CHI-Philly trip plan

[Paul CHI]

I live in Chicago but have a reason to visit Philadelphia for a day or 2. I'm considering a winter trip and would like to maximize the scenery, a potential problem given short winter days. We'd prefer roomette service.
Suggestions would be welcome. Cardinal both ways? I see there are alternates, though don't particularly want to head up toe NYC for either leg.

 

[tricia]

I live in Chicago but have a reason to visit Philadelphia for a day or 2. I'm considering a winter trip and would like to maximize the scenery, a potential problem given short winter days. We'd prefer roomette service.
Suggestions would be welcome. Cardinal both ways? I see there are alternates, though don't particularly want to head up toe NYC for either leg.

Have you previously taken any of the three LD trains heading east from Chicago? Cardinal, Capitol Ltd, Lakeshore?

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

I think the Cardinal eastbound would be nice—you’d go through the prettiest part in the morning —and you can go right from Chicago to Philly with no train changes.

I haven’t been on the Capitol Limited, but that would be easy, too. You would have to take a train from Philly to Washington to connect to the Capitol Limited, but it shouldn’t be too crowded south of Philadelphia.

Those are the two ways to do this trip and avoid New York City that I can think of.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I live in Chicago but have a reason to visit Philadelphia for a day or 2. I'm considering a winter trip and would like to maximize the scenery, a potential problem given short winter days. We'd prefer roomette service.
Suggestions would be welcome. Cardinal both ways? I see there are alternates, though don't particularly want to head up toe NYC for either leg.

The Cardinal Westbound will miss the Best Scenery in Virginia and the New River Gorge due to the early Sunset,.Eastbound you should be OK if the Train runs close to on time. The Cardinal is notorious for running Late into Washington and up the NEC to Philly and New York.

I suggest you consider taking the Cardinal Eastbound from Chicago to Philly,( Mystic River Dragon beat me to it) then ride the Pennsylvanian to Pittsburtgh ( Business Class is best/ you get to see Amish Country but the Horeshoe Curve will be in Darkness that time of year)) and connect to the Cap Ltd ( Superliner Train)to Chicago, ( you will have a several hour layover in Pittsburgh waiting on the Cap but can go for Dinner).

Or ride a NEC Regional or Acela ( Business Class is OK for such a short ride as First Class on Acela can be Pricey) to Washington and take the Cap Ltd to Chicago.( it will be dark shortly after leaving Washington and daylight won't come till you're in Indiana)

 

[zephyr17]

Those are the two ways to maximize roomette time, either all the way or a relatively short non-roomette stretch up the NEC from DC to Philly.

The other option would be to take the Capitol to Pittsburgh and transfer to the Pennsyvanian there. The advantage, direct to Philly and a ride around the famous Horseshoe Curve, the disadvantage, up and out of the roomette in the early morning, like 6 am (too lazy to look at the schedule for the precise time right now).

I like the idea of the Pennsylvanian on the return, the midnight connection into a made-up roomette would be more acceptable to me than getting rousted out at 6 am. Agree about the scenery on the Card eastbound versus westbound.

 

[Amtrak25]

I would take the Capitol Ltd to DC and the connecting Regional to Philly, not risk getting up at 5am to get off at Pittsburgh, nor worry about that connection if 3 or more hours late.

If that is the case, they'll simply honor your ticket on the next Regional out of DC. If they stick you on a misconnect bus from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg - no Horseshoe Curve.

The Cardinal is not due in Philly until 9pm. Several hours late will put you there far later than you want to be lurking around Philadelphia.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

The Cardinal is not due in Philly until 9pm. Several hours late will put you there far later than you want to be lurking around Philadelphia.

That’s an excellent point. When I took the Cardinal eastbound, I stopped in Alexandria for a couple of nights, did some sightseeing, then took a morning regional up to Philly and avoided that specific problem.

But I realize not everyone has that much time available on a trip to do that.

 

[Paul CHI]

Thanks. I’ve ridden the western trains but never anything east other than Michigan.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

Thanks. I’ve ridden the western trains but never anything east other than Michigan.

I think that narrows it down.You should definitely see West Virginia and Virginia on the Cardinal and the Amish farmland in Pennsylvania on the Pennsylvanian.

Completely different feeling from the West. Compared to the Rockies, our tree-covered mountains are like cozy foothills. Compared to the vast plains with lots of cattle but houses spaced miles apart, our farmhouses are near each other, and you can see small family farms with horses and sheep as well as cows.

Just like a blanket in the winter, you may find it either charming and cozy or too congested and restrictive. But I think it’s worth doing once to find out.

I went out on the Empire Builder to Portland a few years ago and found that I was terrified of the vast empty plains and the extremely high and stark mountains. I didn’t relax until we got to the Columbia River and I could see houses on the bank and people in boats.

I wouldn’t do it again, but I’m glad I did it just to see something new.

One thing that is the same both in the West end here in the East is the rivers—flowing along serenely, with spurts over some rapids, heading steadily toward their destination.

 

[Paul CHI]

If arriving in Philly late on the Cardinal, is it reasonably safe to acquire a cab? Uber?

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

There used to be a cab stand right outside the door nearest to the Lounge steps, with someone in a staff uniform asking you where you were going and putting you into the next cab in line. I did that a couple of times, and it was fine, but it was daylight.

I don’t know if that same system is still in place, or up at night.

The last time I was in Philly, I wasn’t used to Uber or Lyft yet, so I don’t know how those work there, or if they are safe, but others on here will.

 

[Acela150]

If arriving in Philly late on the Cardinal, is it reasonably safe to acquire a cab? Uber?

Yes.

 

[MARC Rider]

I was just talking to a high school buddy of mine who lives in Philly. Apparently, he says that crime is terrible, it's really rising, Center City isn't safe anymore, etc., etc.,

Then I went to the Internet and looked up crime statistics over the years. yeah, in the last year or two, there's been an uptick of crime, no doubt due to the weirdness caused by the pandemic. However, the numbers are still well below what they were in the 1970s and 1980s, when cops and police dogs used to ride the Broad Street Subway. We in Baltimore would kill (oops, wrong word) to have a crime rate like Philadelphia's.

Looking a little closer, it seems that the vast majority of these crimes occur in certain neighborhoods, neighborhoods that are nowhere near 30th St. Station. This is pretty much the same as what you might find at Baltimore. I return from many of my trips back to Baltimore at or after 9 PM (That's when the southbound Vermonter gets in), the 2 PM Acela from Boston gets in around 8. I've been on the Cardinal which is running late, and it commonly gets into Baltimore at 9. But it's not a problem. The station is staffed. There are people at the information desk. There are Amtrak PD officers patrolling about. There's a cab stand out front, or you can fire up the Uber or Lyft app, and your ride will be there within 5 minutes (usually). I would imagine the same is true for Philadelphia 30th St. There are regional trains arriving from the north through midnight, so the station will have people out and about at 9 PM and for quite a while later.

I wouldn't worry about 30th St. at 9PM, and as long as your cab/Uber is taking you right to your hotel, I wouldn't worry about your safety, wither.

 

[tricia]

A little off topic, since this happened more than 40 years ago.... Once when I got off a train at 30th St., I needed a taxi, the line was long, and folks going to destinations near each other were organizing to share cabs. I ended up in a taxi with three professional basketball players, crowded in with their knees up around their ears. They gave me a good laugh, I got dropped off before they did, and they paid my share of the fare.

 

[Amtrak25]

Assuming anyone from Uber or Lyft is awake or at an affordable price in the middle of the night when #50 runs hours late.

 

[Paul CHI]

I see a train 50 and 1050 with slightly different hours. What's that about?

We want to visit the area around the old Wanamaker store and hear the organ. Best station for that?

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

I see a train 50 and 1050 with slightly different hours. What's that about?

We want to visit the area around the old Wanamaker store and hear the organ. Best station for that?

There's only one Amtrak in Center City (downtown Philly). That area you'll need the subway or trolley (both are SEPTA) - downtown Philly is pretty dense and distances aren't far in you are up for walking (not from the station to Wanamaker's if I remember the location right).

 

[BlackDiamond]

I see a train 50 and 1050 with slightly different hours. What's that about?

We want to visit the area around the old Wanamaker store and hear the organ. Best station for that?

Wannamakers is now Macy's and the store is on Market between Penn Sq and 13th St. From 30th Street you could take the Market St. subway to the 13th St. station. Or you could ride any SEPTA commuter train to Suburban station ( I believe that is still free if you have an Amtrak ticket and they usually don't check tickets anyway until after Jefferson) which is at 16th and JFK only a few blocks from Wannamakers.

 

[Joe from PA]

If you want a taxi, get off at the Amtrak 30th St. station. The downtown station will need either a Uber, or a lot of luck. However, many tourist sites are a easy walk from the Jefferson station on Market St..
The Jefferson station is in the old Reading Railroad Terminal. The huge "farmers market" inside is a tourist spot, so don't miss that.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

I see a train 50 and 1050 with slightly different hours. What's that about?

We want to visit the area around the old Wanamaker store and hear the organ. Best station for that?

I find Jefferson easier than Suburban to navigate, and it’s close to Macy’s. I would take SEPTA regional rail to Jefferson, go up one level and out the Market Street entrance. Macy’s is one block over to your right across the street. Two nice landmarks are the SEPTA headquarters across the street (with a nice store full of train goodies in it) and City Hall in front of you when you get to Macy’s, with Billy Penn wearing his hat and looking out over everything.

The organ is played at specific times, so check when it’s playing before you go. Also remember to say hello to the Eagle. He is very impressive.

 

[jebr]

Assuming anyone from Uber or Lyft is awake or at an affordable price in the middle of the night when #50 runs hours late.

In a big city this is almost never a problem. By the time the bar close rush slows down the early morning flight rides start picking up, and many drivers are aware of this and work overnights for that reason. Surge pricing might be a problem, but there almost certainly will be drivers available to pick up passengers.

 

[Mr.Technician]

I'm probably late to the party but also note that the Cardinal runs Viewliners while the CL runs Superliners.

 

[Acela150]

I was just talking to a high school buddy of mine who lives in Philly. Apparently, he says that crime is terrible, it's really rising, Center City isn't safe anymore, etc., etc.,

Then I went to the Internet and looked up crime statistics over the years. yeah, in the last year or two, there's been an uptick of crime, no doubt due to the weirdness caused by the pandemic. However, the numbers are still well below what they were in the 1970s and 1980s, when cops and police dogs used to ride the Broad Street Subway. We in Baltimore would kill (oops, wrong word) to have a crime rate like Philadelphia's.

Looking a little closer, it seems that the vast majority of these crimes occur in certain neighborhoods, neighborhoods that are nowhere near 30th St. Station. This is pretty much the same as what you might find at Baltimore. I return from many of my trips back to Baltimore at or after 9 PM (That's when the southbound Vermonter gets in), the 2 PM Acela from Boston gets in around 8. I've been on the Cardinal which is running late, and it commonly gets into Baltimore at 9. But it's not a problem. The station is staffed. There are people at the information desk. There are Amtrak PD officers patrolling about. There's a cab stand out front, or you can fire up the Uber or Lyft app, and your ride will be there within 5 minutes (usually). I would imagine the same is true for Philadelphia 30th St. There are regional trains arriving from the north through midnight, so the station will have people out and about at 9 PM and for quite a while later.

I wouldn't worry about 30th St. at 9PM, and as long as your cab/Uber is taking you right to your hotel, I wouldn't worry about your safety, wither.

As someone who lives in Philly, works at PHL and uses the bus at all hours of the day and night to and from PHL I haven't felt like I was in any danger. Philly has it's issues right now. However the whole "Center City isn't safe" thing is a load of garbage. I'll spare you the political stuff. But long story short, politicians that run Philly are becoming an issue.

I see a train 50 and 1050 with slightly different hours. What's that about?

We want to visit the area around the old Wanamaker store and hear the organ. Best station for that?

If it's around the time change, then that is the answer. Best Station to go to the Former Wannamakers now Macy's is Market East/Jefferson which is around 10th and12th and Filbert. A short 5 minute walk to 13th and Market where Macy's is.

However, you will need to get a Septa Regional Rail train there from PHL. Take your eTicket to the workers and you're all set.

There's only one Amtrak in Center City (downtown Philly). That area you'll need the subway or trolley (both are SEPTA) - downtown Philly is pretty dense and distances aren't far in you are up for walking (not from the station to Wanamaker's if I remember the location right).

As I mentioned above, and others have mentioned, Regional Rail is the best way and it's free.

In a big city this is almost never a problem. By the time the bar close rush slows down the early morning flight rides start picking up, and many drivers are aware of this and work overnights for that reason. Surge pricing might be a problem, but there almost certainly will be drivers available to pick up passengers.

As someone who has driven for Uber in Philly Jeb speaks a ton of truth here. I used to drive for 12 hours on Friday and Saturday nights starting about 4 or 5 in the evening. I've also used Uber at 3am to get to the "Wrong PHL"... AKA the Airport, and had a Uber at my house in about 5 minutes, and I'm 20 minutes outside of Center City.

 

[joelkfla]

I asked this in the Places to Go forum but haven't gotten an answer yet, so I'll ask again here where there's more activity:

Does Philly still run the historic trolleys (PCC or otherwise), or have they all been retired?

 

[Joe from PA]

Philadelphia is famous for Cheese steaks, and Jim's at 4th and South St. makes the very best. (forget the 2 "tourist" places). When ordering, you will be asked, "Whiz?". Say yes.