Amtrak on the Boston and Maine West End is a real treat, especially with fall foliage still up. This trip left Albany (actually Rensselaer NY) at 8am, proceeding west across the Hudson River on LAB bridge and following the Amtrak Hudson Line to Schenectady Station. From there it joined the CP (former D and H), proceeding several miles to CPF 480 where it started its trek over rare mileage of former Boston and Maine Route. Proceeding east on former join trackage (B and M and D and H) to Mechanicville, NY, the train passed through NS's new Mechanicville Intermodal Terminal and XO tower before crossing the Hudson River once again, this time on Boston and Maine track (now PanAm, of course). Heading generally east via the Boston and Maine's constantly twisting and turning railroad over the Berkshires, the train passed such famous locations as Fisherman's Lane, Eagle Bridge (jct Batten Kill RR) and Hoosic Jct (jct Vermont Railway). Of course, the highlight of the trip was the dive under the mountains in the ancient Hoosac Tunnel. After the train reached Pan Am's East Deerfield Yard it was wyed on the Con River Line Wye for the trip back to Albany.
