DC Trip - Day 5

It’s been a busy few days but it was finally time to go home.  I'd chosen to leave on Christmas because the trains weren't too full and the price was discounted.  The whirlwind of visits with my daughters and several friends was very uplifting - I feel recharged for the (possibly solitary) long winter.  I awoke before my alarm (0500) and double checked all my bags.  When I was leaving the room, I noticed that the hotel staff had left a stocking, full of food, on my door!  That was very nice of them because I hadn't expected to be able to get any food all day except on the train.  I didn't see anyone all the way down to the lobby but there was, in fact, someone working the desk and I was able to check out of the hotel.  After going outside, I noticed that it didn't seem too cold (although I later learned it was around 20 degrees F) so decided to walk to Union Station.  Most of the reason for this was because I wanted to get some steps before going on the train but I also didn't trust the Metro to get me there.  I suppose I could have used Uber but the walk was actually pleasant and, before I knew it, I was at the train station (0620).  Making my way inside the building, I found nothing open and only a few people waiting at the gates.  Just like my last visit on Amtrak, no one ever posted a gate number for the Vermonter (this time #54) and I had to keep my eyes and ears open for when they started boarding for my 0730 departure.  Fortunately, I was very close to the gate at that time (0715) and was able to find a nice seat on the car nearest the engine (I hoped it was the quiet car but I don't think it was) before the train rolled out of Union Station on time.  The weather was clear and cool and the sun lit up the tracks soon after we were moving.  I read several magazines that I'd hoped to finish long ago, sorted through some mail and listened to an audiobook as we made our way to New York City.  The train was mostly empty and I was able to fill up on the snacks from my Christmas stocking.  We arrived at Penn Station (Moynihan Train Hall) at around 1055 and then sat at the station for over 30 minutes.  I hadn't expected anyone else to get on but, just before 1130, a HUGE number of passengers arrived on the car and got inside.  Almost every seat was filled after that!  I learned later that most people were just trying to make their way north to New Haven and would then transfer to another train to reach Boston.  However, other passengers were planning to get off in Hartford and Springfield.  The young lady who sat down next to me at this was quite interesting - she worked for an NGO that was based in Nairobi, Kenya and had a lot of fascinating tales to share.  As a result, I didn't do any reading for the whole time she was aboard.  She departed at Hartford (1400) and I noticed that the train was much emptier by then.  Soon after that, I walked back to the Dining Car and bought a sandwich and some mac & cheese (1430).  The train stopped at around 1500 at Springfield and I was able to go for a walk on the platform during our 15 minute delay there.  The southbound Vermonter actually also stopped there just as we were getting ready to leave again - first time I've seen them at the same time.  Back on the northbound tracks again, the time seemed to pass quite quickly.  There was good food, great scenery and the excited vibe of holiday vacationers (some finished with celebrations and others enroute to them).  There wasn’t a blazing fire, tinseled tree or holiday music but my check of Facebook has made me feel connected to many of my friends' Christmas festivities.  It got dark along the way and I no longer had much to look at outside so I listened to some more audiobooks.  The train engineer kept sounding "Jingle Bells" with his whistle!  We rolled into White River Junction at around 1825 and almost ALL of the remaining passengers on the train got off with me.  My car started quickly and I was soon on my way home.  After I reached my condo and let the kids know I'd made it home safely, I unpacked and unwound in my living room.  Verdict: the Amtrak “Vermonter” has (just as I’d hoped when I moved to the Upper Valley) turned out to be an outstanding alternative to long drives on traffic-filled, construction prone or snow-covered interstate highways.  Merry Christmas, everyone!