THE ADIRONDACK RAIL JOURNEY

The Adirondack rail journey. 

We were up early and found a Liberty Bagel Shop where we got breakfast as well as lunch for our train ride. Nothing like a nice warm fresh bagel in the morn. These bagels are huge and will add 20 pounds to our luggage. 

We gathered our bags and walked to Penn Station and found the Amtrak Acela Lounge. Not as bad as many of the reviews I read. Nice quiet place to get out of the crowds, limited offerings with coffee and other beverages as well as packaged cinnamon rolls. 

We relaxed till the Canadian Passport check was open.  Our bags tagged and passports checked, we then chilled back in the lounge. 

0755 We were summoned to the front desk and were told the Red Caps were not answering his calls. He sent us to track 6 where we made our way the train. We stowed our bags and found seats and settled in for the journey.  It was nice to be settled early, sit, and made luggage storage easy. 

Our seats are in coach and they are nice and roomy with WIFI and power outlets. We have a nice window and the rhythm of the rails will be welcome.  

At 0823 It is ALLLL…… ABOARD! And the train pulls out of Penn Station as we start our NorthBound Odyssey, traveling North through the Hudson Valley arriving in Montreal at 1911hrs.  Yonkers in 20 Min. 

A special car attached to our train, a restored Pullman car. 

Yonkers - the name derives from the Dutch word meaning Young Gentleman.  Here is where Otis Elevator built it’s first factory. This factory is now the Kawasaki rail car factory, supplying many municipal rail cars. Steven Tyler is a noted resident. 

We soon pass the Tappan Zee bridge, next stop Corton-Harmon. In the past this was a rail maintenance hub. 

Poughkeepsie, NY, was the home of Smith Brothers Cough Drops until 1972 and home of the weekend homes for the Vanderbilt’s and Astors. It was also an early center for whale rendering and home to hatteries (must be tied to the Astors and the fur trade of the early 1800’s)  and breweries.  Samuel Morse made his home here for 20 years.

It was nice to see a Bald Eagle flying along the river. We have also observed egret, heron’s and cormorants. Hard to photograph from a moving train.

Kingston - 1st capital of NY between 1777-1797. From here came most of the bluestone used for the sidewalks of NYC. 

HUDSON - Named for Henry Hudson. One famous native General William Jenkins Worth who took a leading role in the victory during Mexican American War, sealing the independence of Texas, hence the City of Fort Worth derives it’s namesake. 

Albany - Albany is the Capital of New York State. Interestingly, the capital building does not have a dome, and is one of the ten state capital buildings which are dome-less. It is the fourth oldest city in the US and second oldest state capital. One of the more notable natives in Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes fame. 

Schenectady - After Thomas Edison moved his Edison Machine Works here, it became the headquarters of GE in 1892. Jimmy Carter began his studies in nuclear physics here at Union College. 

Saratoga Springs - Here in the autumn of 1777 American forces met, defeated and forced a major British army to surrender. This crucial American victory renewed patriots' hopes for independence, secured essential foreign recognition and support, and forever changed the face of the world.

Because of the incredible impact caused by the American victory in the Battles of Saratoga, they are known as the "Turning Point of the American Revolution", and are considered by many historians to be among the top 15 battles in world history.

I could bore you with many many more facts about this event but will spare you. 

It is also believed Don McLean is said to composed America Pie in a downtown bar here in Saratoga Springs. 

Fort Edward - This is a really nice looking little bucolic town. Seems to be rather artsy. They even have a rodeo here during their stampede and Rachel Ray is from here.

Whitehall - The birthplace of the US Navy, where the first fleet was built here by Benedict Arnold in 1776. 

Ticonderoga - A Mohawk word meaning “junction of two waterways”. Here historic battles of the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War were fought. Fort Ticonderoga was taken by American forces led by Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys as well as Benedict Arnold in 1775. The most famous wood product produced here is the Ticonderoga Pencil. 

Port Henry - Here is the location of the first blast furnaces in the US, built in 1822 when iron ore was discovered nearby. Here one can scan Lake Champlain for CHAMP. Champ is a Loc Ness kind of creature. First Saturday of August is the Champ Day festival.  

West Port Lake Placid - Now a resort community, the Town of West Port was destroyed during the Revolutionary War.  Lake Placid of Olympic fame is  where the original club was built by Melvil Dewey, inventor of the Dewey Decimal System. Here was one of the first golf clubs in the US. 

Plattsburgh - French Missionaries and Iroquois Indians first lived here and the town was founded in 1785 by Zephaniah Platt.  It was here during the war of 1812 where the battle of Plattsburgh was fought. This battle was a US victory which denied the British a claim to the Great Lakes. Today it is the home of Bombardier  and Georgia Pacific. A noted resident, John Henry Hopkins, a rector of the Trinity Church, was the author of We Three Kings. 

Along the Hudson River

Quite a few birds were observed

Apples 

Rouses Point - Here the second commercial steamboat was launched on Lake Champlain with Rouses Point as it’s first port of call. It is also known as a stop on the Underground Railroad and was popular for smuggling alcohol during prohibition. 

Arriving at the US/Canada border, Canadian Customs officer boarded the train and checked everyones identification. Four people were asked to get off the train and two returned. Most were questioned about their criminal history. 

Boarder Sunset as we waited to enter Canada

We finally started moving and in two hours we arrived in Montreal. It was a dark and rainy night. We gathered our bags and departed the train heading directly to a surface street where we found one cab. We grabbed it and were soon at our hotel the Manoir Sherbrooke.   

Also our train was two hours or more late as there were trees on the track which had to be removed. 

This is a well kept older property that feels like guest house. The staff was very friendly and assisted us to our room as well as providing us area information and details about breakfast. Our room is simple and elegant with wood floors, cloth covered sitting chairs, a queen bed, small but nice bathroom, and turn of the 19th century art work. More on the property tomorrow.  

Also in the lobby is a wine dispenser offering 8 different wines. You use a room assigned key to pour yourself a glass of your choosing. 

We were a little bit hungry so we walked to a nearby convenience store where we bought a sandwich and a couple samosas. The samosas were very nice and filling. We are calling it a night.