From: M00209@MBVM.Mitre.Org
Subject: Re: Most spectacular passenger routes
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford MA 01730
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 19:31:52 GMT

In article <01SEP92.14061604.0087@VM1.MCGILL.CA>
CZ94 <CZ94@MUSICA.MCGILL.CA> writes, in part:
 
>
>>       - The local overnight from Montreal to Senneterre, which passes through
>>               a couple of hundred miles of very scenic roadless country across
>>               the north of Quebec.
>
>A matter of taste, I suppose, but I didn't find this route all that
>scenic.  I've heard the part of this route near La Tuque is very
>pretty, but it's usually traversed at night.  I guess you could see
>it after sunrise on the southbound train (# 134).  I've only
>travelled northbound.
>
I was fortunate enough (?) to ride it west/northbound one morning many years
ago when it was so late that I had daylight from La Tuque west.  I also had
covered the route from Montreal to La Tuque on a steam fantrip.
 
>IMHO, a more scenic route is the local train between Montreal and
>Jonquiere.  The trip through the Batiscan River valley is especially
>nice.  The southbound train on Tuesday and Thursday (#132) gives
>a better view than the Mon-Wed-Fri northbound (#133) or the Sunday
>southbound (#138).
 
Just the reverse here.  I have only ridden this line when it was an overnight
run.  Guess I'll have to do it again in the daylight.
 
>>
>>       - The "Adirondack" along Lake Champlain.
>>
>I'm hoping to do this one before too long.  I was thinking of taking
>the Adirondack in one direction and the Montrealer in the other,
>between Montreal and NYC.  Anybody have opinions on which direction
>would be better to take the Adirondack?
>
You "pays yo' money and takes yo' choice".  Northbound, you would for sure have
the Hudson River in the daylight, with the sun on the right side.  The ride
along the Lake would be oriented right also, but could be quite late especially
in other than mid-summer should the train be late.  Southbound, you'd be
looking into the sun for the scenery, and the Hudson River might be after dark
so I guess I'd take it northbound if I had the option.
 
>Other questions for people who know about these two trains:
>
>What's the food service like?  (not the greatest, I've heard)
>
That's what I have heard also, though I haven't ridden either lately.  I think
they just recently down-graded the Montrealer to a "Amicrowave" meal car to
"save money".
 
>Is "Custom Class" worth the extra fare?
>
I doubt it!
 
>How far in advance do you typically need to reserve a roomette on
>the Montrealer?  What is the Amtrak numbering convention for roomettes,
>and will the reservations system let you choose left vs. right side,
>or centre vs. end of car?
>
I'd make my reservation ASAP if I wanted to travel on the weekend.  They have
taken off one of the former two sleeping cars on the train, and I would bet
that the weekend runs sell out early.  Don't know about the quirks of the
reservations system.  Call Stan Barriger of Ascutney Travel in Claremont NH -
1-800-TRAINS4.  He specializes in the Montrealer!
 
 
Len Bachelder        Archives Committee, Boston and Maine RR Historical Society
MITRE Corp.           Secretary, Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts
Bedford MA 01730      Member, 470 Railroad Club
<M00209@mbvm.mitre.org>
 
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