New York to Niagara Falls in Canada

After my long hike around part of New York city, I was too exhausted to even eat any dinner. And it was very hard to get up very early the next morning for my Amtrak train to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. I had to be at the New York Penn Station by 6.30 am! 

I was starting to panic a little because taxi after taxi went by at 6.00 am but none would not stop. The doorman, who had been trying to hail one for me, insisted he would find one, even risking his life racing onto the street amongst the traffic. Meanwhile, there was already a line of taxis and black chauffeur-driven limousines parked outside the hotel, the drivers just lounging around. “Why can't we use them?” I asked. “Oh, they only will go to the airport” was his reply. Jeepers - they would not get away with that in Melbourne! It is against the law. 

Anyhow, finally I got a taxi and then gulped when I saw the massive, complex station - utterly different to all those I have encountered in Europe and England. How on earth would I find my train? And how would I get my suitcase down the steep, narrow, long escalator into the station? There were no lifts to be seen. It was approaching the deadline for reporting for the train. (The deadline was set because I was crossing the border into Canada and had to present my passport, etc.)

And here kindness from a stranger happened again. A lovely young man asked if I would like some help and took my suitcase down for me. He must have seen my look of consternation. But he had no idea how to find the Amtrak lines. He was just catching a suburban train. So I raced on, and eventually found an information office for Amtrak, and then was directed to the person to whom I had to present my papers. 

But then I discovered I had to go down an even steeper escalator to the train. There was no lift! I could see myself being unbalanced by my suitcase and spearing headfirst down to the bottom! It would not be a pretty sight! It wouldn't feel too good either! 

I told the girl I could not manage it, so I was taken to a special section for people with disabilities and here the most marvellous man helped me. He was a really cheery, kindly, jolly African-American who said how delighted he would be to help me and three others, who, like me, did not have a disability but could not manage a wide heavy suitcase down a narrow escalator with very narrow steps. He said it ‘helped him build his muscles so he would be even more handsome! ’ and laughed. He took all of our bags (I kept my heavy backpack on) and helped us down the escalator and onto the train. Then he carried our suitcases into the carriage for us. It was all such a relief! And no hand was put out for a tip - he was just a genuinely nice, salt-of-the-earth human being. 

Imagine this day and age having no lifts in a multi-level, really busy major train station! . . . I assume they do not yet have laws compelling them to provide suitable facilities for people with disabilities, such as lifts and ramps. 

The train was fairly ordinary and rattled along in such a way you really had to hold onto seats to move down the train. There was a little kiosk several carriages along that sold mostly junk food, but we had to put up with that as we did not arrive into the station in Canada until 6 pm! I had not even had breakfast of course, so just had to make do with what food I could get there. There were shops in the station, but because of the delay with the taxi, I had no time to look at them. 

Anyhow, I must say that the train staff were all very pleasant and the scenery was interesting. We travelled alongside the Hudson River for a very long way. After we left New York we saw mostly forested hills and reddish coloured cliffs on the opposite side of the river, which was very wide, and the occasional little town and bridge. Eventually we saw quite marshy areas where the water looked like a toxic red algal bloom had grown over it. Finally we travelled through farming areas and occasional industrial areas and towns. But we often had to stop for the many freight trains that were travelling the opposite way, which is why we did not reach our destination until 6.00 pm, about two hours later than we were supposed to arrive. I was to learn this would happen right across Canada too. Freight trains always take precedence over passenger trains here. 

I was only able to take a couple of clear photos through the the dirty train windows, as it was travelling at speed. I will talk about Niagara Falls in my next couple of posts.  

One of the train stations along the way.

It was an unexpected landscape along the Hudson. I had no idea it was so long and apparently uninhabited for the most part, from what I could see.  

One of the larger bridges across the Hudson. 

Another bridge over the Hudson. I was surprised that no watercraft were seen travelling along the river. 

One of the farms near the border. Many were flying American flags. 

Crossing the bridge over to Canada. You cannot see them in the photo, but the American Niagara Falls were along the river there.  They were not very spectacular though.  

The Amtrak train arrives at the Canadian town of Niagara Falls, where we had to show our passports again.