Today’s main objective was to meet with communications colleagues in The Salvation Army’s USA Eastern Territory. Their headquarters are, theoretically, in New York state, but out in the sticks somewhat. An early start was required to devour a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit at NY institution Kitchenette, before a brief foray to the World Trade Center site.

From here, a quick nip on a PATH train under the Hudson took me to Hoboken, whereupon a New Jersey Transit train conveyed me up the surprisingly scenic Pascack Valley to the middle of nowhere.

The Salvation Army’s headquarters are in a rather unlikely location nestled above a stream amid a wood.

The team were welcoming, professional and good humoured. The meetings went well, including lunch and a tour of the territory’s extensive facilities such as a fully-equipped TV studio and editing suites. I’m not at all covetous. Oh no.

The return to NYC did not go entirely to plan, as the bus schedule bore little relation to the timetable I’d acquired online. I was therefore stranded at the Palisades Center ‘maul’ for a couple of hours. This proved to be a cavernous place dedicated to extracting money in as many ways as humanly possible. It was so large, in fact, that there is a bowling alley, a multiplex cinema, a spa, about 50 restaurants and a full high-ropes course in the middle.

Eventually a bus turned up to return me to the right side of the Hudson, connecting (just) with a Metro North train along the river bank. This was strangely akin to the Dawlish sea wall line in Devon – very pleasant. 45 minutes later, the train pulled in to the ubiquitous Grand Central Terminal, in some ways the holy grail for a rail enthusiast like me. Ornate, spacious, luxurious, uber-American. Wow. Just wow.

Grand Central has a ‘dining concourse’, which houses upwards of 40 eateries. One that came highly recommended was Two Boots, a pizza emporium that sells such delights as a thin-crust ‘pie’ (I know, I know…) topped with corned beef and coleslaw. Delicious.

Next port of call was the iconic Empire State Building. Unashamedly touristy, but it was a clear night offering spectacular views. And on Thursday evenings there is a jazz saxophonist on the open-deck 86th floor, just to add a certain razzle-dazzle. Being about 2 degrees at ground level, it was considerably colder 300 metres up in the air, and distinctly breezy too. New York really does seem to be a city that looks better at night. I commend it to you…