Andrew & Dan Board the Vermonter

The Vermonter pulls into the station.

The day after our wedding, Andrew and Dan had to return to Washington, DC. They took the Vermonter from White River Junction in Vermont. It's a 12 hour ride. I drove them down Sunday morning. We had breakfast at P&H Truck Stop at Exit 17 of I-91.. It's the best place for breakfast (read articles about it here and here). I made sure the boys had lunch so that they wouldn't need to buy Amtrak food, and we finished the ride to White River. We arrived 10 minutes before the train. Now I could get my Amtrak photos! I took the portrait of the boys below, and it was time to board. (Note the hazy sky — we had not heard of the Quebec forest fires at this point, and I remember wondering why the usually sparkling Vermont air was dirty as if we were in Connecticut.)

Dan & Andrew just before boarding.

I took advantage of the time between when they boarded and when the train left the station to take too many photographs. Here are a few with a couple of links to more:

The boys board the train.

The Vermont leaves White River

The White River train station.

Note the cupola and copper locomotive weather vane on the train station in the photo above. I have a full size photograph of the weather vane on meeyauw's Photo a Day that is worth a look.

Engine 148 was at the end of the Vermonter.

A sad moment: the Vermonter was on its way to Washington

Link: my large photograph of the Vermonter Engine 111

    Andrew & Dan Return to Washington Set

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B&M Engine 494

Plaque on Engine 494

On the day before our wedding, one of my jobs was to pick Andrew and Dan up at the railroad station in White River Junction (the closest train station to us, one and a half hours away to the south). Of course I had my camera with me. I have always wanted some Amtrak photos. I had some Amtrak photos on our 2006 train ride to Washington, DC. But I left the camera on the train and lost the photos! So May 28 was my day to take more photos, with a better camera, of Amtrak trains.

Engine 494

While waiting for Andrew's train to get in, I took these photos of old Engine 494. I have copied the text of the information below. When I was done, the train from Washington came in. And my camera battery died. So much for the Amtrak photos!

Engine shelter, coal tender and caboose

B&M Engine 494 Restoration Project

Boston & Maine Railroad No. 494 was built by the Manchester Locomotive Works in Manchester, New Hampshire in 1892 and served B&M hauling passenger cars and light freight. The engine was renumbered No. 905 in 1911. Near the end of its service, the 905 hauled coal for the Mount Washington Cog Railway and was retired in 1938. In 1939, the 905 was restored to No. 494 for display at the 1939 World's Fair. Donated to the Town of Hartford (VT) and dedicated on July 27, 1957. This equipment was placed in the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1995.

The current restoration project was officially launched on September 13, 1997. The three major prioities of this restoration are:

1. Stabilization
2. Construction of a Shelter
3. Cosmetic Restoration

Major funding for the restoration project is made possible by a ISTEA Federal Grant, White River Junction Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and volunteers contributing their time, energy and expertise.

Engine 494, its Tender and Caboose are owned by the Town of Hartford Parks & Recreation Department. The structures are routinely maintained by dedicated members of the Engine 494 Restoration Committee.

For more information call the Hartford Parks & Recreation Department, (802) 295-5036. Inquiries & donations can be sent to Engine 494 Restoration, 17 Bridge St, White River Jct., Vermont 05001.

Coal tender

Caboose

Train weather vane on White River Junction station

     B&M Engine 494 Set

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