same loco number as was used in special daytime run of the Montrealer on July 17, 1989 on points further south so almost certainly that date. Was special daytime run, regular overnight service began the following day.
I first took the Montrealer from New York to Montreal back in 1982. I don't doubt this is the Montrealer, but if this is the inaugural run, it has to be pre-1982. I remember going through southern Vermont at night. I took the Montrealer 3 times, June 1982, August 1983 (my honeymoon), and June 1993 (with our kids). The kids had a blast in the sleepers. This is still great video!
The Montrealer was reinstated through Palmer and Amherst in July 1989, so this certainly could be the first run of the new route. The train's Amtrak career began in 1972 via the B&M's Connecticut Valley route north of Springfield. I grew up just across I-91 from the 1972 route in the small town of Whately and remember going down to the tracks and waving signs the day Amtrak sent through an inspection train before they started the route. The stop in Northampton wasn't added for a number of years, since my high school French class took the train to Montreal in 1974 and we had to catch the train in Springfield.
This could be the inaugural run of the Montrealer which was reinstated long before the Vermonter was even an idea. Informed guesswork on my part too but there are what appears to be sleepers and the Le Pub car which were regular equipment on the Montrealer. I'd venture to say for historic value and interest that if this is indeed the Montrealer it is even more classic and rare. I have yet to say ANY video of the Montrealer in New England on TH-cam. It was normally a night rain.
In response to R. Coley, the Montrealer used to run over the old Boston and Maine from Springfield north through Northampton and on to E. Northfield onto the Central Vermont. This service was discountinued due to poor track conditions over the B&M. The train was moved over the the CV from New London Ct. through Palmer,MA making a stop in Amherst,MA then north and back onto the original route along the remiander of the CV. This was a special daytime inagural run of the train. Normal schedule still maintained the nightime run with arrival in Montreal around 10:45 am. I remember the southbound would stop in Amherst at 1:05am and northbound 2:25am and the trains met in Palmer.
@MrShiz75 I think you're right, so I changed the title/description. I had forgotten that there was a major gap in service between the B&M and CV routings, and confused that change with the change in northern endpoint.
The Montrealer in fact ran well before 1989, for history about the train, please watch Amtrak in Vermont on TH-cam by Carl Fowler. My grandparents lived in Montpelier Jct and we took that train every year during the holidays I graduated HS in 1985, and took the train to Vermont for Summer vacation. This is probably the return after a derailment near Waterbury.
It is what it is. If you look at a freight density map, I don't think anything in New England qualifies as a main like, for freight. The last I heard, which is quite a while ago, New England Central runs one substantial size train in each direction on this line daily. PanAm is less than daily. Green Mountain does some switching.
Don’t let the overgrown weeds fool you. I’ve ridden and run on this mainline before. This is a route with freight doing 40+, and Amtrak trains doing 60+.
same loco number as was used in special daytime run of the Montrealer on July 17, 1989 on points further south so almost certainly that date. Was special daytime run, regular overnight service began the following day.
I first took the Montrealer from New York to Montreal back in 1982. I don't doubt this is the Montrealer, but if this is the inaugural run, it has to be pre-1982. I remember going through southern Vermont at night. I took the Montrealer 3 times, June 1982, August 1983 (my honeymoon), and June 1993 (with our kids). The kids had a blast in the sleepers.
This is still great video!
The Montrealer was reinstated through Palmer and Amherst in July 1989, so this certainly could be the first run of the new route. The train's Amtrak career began in 1972 via the B&M's Connecticut Valley route north of Springfield. I grew up just across I-91 from the 1972 route in the small town of Whately and remember going down to the tracks and waving signs the day Amtrak sent through an inspection train before they started the route. The stop in Northampton wasn't added for a number of years, since my high school French class took the train to Montreal in 1974 and we had to catch the train in Springfield.
This could be the inaugural run of the Montrealer which was reinstated long before the Vermonter was even an idea. Informed guesswork on my part too but there are what appears to be sleepers and the Le Pub car which were regular equipment on the Montrealer. I'd venture to say for historic value and interest that if this is indeed the Montrealer it is even more classic and rare. I have yet to say ANY video of the Montrealer in New England on TH-cam. It was normally a night rain.
Thanks for the response. It's an important part of Amtrak's history in Vermont!
In response to R. Coley, the Montrealer used to run over the old Boston and Maine from Springfield north through Northampton and on to E. Northfield onto the Central Vermont. This service was discountinued due to poor track conditions over the B&M. The train was moved over the the CV from New London Ct. through Palmer,MA making a stop in Amherst,MA then north and back onto the original route along the remiander of the CV. This was a special daytime inagural run of the train. Normal schedule still maintained the nightime run with arrival in Montreal around 10:45 am. I remember the southbound would stop in Amherst at 1:05am and northbound 2:25am and the trains met in Palmer.
Great video! Love those horns on the old engines
@MrShiz75 I think you're right, so I changed the title/description. I had forgotten that there was a major gap in service between the B&M and CV routings, and confused that change with the change in northern endpoint.
The Montrealer in fact ran well before 1989, for history about the train, please watch Amtrak in Vermont on TH-cam by Carl Fowler. My grandparents lived in Montpelier Jct and we took that train every year during the holidays I graduated HS in 1985, and took the train to Vermont for Summer vacation.
This is probably the return after a derailment near Waterbury.
Though I've forgotten a lot about this, I'm pretty sure it was not the result of an accident.
If this is the Montrealer ,this video would have been July 1989. Looks about right.
What a K5LA
WHAT YEAR IT THIS
Wicked awesome vid!!!!!!!!!!!
Is this supposed to be a main line?
It is what it is. If you look at a freight density map, I don't think anything in New England qualifies as a main like, for freight. The last I heard, which is quite a while ago, New England Central runs one substantial size train in each direction on this line daily. PanAm is less than daily. Green Mountain does some switching.
Don’t let the overgrown weeds fool you.
I’ve ridden and run on this mainline before. This is a route with freight doing 40+, and Amtrak trains doing 60+.
We believe it to be July 1989.