Leg 4—Chicago to Boston: April 28 & 29, 2006

Amtrak’s Train 48, the Lakeshore Limited, takes me from Chicago on Friday, April 28 at 7:55 p.m. to Albany/Rensselaer, New York on Saturday, April 29. The train is due at 12:30 p.m. but due to freight traffic, we arrive about thirty minutes late, where our connecting train is waiting for us. The train travels in six states, including: in Illinois, Chicago; in Indiana, South Bend; and Waterloo; in Ohio, Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, and Cleveland; in Pennsylvania, Erie; in New York, Depew, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady and Rensselaer/Albany.

The passengers transfer to Amtrak’s Train 448, still called Lakeshore Limited, in Rensselaer/Albany. The train departs later than scheduled but makes up time, and we arrive in Boston’s South Station on Saturday near the scheduled time, 6:30 p.m. This phase of the Lakeshore Limited takes us to Massachusetts, Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, Framingham, and Boston. Much of the ride is at night until we hit Depew, New York. (Over last two legs, I travel through three cities named Springfield: Springfield, Missouri; Springfield, Illinois; and Springfield, Massachusetts.)

I use my cell phone to call the hotel to inform them of the late train.

If you like trains, go to Boston. The city has four train stations: (1) Boston – South Station, (2) Boston – North Station, (3) Boston - Back Bay Station and (4) Boston – Route 128 Station. Amtrak Downeaster trains to New Hampshire and Maine arrive and depart from Boston's North Station. All other Amtrak services in Boston depart from South Station and Back Bay Station. The Boston – Route 128 Station services Acela Express and Regional trains.

Amtrak’s Train 448 stops at both the Back Bay and the South Stations. My ticket says to detrain at the South Station. The station is bustling with people even though we arrive at night. I locate the taxi stand to hail a taxi. The fare to get to the hotel was $35—that seemed high. I didn’t know if the cabbie cheated me or not.

I check into the Days Inn-1800 Soldiers Field Road (Map), using my AAA card for a discounted rate. Soldiers Field Road runs along the St. Charles River. The hotel has a laundry facility. I wash my clothes. I am tired. I watch TV until it is time to fall asleep.

I still wish for rain.

When I awake, I locate an IHOP next to the hotel. There I have breakfast. Then, I catch a cab to the North Station for my train to Portland. The fare was $30—I guess the previous cabbie didn’t cheat me.

Boston aka Beantown and city on the Hill is the capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. It is the largest city of the region known as New England. Boston is one of the oldest, wealthiest, and most culturally significant large cities in the United States. Its economy is based on education, health care, finance, and technology. The population is pushed up to one million or more on an average week day. On days with major events such as baseball or basketball games the population can easily increase to 1.5 million. Like many other major cities in the 1950s and 1960s, Boston's population decreased dramatically due to new highway systems that made it easier to access the suburbs and outer regions.

I wish I had more time in Boston. I would be able to visit Harvard University, Boston University, M.I.T. University and Boston College. But the object of my trip is to see as much as possible in my 30 days. I do pass some of these institutions on the expressways.