Acela - Boston to Washington

I had planned to ride the MBTA Red Line from my hotel to Boston South Station but decided to forgo the rush hour with my luggage in tow and took a cab instead. With an over-tip it cost me $15 but I expect it was worth it. I'm now in the ClubAcela lounge, reserved for First Class passengers, and waiting for my 9:15 departure. The lounge is quite, has large soft chairs with soft drinks and snacks available as well as wireless internet. The Redcap informed me we would board at 8:45. I should be in Washington by 3:45. I hope to take a few pictures in-route and post them with my iPhone.

NSC Convention - Wrapup

Today was the n-scale manufacturers breakfast. Reps from each company get up and discuss their future plans. Usually you can get the same information from them at their booth so not much is really new.

My ride to Boston was arranged with Neal Carnaby of Neal's N-Gauging Trains so after breakfast I helped him pack up and load up his room full of merchandise. I ended up riding with his wife, Erica, and and son Norman, which was okay because Neal's van doesn't have any AC. We had a little trouble finding the hotel in Boston but Erica got directions over the phone and we were soon there. The hotel was near a shopping center which I visited then ate supper nearby. Tomorrow I ride the Acela Express from Boston to Washington, top speed 150 mph.

NSC Convention - Day four

Today at the convention was for for the public train show, a trip to the Connecticut Trolley Museum, clinics and the banquet. But first I walked over to the Walmart, about 1.6 miles, to replace my lost razor. Not really a good idea as the area is not pedestrian friendly.
I finally spent some money at the trainshow, buying some of the Branchline Trains kits I had seen during the tour yesterday and a set of Kato stack cars. Branchline makes some really nice laser cut building kits and I'll probably buy some more. Didn't make any clinics.
Did laundry so I would have clean clothes for the rest of the trip.
The banquet was fun though I didn't win but one door prize.

NSC Convention - Day three

The Swap-O-Rama started at nine am. All N scale stuff just for convention attendees. A few clinics today and tonight the Essex Dinner Train. It's supposed to rain all day so we'll see how that works out. Got a tour of Branchline Trains but missed the rest of the Swap-O-Rama and lunch. Went to my room for some junk food since the hotel restaurant was so expensive. It was a nasty rainy day all day and still going when we left for the Essex Clipper Dinner Train. Our bus windshield kept fogging up and the driver would wipe a little hole in the fogged up windshield to see. Made everyone very nervous. We arrived at the train station intact and a bit early so we had to wait for them to bring the train up. We were assigned to specific cars, even specific tables and were escorted to our table by a nicely dressed waiter. Now they knew exactly when were were coming and exactly what each person at each table had ordered so at this point, maybe after serving the salad, they should have been able to set our food in front of us. Not so. We waited and waited for food, finishing the appetizer, the salad and the bread then waiting some more. I just don't understand what the delay could have been. The waitress took drink orders and I ordered a coke, not knowing that a 8 oz. coke would cost $2.50. Dessert was also long in coming but eventually we finished our meal and de-boarded only to find that our busses were not there and after a call to the bus dispatcher it was determined that the dispatcher had no order to send busses. It was cold though not raining. Many were not prepared for standing around outside and some of the ladies used the hand dryers in the restroom to try to stay warm. The bus company recovered quickly however and our buses soon appeared. All in all, it was not the most fun I've ever had at a train show.

NSC Convention - Day Two

We loaded up at 9:15 this morning for a field trip. First stop was the Essex Steam Train. They have an interesting combo trip where you ride the train to a river landing and then board a boat for a trip on the Connecticut river. Lunch was served, bag style, while we cruised a few miles on the river, then back onto the train and back onto the bus. Next we went to the Groton Submarine Base Museum and a tour of the original nuclear submarine, the Nautilus. Not a life I would have enjoyed.
Tonight was the live auction of n-scale trains but in all the years I've been to these conventions, I've never even bid on anything. I skipped the auction to play with my computer.

NSC Convention - Day one

Well, started the day without my electric razor. In thinking about it, I believe I lost it on the platform in DC. I heard a noise and noticed an open zipper on my bag but looking back down the platform I saw nothing so I zipped up the bag and went on. Fortunately I have a spare. Originally sold by WalMart for $3.95, I bought a bunch of Shaveman razors for $1.00 each on close out. They run on AA batteries and the two batteries were worth a dollar. It's not much of a razor but it will do until I get to the store to buy a replacement.

Went to the Mall for lunch and while there visited the Apple Store to buy a copy of the just released iWork and iLife. Several new features but in particular a spreadsheet for iWork. I would guess that that was the only store in the mall that was identified only by it's logo.

On getting back to the hotel and starting to load the new software I was somewhat disappointed to learn that the brand new, super duper iMovie requires a G5 or Intel machine to run. Guess that gives me another reason to buy a new laptop.

Registration for the convention is at 1 pm today but until the 7 pm reception, there is nothing else scheduled. Had a nice nap. Presentation at the convention turned out to be a long, loud description of the development of the New Haven Railroad logo back in the 50's. I left until it was over. Desert afterward was good and stayed in Kim Saign's room until midnight watching him sell trains.

New Orleans to Hartford - part II

Still running late this morning but perhaps not too late to make my connection in DC. Conductor thinks we will be there at 11:20. I will now move from the luxury of a compartment to the confines a coach seat for the next 6 hours. Hope they have an outlet to plug my laptop into.

Hooray, made the connection with no problem. Even had time to drop my luggage in the first class lounge and do some shopping in the Union Station Mall. Train 176 left Washington, DC on-time and I have passed through the large cities of Baltimore and Philadelphia with the next big city being New York City. We just pulled out of Trenton, NJ, right on time. We arrive in New Haven, CT at 5:06 and I switch to a shuttle that takes me to Hartford, CT arriving at 5:58. With any luck I will have a ride waiting for me but I might take a cab to the hotel in Farmington, CT where the convention is being held.

Arrived New York City at 3:20 about 2 minutes late. Cell phone and EDGE data network seem to function fine in the depths of the underground station but not in the tunnel approches. Every seat on the train seems to have a 110 electrical outlet available. Wish they did that on all their trains. Bunch of people got off in NYC but even more got on. May have to give up the other half of my double seat. Left station at 3:31, one minute late. Lady just walked by my seat who absolutely could not walk down the aisle without turning sideways because of her hips. She also had fingernails that were about 6 in. long. Whoa!

Arrived in New Haven on time. Transfered to train 476 for the trip to Hartford along with a large number of other folks. Ended up with an aisle seat facing backwards. Didn't have time to play with any of my toys. Arrived at Hartford a few minutes late after a passenger failed to get off at an earlier station and they had to stop twice. My ride to the hotel was waiting so we stopped for dinner and I treated.