Hey...I remember "talking" to you a few years back about this! I just didn't remember it was you! I had posted something about the Downeaster (perhaps about my younger daughter) and I remember you posting about your husband. By the way, when your husband retires, my grandson would like his job.
My younger daughter used to do some community and summerstock theatre and she auditioned for a Downeaster commercial. She got the part and spent an entire day of filming on the train. It was before train service opened to the public.
Since she was only 11 at the time, I went with her. We rode the train back and forth all day between Portland, ME and Concord, NH. It was pretty neat to see the filming process first-hand. There were maybe ten people in the commercial. If I'm remembering correctly, the commercial was filmed in the fall of 2001, and was the first Downeaster commercial to be filmed and shown on television.
I've ridden the Downeaster many times, usually from the Wells, ME station to Boston. You're right, they're extending rail service to Brunswick. It's a fun way to get to Boston, especially since I HATE driving in and around that city!
Oh, I hear ya about the cold. As much as we dislike the summers here in Tucson, we'll take them over the Maine winters.