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Weekend in Washington DC

November 4-7, 2004 By Adam Reich
Part 1 of 3:  The Southbound Trip 

Day 1- November 4, 2004

It was a cool and clear morning as we got ready to leave for our trip to Washington DC.  Our cab arrived at our house early, just before 9:00 AM.  We took the scenic route so to speak, traveling through the South Mountain Reservation on the way to the Millburn NJ Transit Station.  We chose to board in Millburn because we knew we could wait for our train in the "My Favorite Muffin" across the street.  My father purchased the tickets while we waited in the restaurant.  We'd be taking MidTOWN Direct Train #6328 to New York Penn Station.

1.  NJ Transit Arrow III MU #1321 in Millburn, headed to Hoboken
2.  NJ Transit Comet V Cab Car leading MidTOWN Direct #6328 into Millburn

The train left at 8:41 AM and there was plenty of room for us to spread out.  We sat in Comet II Rebuilt Coach #5535.  The train was in push mode with Comet V Cab Car #6046 leading it.  Just before stopping in Secaucus, the southbound Silver Star #91 passed us, followed by a Northbound Amtrak train passing us in Secaucus Junction.  After arriving on time in New York at 10:35 AM, we headed for the ClubAcela Lounge.  Even though my mother, my brother David and I were the only ones traveling First Class on the Acela Express they let my brother Jeremy and father use it as well, as they would be traveling on a Regional around the same time as us.

3.  Soda and Coffee Machines in the ClubAcela Lounge at New York's Pennsylvania Station

I made sure that I got a lot of timetables and used a lot of the free amenities, especially the coffee, soda, and fruit.  My parents along with David watched TV and read the paper, while Jeremy listened to music.  The lounge was very enjoyable, very clean, and very comfortable.  My father and Jeremy left the lounge around 11:20 AM to board Regional #125, with a scheduled departure of 11:35 AM.  My mother, David, and I stayed and waited for Acela Express #2157 to arrive.

The Consist for Acela Express #2157 was:
2022    Power Car
3407    End BusinessClass
3551    BusinessClass
3312    CafeAcela
3518    BusinessClass
3539    BusinessClass (Quiet Car)
3212    FirstClass (We rode here)
2011    Power Car

We left New York 15 minutes late at 12:15 PM, after which I went to the cafe to get a pizza for David.  I enjoyed the sleek and modern look of the Acela as I walked through it.  For lunch, I ordered the pasta e fagoli and Chicken Scampi Salad.  We arrived in Newark, NJ at 12:30 PM and left Newark, NJ at 12:35 PM.  In addition to the meal, they served a snack mix and  a Ghirardelli chocolate caramel square.  Lunch was served at 12:40 PM.  Overall it was very good, but it wasn't a meal, as the portions were very small.  We passed Trenton, NJ at 1:03 PM, where the northbound Silver Meteor #98 was stopped.  After lunch I had coffee.

4.  Acela Vestibule (Destination Board)
5.  CafeAcela #3312, surprisingly with somebody actually sitting down
6.  Railfone in FirstClass Car #3212
7.  Interior of FirstClass Car #3212

By the time we hit the Philly Area, the rain was really starting to come down heavily.  We arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 1:28 PM and left at 1:30 PM.  We arrived in Wilmington, Delaware at 1:50 PM.  Between Wilmington and Baltimore, I decided to have another soda (it was free after all!!!).  Around 2:30 they passed out hot towels.  We arrived in Baltimore at 2:33 PM and departed at 2:34, after which I got one more cup of coffee.  As we pulled out of Baltimore, a Northbound Acela pulled in.  We arrived at BWI at 2:45 PM, leaving 2 minutes later at 2:47.  We passed New Carrolton, Maryland at 2:59 PM.  We arrived in Washington at 3:05 PM, where my father and brother Jeremy were already there waiting for us.  We promptly headed towards the Metro Subway entrance.  We took the Red Line to Gallery Place/Chinatown where we transferred to the Yellow Line.  We took the Yellow Line to Crystal City, where our hotel was.

Photos Taken in Washington DC Union Station
8.  Amfleet I BusinessClass Car #21704
9.  Marc Heritage Coach #147
10.  Amfleet I BusinessClass Car #44837
11.  Acela BusinessClass Car #3518
12.  Amfleet I Cafe #44363 (formerly assigned to Empire Service)
13.  CafeAcela #3312
14.  Amfleet I Cafe #48971
15.  AEM-7-AC #920
16-17. Amtrak Business Car #10001 Beech Grove
18.  Acela Power Car #2022
19.  Amtrak Business Car #10001 Beech Grove