Passenger Trains > Downeaster Trip Report

For years, I have been wanting to ride Amtrak's Downeaster, but other destinations in North America always had higher priority.  Finally, last month, I was able to ride it due to being on a group tour from Portland to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.  The tour focused on Maine's maritime history.  Traveling to Portland involved flying JetBlue from Pittsburgh to Boston and then taking a Concorde Coach bus from Logan Airport to the Portland Transportation Center.  I looked into riding the Downeaster to Portland, but the train schedule did not mesh well with the flight times and the need to be at a tour orientation meeting in the early evening.  However, the Downeaster schedule did work for a Portland - Boston trip. 

The departure on train 686 from Portland was on time.  The ride was in the business class section (on this train, it was in the cafe rather than a separate car as is done with the Pennsylvanian).  Shortly after departing Portland, the very friendly cafe car attendant advised all of the business class patrons of the free non-alcoholic beverages they could have.  The cafe is a notch above what I've experienced in Amtrak's other cafe cars in that it offers a few Maine eats and beers.  (This should be done on the Pennsylvanian, the Amtrak train I most often ride.). 

Somewhere south of Portland, about 15 minutes was lost where the two-track section of the route ended to become a one-track line due to having to wait for a northbound Downeaster.  There were no other delays for the rest of the trip.  I enjoyed viewing the fall foliage.  The only disappointment was the one place where the line gets close to the shore, Old Orchard Beach in Maine, continuous hotel and other development blocked most views of the sea.

As windows have been a frequent topic of discussion on Trainorders, I will say that the windows seemed pretty clean.  However, during the afternoon, as the sun was shining through the windows on the right side of the train it seemed more difficult to get a clear view.  Conversely, the windows on the left side of the train seemed completely clear.  Perhaps there was a patina on both sides of the train, but the sun shining through the right side made them seem slightly less clean.

The on-board staff announced that the train was sold out.  There were large crowds at every station.  Many riders appeared to be college students or people in their 20s/young 30s.

Approaching the Haverhill, station I was delighted to see Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority #1030, the unit painted in Boston & Maine colors.

After arriving in North Station, got one photo of the train, then walked into the station.  Getting to Logan Airport involved a ride on the MBTA Orange Line, a transfer to the Blue Line and a shuttle bus to the airport terminal.

All-in-all, a very nice train ride and a great way to end a Marvelous week in Maine.

In the Nostalgia & History Board, I posted tidbits of Maine's railroad history encountered in the tour.

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,6097710
 

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The Downeaster is a cool train.  It is on the other side of the state from me, but I am in Durham often, and miss the convenience to Boston.  The cafe is quite good, you are right, and as I find on the Vermonter, the cafe staff are usually great.

The nothern New England trains are cool.  If you get the chance, give them a ride.  The Downeaster is by far the busiest, but the Vermonter is really nice.  A true country train north of Springfield.  A lot like the Cardinal across most of its route from DC to Chicago.  Love it.

I hope to return to Maine to ride the Portland - Brunswick section of the Downeaster and a revived passenger train on the line to Rockland Maine (which I understand is in the works).

Thanks for the suggestion to ride the Vermonter.  I was also thinking about riding the Ethan Allen Express to Burlington (the route segment north of Rutland would be new trackage for me).
 

This was a wonderful report to read.  Given good service, people love using trains for transport.  Don't believe the American politicians who say otherwise.

I have not ridden the Ethan Allen msyelf, but should.  It is best in winter, when you can see through all the trees.

RuleG Wrote:
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> I hope to return to Maine to ride the Portland -
> Brunswick section of the Downeaster and a revived
> passenger train on the line to Rockland Maine
> (which I understand is in the works).
>
> Thanks for the suggestion to ride the Vermonter. 
> I was also thinking about riding the Ethan Allen
> Express to Burlington (the route segment north of
> Rutland would be new trackage for me).
>  

So that's where the 90406 went.  I figured it went somewhere, as Amtrak is short of cab cars and really can't afford to have a display train tying up one right now.

NPRocky Wrote:
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> So that's where the 90406 went.  I figured it
> went somewhere, as Amtrak is short of cab cars and
> really can't afford to have a display train tying
> up one right now.

When was the last time Amtrak had "display trains?"  These were assembled for Amtrak's 40th anniversary in 2011 and for a few years after that.  Nothing like it was done for Amtrak's 50th anniversary.

As I recall, Amtrak 406 was the "F40" used for the display train.

The 145 and 822 were the usual power for the display trains . The NPCU 406 was  very  handy to have for push-pull moves but its best asset was that Beech Grove had installed a pony engine so that the 406 could  provide 480 volts for the cars on display or if they went somewhere behind freight power . Beech Grove placed the pony engine about where the main generator had been and piped the exhaust to go out where it did when 406 had a 645 in the carbody . 406 was the only NPCU to have the roof left alone , it  looks like an F40   . ALB/REN renumbered it to 90406 when the additional 50 ALC42s were ordered .  Quite often it seems  the Downeasters will get uniquely painted P42s  , earlier this year they used one of the phase VII painted 740s in lieu of a NPCU for a few days .    406 was renumbered 90406  in Sept. 2023 per "On Track On Line".



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/25 12:28 by mvrr10.

Thanks, mvrr10.  I didn't think to look at the numberboard to note the 90406 number and didn't realize it was previously 406.

You're welcome !