Amtrak Fall Foliage trips out of Philly

[benjibear]

The train is making a loop as far as I can tell from the description so there is turn around point. There is a short section of track between Columbia, PA and Shocks Mill Bridge that will be traversed in both directions.

I assume the train will come through Lancaster about 3-3:30 time frame. I believe I went through and posted some times based on knowing distances and guessing.

 

[Barciur]

Ok. If somebody can confirm that this is what makes sense, or somebody has other information regarding this.. or better yet, if somebody going on this trip would be willing to connect with me on PM and exchange phone numbers to text me regarding the location so I could get it at Lancaster, that'd be really cool.

 

[fairviewroad]

I was wondering if it would be possible for someone to drive to the turnaround spot and exchange places with someone on the train for the return trip?

No. Doors won't be opened AFAIK. I don't know why they would be.

From the description on Amtrak.com (bolding mine)

Travel the Northeast Corridor to Perryville, MD, and then make a rare trip up the historic Port Road Branch (which is usually off limits to passenger traffic) along the Susquehanna River. Pass through Enola Yard, cross the Shocks Mill and Rockville bridges and make a brief stop in Harrisburg, PA, before continuing over the Columbia Secondary and ultimately back to Philadelphia via scenic Lancaster County.

I would imagine the doors will open in Harrisburg and passengers will be given a smoke/stretch your legs break. Swapping places with a passenger

might be possible. The new passenger would probably have to hang around HAR for quite a while since there isn't a published time for the HAR

stop. And, the HAR stop might not actually happen if the train is running late. Or it might happen somewhere other than the HAR station. Or it

might happen at the HAR station but the doors might not open. Or the doors might open, but the platform might be blocked off to non-passengers.

Etc, etc. So yeah, I'd say swapping en route would be difficult, but it could theoretically happen under the right conditions. One thing's for sure,

the "Part 2" passenger would be getting the poorer end of the deal.

 

[abcnews]

Wow, what an opportunity...

Is this the same line that you see, when you cross over the Susquehanna on I-95 and look below?

Have they ever done this before?

.

 

[afigg]

Ok. If somebody can confirm that this is what makes sense, or somebody has other information regarding this.. or better yet, if somebody going on this trip would be willing to connect with me on PM and exchange phone numbers to text me regarding the location so I could get it at Lancaster, that'd be really cool.

The train may show up on the new train track map. Which updates location only every few minutes, but if #803 is on the track map, should be able figure out when it is approaching Lancaster.

 

[Barciur]

Thanks! Good point. I'll scope it out. If it doesn't, maybe somebody will get on here and post that they're in Harrisburg or something. Would be nice.

 

[mignyc]

Since the 9 AM departure time means folks who could otherwise arrive via the Keystone from Harrisburg must drive, rather than take the train, I wonder if parking at 30th Street Station is going to be in hot demand....

 

[benjibear]

Since the 9 AM departure time means folks who could otherwise arrive via the Keystone from Harrisburg must drive, rather than take the train, I wonder if parking at 30th Street Station is going to be in hot demand....

I looked into other options from York (i.e. drive to SEPTA station, drive to Baltimore, etc.) and driving looks to be the best. I am not sure it is worth having a 12+ hour day just to go on this trip with so much other stuff I could be doing.

 

[fairviewroad]

Since the 9 AM departure time means folks who could otherwise arrive via the Keystone from Harrisburg must drive, rather than take the train, I wonder if parking at 30th Street Station is going to be in hot demand....

"Must drive" is a bit strong. One option would be to hop on SEPTA's line-formerly-known as R5 in, say Exton (an easy hop off of Rt 30).

But assuming one did drive, bear in mind that at 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning in November, I think there will be plenty of parking available.

If this was a weekday all bets would be off. But there's plenty of weekday demand for parking that will be non-existent on Saturday, plus at

that hour of the day many day-trippers will not have arrived into the city yet. So while the non-Keystone connection is unfortunate, I doubt

there will be much difficulty finding parking at 30th Street, other than the usual mess that the area is.

 

[mignyc]

Thanks, I appreciate the input.

My family will be driving from York; I'm taking a train down from NYC to meet them at Philadelphia. It was my enthusiasm for the excursion that convinced them to make the initial leg via car, even though it will require quite an early wake-up call. Hope the trip is worth it!

Driving to Exton, then training in via SEPTA, wouldn't save them much time.

 

[rrdude]

I've got a ticket for the Philly AUX Fall Express on Saturday the 2nd of November, but need to be elsewhere that day.

Anyone want to buy it from me? I doubt with the crowds, that conductors will be checking ID. I'll get the points, can't transfer those...........send me an email at pilcher AT actionsystems.com

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I've got a ticket for the Philly AUX Fall Express on Saturday the 2nd of November, but need to be elsewhere that day.

dude,

You really need to get a new job. I mean - they know you are a foamer and then mess with you this way? Hope they at least let you onto a train for 'business' every once in a while...

Just saying...

 

[rrdude]

I've got a ticket for the Philly AUX Fall Express on Saturday the 2nd of November, but need to be elsewhere that day.

dude,

You really need to get a new job. I mean - they know you are a foamer and then mess with you this way? Hope they at least let you onto a train for 'business' every once in a while...

Just saying...

I think you need to go to Philly on Nov 2nd, using MY tix...............

 

[Ryan]

I'd love to help you out with that little issue, but I think that if I went and didn't take the wife and kids, I'd end up in the doghouse in a bad way.

 

[rrdude]

I'd love to help you out with that little issue, but I think that if I went and didn't take the wife and kids, I'd end up in the doghouse in a bad way.

I'm there semi-permanently, it ain't so bad once you get used to it...............

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I think you need to go to Philly on Nov 2nd, using MY tix...............

While going to PHL to watch semi-innocent Amtrak employees weather the tsunami of foaming foamers when the boarding call is anounced has a certain appeal, I think it best if I peruse the videos, photos and eyewitness accounts of the survivors after the fact. Afterall, I have a tendency to not listen to the instructions of authority figures, like conductors, etc., and I might get trampled in the onslaught.

 

[Acela150]

I've got a ticket for the Philly AUX Fall Express on Saturday the 2nd of November, but need to be elsewhere that day.

Anyone want to buy it from me? I doubt with the crowds, that conductors will be checking ID. I'll get the points, can't transfer those...........send me an email at pilcher AT actionsystems.com

PM Sent.

 

[Railroad Bill]

I think you need to go to Philly on Nov 2nd, using MY tix...............

While going to PHL to watch semi-innocent Amtrak employees weather the tsunami of foaming foamers when the boarding call is anounced has a certain appeal, I think it best if I peruse the videos, photos and eyewitness accounts of the survivors after the fact. Afterall, I have a tendency to not listen to the instructions of authority figures, like conductors, etc., and I might get trampled in the onslaught.

Ah, come on, Davey. Where is your sense of adventure

 

[rrdude]

I think you need to go to Philly on Nov 2nd, using MY tix...............

While going to PHL to watch semi-innocent Amtrak employees weather the tsunami of foaming foamers when the boarding call is anounced has a certain appeal, I think it best if I peruse the videos, photos and eyewitness accounts of the survivors after the fact. Afterall, I have a tendency to not listen to the instructions of authority figures, like conductors, etc., and I might get trampled in the onslaught.

Puss.....................

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I think you need to go to Philly on Nov 2nd, using MY tix...............

While going to PHL to watch semi-innocent Amtrak employees weather the tsunami of foaming foamers when the boarding call is anounced has a certain appeal, I think it best if I peruse the videos, photos and eyewitness accounts of the survivors after the fact. Afterall, I have a tendency to not listen to the instructions of authority figures, like conductors, etc., and I might get trampled in the onslaught.

Puss.....................

Is not the pot calling the kettle black? :lol:

And hey, I made it to G-VII, unlike some people who have their priorities messed up and let work get in the way!

 

[Acela150]

Since we have a small handful of folks going I created a topic about a meeting place and possible diner on Friday night. Link attached.

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/57172-fall-foliage-train-gathering/

 

[Railroad Bill]

Thinking of making a Friday points run from PHL to Paoli and back on Friday afternoon 4pm and back by 5 or so. Cheap tickets and 400 points. Dinner to follow.

Anyone interested in joining us.?

 

[jis]

I've got to work on Friday. So will show up in Philly sometime after 6pm

 

[Acela150]

I've got to work on Friday. So will show up in Philly sometime after 6pm

Ditto on the 6pm.. I'm coming from RTE on 2167.

 

[pennyk]

Thinking of making a Friday points run from PHL to Paoli and back on Friday afternoon 4pm and back by 5 or so. Cheap tickets and 400 points. Dinner to follow.

Anyone interested in joining us.?

I may be interested. If my train is in on time, I will be there.