Best Amtrak entrance into a city?

[jis]

New York is in the process of spending upto almost a billion dollars, an ill conceived plan according to many sufferers of commuter service into New York, to create a bigger and airier mall to receive Amtrak passengers into. The main floor will still be at street level or one level below street level, but it will have open airy view of the sky etc. looking straight up past the 5 floors of what is the Farley Post Office building. This will be using a billion dollars that could actually have been used to improve quality and frequency of service, but instead is going to be dedicated to make Amtrak passenger's experience better for entering New York.

The improvement will be more or less unsuitable for a vast majority of users of Penn Station because it will be further from most subway stations that people use upon arrival. When this issue was raised at a NARP meeting, which essentially is the external marketing arm of Amtrak effectively, we were told that since most Amtrak passengers arrive at Penn Station by taxi this is a non-issue. C'est la vie.

Anyhow, in a decades time Amtrak passengers will be able to have a grander entrance into New York, provided Phase II ever gets funded, and the rest, the majority will continue using what it already in place. Ah yes, you will be able to walk straight to Saks 5th Ave outlet right off the train too! And yes, it will be a considerably longer walk to your trains too. Hopefully the travelators that are planned will work a little better than the escalators do at Penn Station.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Hopefully the travelators that are planned will work a little better than the escalators do at Penn Station.

Getting passengers to platforms is the single best improvement that can be made to NYP IMHO.

Would it be nice to have the old NYP? Of course it would. :wub: But it is gone, and as much as I'd like to see its return, especially in light of what replaced it, that train departed the station long ago and I question the wisdom of what is in process. Why do Boston's 'Big Dig' and the sales job that was done when the 'old' NYP was torn down, keep coming to my mind whenever I read about the 'new' New York Penn? :unsure:

 

[jis]

By the way, approaching New York from the South/West on Amtrak, there are no "dockyards" visible from the train. You cross a lift bridge just after Newark Penn Station that is called the Dock bridge. That's about as close as one gets to any Dock.

Roughly speaking here is what you see after you leave Newark Penn Station:

0. Cross the Passaic River on the Dock Lift Bridge.

1. Pass through the Harrison Curve and PATH Harrison Station. You will see the new stadium to your right, and Passaic River beyond that.

2. Pass through Hudson Yard (Rea and Hudson interlockings) Here you will see the PATH Maintenance Facility to the right and I280 and NJTransit's Morris and Essex Line to the left. This is where Manhattan Transfer station was located, where trains exchanged their steam engines for third rail electric engines before the overhead electrification of the NEC was completed.

3. Cross the Sawtooth Bridge, where NJTransit passes under the NEC and PATH branches off to the right. You see the separate bridge above the NJT lines that carries the Gold Coast Connection that carries NJT Newark Penn Station - Hoboken service as well as yard moves from the NEC to NJT's Meadows Maintenance Complex, which you can see at a distance to the right after passing Swift (below). Passaic River is pretty close at hand at this point to your right.

4. Swift interlocking where NJT Midtown Direct comes and joins the NEC. NJTurpike will be right above you at this point. Also at this point if you look right forward at about 2 O'Clock you will see the skyline of Manhattan poking its head above the Jersey Palisades. You will also see the relatively new skyline of Jersey City too - partly a result of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail provided transit options.

5. Cross the Hackensack River on the Portal Swing Bridge as you enter the Secaucus Junction station. The old Boonton Line passes underneath, now used as a yard.

6. You pass through Secaucus Junction station as you cross over the Main and Bergen Lines of NJT below you.

7. You pass over the leads of Croxton Yard and then Bergen interlocking.

8. You pass over Conrail Shared Asset and NYSW leads into their respective yards further east, and then enter the North River Tubes.

It is a treasure trove of things to see for railfans, but pretty mundane stuff for others, except for the New York skyline I suppose. But that is nowhere as impressive as the sight from the Hell Gate Bridge.

 

[MrFSS]

The route of the City of New Orleans into Chicago over the old St. Charles Air Line. It offers a great view of the Chicago skyline and the Amtrak/Metra yards below.

I agree - here's what we saw last October.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

The route of the City of New Orleans into Chicago over the old St. Charles Air Line. It offers a great view of the Chicago skyline and the Amtrak/Metra yards below.

I agree - here's what we saw last October.

Nice! Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. ^_^

 

[railiner]

By the way, approaching New York from the South/West on Amtrak, there are no "dockyards" visible from the train. You cross a lift bridge just after Newark Penn Station that is called the Dock bridge. That's about as close as one gets to any Dock.

Roughly speaking here is what you see after you leave Newark Penn Station:

0. Cross the Passaic River on the Dock Lift Bridge.

1. Pass through the Harrison Curve and PATH Harrison Station. You will see the new stadium to your right, and Passaic River beyond that.

2. Pass through Hudson Yard (Rea and Hudson interlockings) Here you will see the PATH Maintenance Facility to the right and I280 and NJTransit's Morris and Essex Line to the left. This is where Manhattan Transfer station was located, where trains exchanged their steam engines for third rail electric engines before the overhead electrification of the NEC was completed.

3. Cross the Sawtooth Bridge, where NJTransit passes under the NEC and PATH branches off to the right. You see the separate bridge above the NJT lines that carries the Gold Coast Connection that carries NJT Newark Penn Station - Hoboken service as well as yard moves from the NEC to NJT's Meadows Maintenance Complex, which you can see at a distance to the right after passing Swift (below). Passaic River is pretty close at hand at this point to your right.

4. Swift interlocking where NJT Midtown Direct comes and joins the NEC. NJTurpike will be right above you at this point. Also at this point if you look right forward at about 2 O'Clock you will see the skyline of Manhattan poking its head above the Jersey Palisades. You will also see the relatively new skyline of Jersey City too - partly a result of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail provided transit options.

5. Cross the Hackensack River on the Portal Swing Bridge as you enter the Secaucus Junction station. The old Boonton Line passes underneath, now used as a yard.

6. You pass through Secaucus Junction station as you cross over the Main and Bergen Lines of NJT below you.

7. You pass over the leads of Croxton Yard and then Bergen interlocking.

8. You pass over Conrail Shared Asset and NYSW leads into their respective yards further east, and then enter the North River Tubes.

It is a treasure trove of things to see for railfans, but pretty mundane stuff for others, except for the New York skyline I suppose. But that is nowhere as impressive as the sight from the Hell Gate Bridge.

Very nicely described! :hi:

 

[jis]

Very nicely described! :hi:

Thank you! :hi:

 

[George Harris]

Speaking of coming into New York...

I'll be coming in on the Silver Meteor. How far out from the city is it that we will go under ground, and how much of the city will I be able to see before we go under?

Thanks!

Coming in from the south on the Meteor, or Crescent, or whatever, be on teh left (west) side coming across the Patomac into Washington DC. You get a beautiful view of the River, the Jefferson Memorial, and other buildings coming into the city. Surprised that no one has mentioned this one before now. It is one of my lifetime highlights in views from a train.

 

[sechs]

I would have to go with entering New Orleans from the west on the Huey P. Long Bridge.

I think my second choice might be entering New Orleans from the east over the Lake Pontchartrain Bridge, which is so narrow, as to make one feel the train is simply floating over the water.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Coming in from the south on the Meteor, or Crescent, or whatever, be on teh left (west) side coming across the Patomac into Washington DC. You get a beautiful view of the River, the Jefferson Memorial, and other buildings coming into the city. Surprised that no one has mentioned this one before now. It is one of my lifetime highlights in views from a train.

I thought about mentioning it, but since I live in the area, it just is not as special to me as some others. But you are right, IMHO, it is a REALLY nice view! Though it does pass pretty quickly. If you want a repeat, take METRO's Yellow Line between the L'Enfant Plaza and Pentagon stations, and then back again. One thing you can see from METRO, that you can't really see from Amtrak, is how poorly maintained Long Bridge looks - and is the bridge Amtrak uses! :unsure:

 

[RampWidget]

My vote is any northbound off the former RF&P from Alexandria Va. into D.C. passing the Jefferson Memorial, especially in the early morning.

 

[johnny.menhennet]

How about coming into Ventura from the north or San Clemente Pier from either direction. I also must agree with the descent into Denver though.

 

[TCRT]

I would agree with NYP from the north/east, as well as Ventura, though the opening up of the ocean when approaching Ventura from the south is just as nice.

MKE from the south is fun, since the train traverses some impressively tight curves along a river and between some older industrial buildings before taking a really sharp curve into the station past a nice view of the Third Ward district. Arriving into MKE from the north affords the rider a very impressive view of several thousand empty kegs at the Miller brewery, giving off a different sort of vibe.....

MSP from the south also has a nice view of downtown Saint Paul about 20 minutes prior to arrival, especially nice given that the Empire Builder arrives well after dark. Once Saint Paul Union Depot re-opens this year, this will get even better.

 

[Palmland]

Because I remember how impressive it was when trains operated in daylight, I like the approach into Cincinnati from the east (or south). The Cardinal uses the bridge over the Ohio River that C&O and L&N trains used. The approach to the bridge, over it, and then the elevated trackage into Cincinnati Union Terminal is spectacular with the impressive city skyline in the backround. Guess I'm wishing for a return to the overnight schedule from the east into Cincinnati and daylight to Chicago.

 

[jb64]

MKE from the south is fun, since the train traverses some impressively tight curves along a river and between some older industrial buildings before taking a really sharp curve into the station past a nice view of the Third Ward district.

That is one of my favorites, too.

 

[abcnews]

Riding along Lake Michigan on the CONO/Saluki/Illini entrance into Chicago on the old Illinois Central.

I did not realize that the CONO rides along Lake Mich on the Chicago arrival from NOL. Is that the case? We are on the northbound "City" this April.

Mike

 

[MikefromCrete]

Riding along Lake Michigan on the CONO/Saluki/Illini entrance into Chicago on the old Illinois Central.

I did not realize that the CONO rides along Lake Mich on the Chicago arrival from NOL. Is that the case? We are on the northbound "City" this April.

Mike

You can see the lake starting at about the 53rd St. Metra station. It's in view all the way to the St. Charles Airline. (well not at McComick where you will go under the convention center and over Metra Electric.

 

[Dovecote]

Traveling on the westbound Capitol Limited #29 arriving into Harpers Ferry is not bad an entrance. After going through the B&O tunnel you get a scenic view of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers and then the village of Harpers Ferry. The train station is a pretty site as well with a recent remodel in the mid 2000's.

 

[Shawn Ryu]

Oh yes, speaking of CONO and Chicago, entering Chicago via Lake Shore limited, one can see the Chicago skyline miles away. Pretty cool. The surroundings however, is ghetto.

 

[johnny.menhennet]

I thought of another great one! Eastbound CZ into Truckee, going over Donner and then around the giant horseshoe. This was very striking to me back in April.

 

[jis]

One great Amtrak entrance that is no more and is very unlikely to ever come back was the entrance into Butte MT from the east on the North Coast Hiawatha. Somewhat like the entrance into Denver from the west on the CZ. You can sort of experience it by driving down I-80 into Butte from the east, though the I-90 RoW is at a lower altitude by the time it gets nearer Butte. The NP had a more gradual climb down thus allowing view to the west for much longer.

 

[JayPea]

One great Amtrak entrance that is no more and is very unlikely to ever come back was the entrance into Butte MT from the east on the North Coast Hiawatha. Somewhat like the entrance into Denver from the west on the CZ. You can sort of experience it by driving down I-80 into Butte from the east, though the I-80 RoW is at a lower altitude by the time it gets nearer Butte. The NP had a more gradual climb down thus allowing view to the west for much longer.

I vaguely remember that view, having seen it nearly 40 years ago while returning here to Washington from Illinois with my family. Except it's I-90 that runs through Butte. Unless they renamed it recently. :lol:

Amongst those mentioned, I enjoy the entrance to Seattle along Puget Sound and the northbound view into Chicago on the CONO. Another one that I like (and this is my own personal prejudice showing) is the eastbound entrance to Spokane on the Seattle portion of the EB. Most folks aren't awake to notice the view, but as you near Spokane, the lights of the city are seen intermittantly through the trees. Once you break out of the trees, right at the western edge of the city, the lights of a very large portion of Spokane and neighboring Spokane Valley come into view. It's pretty if you like night scenes like that.

 

[tubaia]

There is one entrance I've only seen as an exit, as I've been asleep the other direction. That would be the west side of Sandpoint, ID on the EB, though that whole area is beautiful at night if you're lucky enough to have a full moon. For some reason, both times I've been west-bound through that stretch, I haven't been able to sleep, and the river valley has been just stunning, plus the river crossing near the town of Priest River. I could be mistaken about the exact locations, as it was dark and before there were enough outlets to keep my GPS going through the night.

 

[Railroad Bill]

Since those of us from the Cleveland area get no respect :giggle: I will nominate westbound #29 coming into CLE at night (3:00am). A beautiful view of the Terminal Tower and Key Bank as you head north along the east side of the city and then make the big turn to the west along the Lake Erie shore. Browns Stadium and Rock & Rock Hall of Fame on the north side and the blue lights of the Burke Airport are kind of neat as well After several days of train riding it is nice to get home

 

[jis]

I vaguely remember that view, having seen it nearly 40 years ago while returning here to Washington from Illinois with my family. Except it's I-90 that runs through Butte. Unless they renamed it recently. :lol:

Of course it is I90. Fat typing fingers

Since those of us from the Cleveland area get no respect :giggle: I will nominate westbound #29 coming into CLE at night (3:00am). A beautiful view of the Terminal Tower and Key Bank as you head north along the east side of the city and then make the big turn to the west along the Lake Erie shore. Browns Stadium and Rock & Rock Hall of Fame on the north side and the blue lights of the Burke Airport are kind of neat as well After several days of train riding it is nice to get home

Yes I agree that is a nice view. Saw it when I and NJCoastExp were doing the NYP - 41 - PGH - 29 - CLE - 48 - NYP turn on a AGR points run year before last.