Commuting can be “Oh so boring”, especially if you’re driving. But when you’re
on the train, you’ve got plenty of time to do work, read a book, take a nap or just
look out the window.
Enjoying the view from the train is one of the perks of being car-free, and some
parts of the ride are especially beautiful.
Traveling along the coast, especially east of New Haven (on Shore Line East or
Amtrak) the water views are spectacular. Even on the wetlands side, there’s often
wildlife to be seen… egrets, ospreys and such.
Crossing the soon-to-be-replaced, 125 year-old Walk Bridge in Norwalk, there’s a
nice view out to the water or into downtown South Norwalk. Westport’s
Saugatuck River Bridge (known as Saga) is also a delight. Same thing in
Greenwich crossing the Mianus River where a glimpse to the north brings back
memories of the collapse of the I-95 bridge in 1983 that took three lives.
But my favorite part of the ride into New York City on Metro-North is between
Portchester and New Rochelle, that nine-mile straight section of track that
engineers call “The Raceway”. Running right alongside I-95, the trains used to
have a speed limit of 80 mph, and they’d do it.
Is there anything more satisfying than whipping past drivers on that busy
interstate, showing them that the train is a faster choice? I’ve even been known
to wave as we hurtle past.
Just south of Westchester County, as trains enter The Bronx (near Woodlawn), is
where the New Haven and Harlem lines converge, complete with a soaring rail
overpass. Again, a great view for a railfan such as myself.
Another favorite of mine is crossing the Harlem River into Manhattan as the trains
traverse the Park Avenue Bridge. There’s a great view of the city skyline and brief
views down the avenues.
Some stations are also memorable, even when passed at high speed. Just who
was Greens Farms named after? And just why doesn’t the stylish new Fairfield
Metro station have a waiting room? But special mention goes to Milford where
the usual advertising posters on the platform have been replaced with huge
photos of the beautiful town itself. Nice promotion.
A nice as those views are, there’s much of the ride which is far less scenic.
The seemingly bombed out factories of Bridgeport hold such memories… and
promise. And Portchester’s old Lifesaver building, complete with its terracotta
candies as ornamentation, remind us of the whimsy of architecture.
Railroads are built around business, and looking into the backside of industrial
sites along the right of way ain’t exactly pretty. Even in corporate office
buildings, it’s funny how landlords spend so much adorning their street-facing
façade but forget that thousands see only the backs of the building, covered with
graffiti and neglect.
And much of the trackside, strewn with debris, old rail ties and rusting
equipment, could also use some TLC.
What’s your favorite “view from the train”? Share your thoughts at
[email protected].
Editor’s Note: We are delighted to welcome transport guru Jim Cameron back to LymeLine. He was wrote for us regularly for almost 10 years starting in 2011 and his columns were always popular with our readers. He is the founder of the Commuter Action Group and advocates for Connecticut rail riders. He writes a weekly column called ‘Talking Transportation,’ which is published by a number of publications in the state.