Day 1
Got off to a slow start on the trip as far as picture go, as you shall see here, don't worry the number of picture will pick up and some Photo Shop will be used!
BE SURE TO DOUBLE CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO MAKE THEM BIGGER!
We drove in and after surviving several work zones and detours, we ARRIVED at the Union Station Parking garage, right across the street!from Union Station.
Due to the time of day we managed to park a short distance from the front of the garage
on street level
Remember Level 1 Section E!
Photo From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository
We made it to Union Station
Photo by Scott Hurd
We were met by America by Rail coach greeter in Chicago, Frank.
Photo by Portland Tribune
And we met our Tour Director, Scott Hurd,
above picture of Scott is from his Amtrak days.
Photo by Scott Hurd
Our Amtrak Train.
Board the train for an over night trip to Albany, NY.
End Day 1
Day 2 October 2
After a long night trying to sleep, we stopped in Syracuse, New York to pick up passengers and fresh air for us non smokers and a smoke break for those that smoke.
3 hours later we arrived in Albany, NY.
And were met by Paul Morrison, our driver of our home on the road. He drove us every where and on this day to Rutland, VT.
End day 2.
DAY 3 October 3
We head out for our first stop at the New England Maple Museum in Pittsford, VT.
Front Entrance welcoming us in.
Sample Time!
Judy Posing with their large Maple Jug.
Then it was off to the Vermont Marble Museum.
Inside was a display of an office of the 1920's office.
Side note, I am restoring this very desk
Vintage photo down inside a marble mine. Note the shaft of light from the surface above.
Another vintage photo of unloading a train load of marble from the mine.
A reproduction of The Last Supper in marble.
Carved by F. Tonelli for the Vermont Marble Co.
We then headed to Hildene, Robert Todd Lincoln's home.
Upon arrival we had lunch, then started out exploring the area!
Our First Stop was at The Pullman Palace Car "Sunshine."
Evidentially, Abe's son didn't mind making Millions for the Pullman Stock Holders off the Negros his father freed! The Old Man tipping the Porter is saying
"All right,... here you are Sam,
what becomes of all the money? You Porter ought to get rich!" As the man tips him he passes a portion on to the Pullman company.
The view out the Vestibule.
Sleeping Car accommodations,
Judy wants to ride this car home.
This was the accommodations for the staff
And this was the Parlor in the Private car, "Sunshine."
Meant for Railroad executives.
Soon we came to the Goat Barn.
This is where the Goat Cheese in the Gift Shop comes from.
This goat was interested in what Judy had in her purse!
Inside the Goat Barn.
From here we got lucky and caught a ride to the main house.
Pretty nice Cottage Robert Todd Lincoln had .
If you look close you will see the outline that represents
the Cabin Abraham Lincoln was born in. His son did well to go from this,
in one generation to this mansion!
The Main Staircase.
More interior Shots to come later.
They even had their own Observatory.
Robert and Nancy Perry taking a break after a visit to Hildene.
End Day 3
Day 4 - October 4th
Then we headed to the Vermont Country Store in Weston, VT,
the store that has everything, especially from your childhood.
This 1953 Chevy makes a nice store display.
Entrance to the store.
They certainly put on a beautiful seasonal display!
Tree in parking lot had beautiful color, see our tour bus in the back ground?
On our way to the next stop, we came upon the Lincoln Bridge,
West Woodstock, Vermont.
Have you ever seen a more excited group wanting to get to the next stop?
Next stop Town Square.
And across the street was......
....The Middle Bridge, this shot is from the south away from the square.
Some of us ate Lunch at the White Cottage,
others ate next door at the Woodstock Farmers Market
After lunch we relaxed by the Ottauquechee River' which ran behind both places.
Then we were off to the Billings Farm.
Managers Office
I took many indoor shots also, if anyone is interested, let me know
and I can do a BLOG of just the interiors.
Contact me at jjbuzard@yahoo.com
Fall color at Billings farm.
After a visit that ended too soon at the Billings Farm we headed to
Meredith, VT for a quick stop at the Queechee Gorge.
Queechee Gorge looking North from the bridge.
Queechee Gorge looking South from the bridge.
Our bus driver Paul Morrison taking our picture
Scott Hurd Photo taken by Paul Morrison
Our group picture Paul took, while Paul was shooting us I took his picture above!
I thought Paul was waving me to hurry up, actually he was signaling double thumbs because I wasn't the last one to get back to the bus!
Scott Hurd Photo
Our Conductor on the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad,
on which we had our Full course Turkey Dinner!
MMM Good Turkey, carved at our table!
They were fast, his hands are a blur!!
Soon they had served the entire car.
Satisfied Diners.
More Satisfied Diners.
Too soon it was time to end the train ride, our last view from the train
and head back to our hotel
End Day 4
DAY 5 October 5
Today we went to North Conway, NH to catch the Conway Scenic Railroad
for a 4 1/2 hr round trip up the Notch.
We arrived early so we had time to explore.
This is the Station, rather quaint.
Behind the station I found an operating Round House, used by the Conway Scenic RR
for train maintenance and turning Engines around.
Sitting nearby I saw this Alcoa (builder) 2-8-0 (wheel arrangement) engine, built in 1910.
Originally built for the Maine Central Railroad, this engine was the last steam engine to operate on the Mountain Division in 1953; this was also the final run for 501.
There has been no official announcement from the Conway Scenic, but 470 RR Club members are confirming the green light for a full restoration to operation. Restoration will begin once space is freed up in the roundhouse. The loose date for the 501's return to service is 2022/2023.
Photo by Scott Hurd
Before boarding we had our group photo taken,
again an excellent shot Scott.
We boarded the train and took our seats in the observation car
for the first leg of the trip.
On our way Bob Perry checked out the view
from the open Observation Car.
Frankenstein Trestle.
One of the many trestles we cross
photo by RailPictures.net
Our Locomotive today is the 4266, seen here on the Frankenstein Trestle.
A little info on this engine...Built by EMD (1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW)
Diesel-electric
locomotive produced between February 1949 and December 1953 by the Electro-Motive
Division of General Motors (EMD) )in 1949, it is about old as some
of us on this train, it is an
F7A, (type)
An ex-Boston &
Maine unit leased from the 470 Railroad Club of Portland, Maine.
This
locomotive pulled the last Ambassador train on September 3, 1966, and was also
the last "F unit" to operate on the Boston & Maine Railroad,
having been retired in 1976. After returning to service in the late 1980s, 4266
was used by the Conway Scenic Railroad to run the first trains to Bartlett, NH,
on December 17, 1994,
Double click the picture to see our Observation car.
Off Center to the left.
Looking back on Frankenstein Trestle
Observation Car view.
Crawford Station, end of the line and our Lunch stop.
Lake Saco across the road from the station.
Mount Washington Hotel, near the Cog Railroad.
We will be back up here tomorrow on our way to the Cog Railroad.
One of the many trails that cross the track on our journey.
Did any body catch the name of this double gorge, water falls?
Judy looking back on our trip.
It was a great day.
To soon we will be back to North Conway!
End Day 5
DAY 6 October 6
Today we head for Bretton Woods, NH and our ride on the Cog Railway.
On our way we passed some beautiful scenery.
This small falls was another beautiful sight.
Col. Teague #10 was built in 1972, Has the cab tilted on the same plane as the boiler.
Converted to burn oil for a short time and converted back to coal.
bearing its original name as a sign for the entrance to the railway.
At the station there is a collection of Steam engines on display.
