Amtrak north east regional experts?

New Haven, Connecticut would be a good spot; this is the terminal for service to/from Springfield, MA. Another option is Albany-Rensselaer; this is where P42s replace the P32s for service to points north and east.

-John

@AcelaNYP posted:

New Haven, Connecticut would be a good spot; this is the terminal for service to/from Springfield, MA. Another option is Albany-Rensselaer; this is where P42s replace the P32s for service to points north and east.

-John

Thanks John! New Haven sounds like the place I need to visit.

Don't forget about Philadelphia. It's a little further than New Haven, but closer than Rennselaer. You could also make a full day of it and take a round trip  to Washington and watch engine changes all day long. Don't wait too long, because the P40's and P42's are slowly being replaced. Happy railfanning.     Earl G. 

Just to build on what others have commented here - New Haven is the best bet.  You got the Springfield shuttles, Vermonter 55/56, and a couple of the Regionals that all go up the MRS line that do a diesel swap at New Haven.  Platform is easy to access and you can see most of the action from there and the parking lot.  The station is beautiful and you can admire the O gauge models in the main hall.  Plus if time permits get a taxi and go get a slice of Modern Apizza or Frank Pepe's!

I think Philly is a waste of time as the platforms have controlled access, the only trains that get diesel swaps are 42/43 and you'll only be able to see anything from the parking deck.  However the NJ Transit Atlantic City line trains have the GP40PH-2S which are becoming a more rare site and they look and sound great!   Washington DC has lots of diesel swaps but theres alot of security and the platforms have controlled access. 

DC has engine changes, VA Railway Express, Marc and etc. When we take the Silver Star to FL it arrives on one of the low level platforms so you get a good view. The Cardinal is often loading on the next track, only chance to see the high level equipment in the east. The tracks to the east often have a variety of private owner cars and odd Amtrak equipment stored on them.

@M J Breen posted:

I think Philly is a waste of time as the platforms have controlled access, the only trains that get diesel swaps are 42/43 and you'll only be able to see anything from the parking deck.  However the NJ Transit Atlantic City line trains have the GP40PH-2S which are becoming a more rare site and they look and sound great!   Washington DC has lots of diesel swaps but theres alot of security and the platforms have controlled access.

Agreed, Philly there are only 2 trains you would see them on... but if you do want to view them around Philly then I would recommend going to Paoli (20ish miles West of Philly) to view them as they stop there and can see them from the public platform.

Unless you need your own photos, there are plenty on the internet.  

Union Station DC has plenty of activity, but unless you want to stand in the parking garage and take pictures from above, there are better spots. You can get out on the platforms, but someone may ask what you're doing, being downtown DC infrastructure and all. You can sit on the platform at L'enfant Plaza but its hemmed in by buildings so the vantage point isnt great. I would NOT try to go around the Ivy City facility.

Excluding the Capitol Limited, the P42 traffic goes south from DC. I would head over the river to Virginia if you want to see them. You can sit on the platform in Alexandria and get all of the north and southbound regional and long distance traffic to points south out of DC (All the VA regional service, the florida Silver service, Palmetto, Carolinian, Cardinal and Crescent). The platform is covered with uncovered extensions, it has a waiting room and bathrooms, its easy to get to (its adjacent the metro) and there are frequently train watchers hanging out there. Food is available a block or 2 away.  Looking north the view is pretty good as the tracks are straight. Southbound is obstructed beyond the station by an overpass and a curve.  If you want up close and personal, southbound trains will stop with the locomotive still on the platform. Northbound trains will often stop with the locomotive sitting on a road overpass just beyond the station.

The only other one I can think of that isnt listed already would be Albany but I suspect it would only be the Lake Shore.  Not sure how much activity goes on there.

Long Bridge Park in Arlington across the Potomac from DC has a nice elevated walkway (or "esplanade") to view both NB and SB traffic.  You can also watch planes at DCA when train traffic is down.

Address:

475 Long Bridge Dr, Arlington, VA 22202

Some photos from 2014 are below.

Just as a caveat on taking pics, of course the obvious no trespassing rules apply and safety stuff, but just a few years ago, it was being discussed at the federal level that photographing trains might be a recon project for those with nefarious intent, and that it should be prohibited.  Some discussion was here and also on the Trains website, but it appears that it has all died down.  Apparently, you may be accosted by private security firms, and one fellow posted the following link and said to copy it and carry it with you when taking photos:  https://www.krages.com/phoright.htm