October 1st, 1988 - Train 617, Time to Board

It's 12:10, the station announcer comes on the loud speaker announcing "Last call for all passengers boarding Train 615 for Sussex and Saint-John leaving on Track number 1, All Aboard!", "Your attention please, Train 617 for Rogersville, Newcastle, Bathurst and Campbellton will begin boarding in five minutes on track number 2"

OK, last minute check, suitcase? check! Walkman with Huey Lewis and the News? Check! Magazine? check! Dad has tickets in his shirt pocket? check!

12:15, "Your attention please, boarding has begun for Train 617 for Rogersville, Newcastle, Bathurst and Campbellton. All passengers please proceed to Track number 2."

On that announcement, we proceed to the platform for Track number 2 to get in line to board the train. One of the challenges in travelling as a family of four is finding four seats together. On this trip, we manage to get one of the four-seat sections on the right side of the train. Two seats facing forward and two facing backwards with a table in-between. I sit in the forward facing window seat, with my Dad to my left and Mom and my brother across the table facing the back.

As we settled into our seats waiting to leave, the RDC passenger coaches that had been used for the train that had arrived from Halifax was moved to the maintenance track on the west side of the station. As it had arrived on Track 1, it rode past my window. I was able to take a picture of it as it passed in between us and the station.



It's now 12:25, through the window I can hear the announcement on the loud speaker, "Your attention please! Last call for all passengers boarding Train 617 for Rogersville, Newcastle, Bathurst and Campbellton leaving on Track number 2, All Aboard!"

Here we go...