Riding the Downeaster: Information About the Boston to Portland Amtrak Run

It was a chilly winter morning in Portland, Maine, when I decided to make the day trip to Boston and back again via the Amtrak system. Fortunately there was a long, covered walkway that lead from the terminal at the Portland Transportation Center to the train tracks, which are located several hundred feet away.

At the end of the walk the shiny, metal, streamlined train cars sat waiting for the passengers to board. Sounds of the big engine idling filled the crisp, clear air of this below-freezing, winter morning. Each train car was well heated and boarding was quick and easy with many rows of empty seats from which to choose. Right on time, the engineer let loose with a long wailing blast from the horn and the train was rolling, final destination Boston, Massachusetts.

First, we crossed the edge of the Portland Harbor on an old, wooden train trestle then headed for the ocean side community of Old Orchard Beach. After crossing the grassy expanse of Scarborough Marsh, the train entered the seaside community of Old Orchard Beach. In winter, it was mostly a boarded up resort town with a good view of the Atlantic in the background, but during the summer and fall the train stops here. On this journey our first stop would be at Saco, where a very, old, mill complex is easily visible from the train car. Next comes Wells Beach, but the ocean can not be seen here, only the thick Maine forest. The sign for Wells Beach sure does look strange sitting amidst the heavy stand of hemlock and oak trees.

Next comes New Hampshire as the tracks takes us further inland. Dover is the first stop and after that is Durham, where the University of New Hampshire is located. Finally the last stop in the "Granite State" is Exeter and then the train pulls into Haverhill, Massachusetts, where another large mill complex is visible from the train window. Nowadays, it is the location for many restaurants, shops and businesses. After Haverhill comes Anderson-Woburn and Boston is just a few minutes away.