an E car. I was surprised to see the vehicle market as "Heath Street", since I had expected this line to only go as far as Brigham Circle, as I had thought the MBTA had cut out weekend service beyond there as part of their last round of cuts.
So we were all pleasantly surprised when we were not discharged at Brigham Circle, as our car continued down South Huntington Avenue to Heath Street Loop. We arrived there at 12:03 PM. After getting off, we then boarded the same vehicle for our next trip.
Chapter 4.9: MBTA Green Line E, Heath Street to Prudential
Once again aboard at 12:05 PM, our E line trolley took us to Prudential for our lunch stop. We arrived there at 12:22 PM. We were only five minutes past the intended arrival time.
Chapter 4.10: Lunch at Prudential Center
The nine of us walked through The Shops at Prudential Center to its large food court, and then purchased our own delicacies. After refreshing ourselves for the rest of the day, we left at 1:30 PM to continue our activities. We walked west on Boylston Street to the Hynes station.
Chapter 4.11: MBTA Green Line C, Hynes to Cleveland Circle
Our first ride of the afternoon, the C line to Cleveland Circle, departed from Hynes at 1:47 PM. This car was running only a minute behind schedule. We got Cleveland Circle at 2:10 PM, three minutes late. We then walked around the corner and up the ramp to the Reservoir station on the D line.
Chapter 4.12: MBTA Green Line D, Reservoir to Riverside
Our wait was not long at all! Four minutes after getting off the last trolley, we were on our way at 2:14 PM on the D line to Riverside. We got to this line's destination at 2:27 PM. After detraining, we walked over to the inbound platform to await out next ride.
Chapter 4.13: MBTA Green Line D, Riverside to Kenmore
At 2:31 PM, another car came in from the yard, and we were on our way once more. The inbound trip continued beyond Reservoir, through Brookline, and into the trolley tunnel. We got off at Kenmore at 2:57 PM to switch to the outbound B line, which involved going up one stairway and down another. We were at this point 11 minutes ahead of our schedule.
Chapter 4.14: MBTA Green Line B, Kenmore to Boston College
Our combined transfer and wait totaled just three minutes. At 3:00 PM we were on our B line trolley to Boston College. After another uneventful trip out Commonwealth Avenue, we arrived at Boston College 3:26 PM, and walked to that station's inbound platform to wait for our next ride.
Chapter 4.15: MBTA Green Line B, Boston College to Park
Returning inbound to the downtown area, our B car left Boston College 3:31 PM. We rode all the way to Park, where we would transfer back to the E line to go out to Lechmere.
Chapter 4.16: MBTA Green Line E, Park to Lechmere
Until now, we had done very well with making our connections. We were still 11 minutes ahead of our intended schedule. Perhaps that now worked against us, as we had a very long wait here. For 21 minutes we stood and watched as Green Line trolleys signed for every route but ours came and went. We finally got on an E car at 4:33 PM, still nine people strong after some had considered bailing on this activity.
Once we arrived in Lechmere at 4:45 PM, we had completed the Green Line and thus all but the last of our Fest's Sunday activities. Originally, a few had considered having dinner at the nearby Cambridgeside Galleria, but we decided to return downtown and then separate, having dinner on our own. We thus went together to the inbound platform after walking through the station's pedestrian tunnel.
Chapter 4.17: MBTA Green Line E, Lechmere to Park
Our last conveyance left Lechmere at 4:50 PM. This was our final goodbye trip, as some got off at Government Center, and the rest at Park. At Park, some transferred to the Red Line to South Station to either go home or take yet another Amtrak round trip, while others separated and went about their ways.
Chapter 4.18: End of Sunday's activities
With 16 movements on the transit lines today, we had accomplished a lot. Our low moment was probably the long wait at Park between Green Line runs, while our highlight was the unexpected "extra" trackage that didn't cause any adverse effect on our schedule.
Those who were visiting Boston who hadn't left Sunday stayed over until Monday, when they made their trips home.
Chapter 5: Conclusion
We had another very successful winter RailFest. It gave some their first rides on certain lines, while for others it was a nice return to what we already knew. Most of us earned our first Amtrak Guest Rewards points of the year by virtue of the event being in January and our need to travel. Thanks to all who travelled to Boston and made this Fest the success it was!
We looked forward to our next event coming up in July, the Atlantic Coast RailFest 2013.
