NTD (Revised poll - due to new information)

[AlanB]

My NER return train leaves at 4:33. Should that be enough time (barring any major unforeseen delays on the Keystone) for me to do the points run?

The odds are very good, although nothing can be guaranteed 100%. But in general, the Keystones are very reliable.

Of course, if I did miss the 4:33, then I'd be out the money on that and have to pay for the next available train. Or I could catch a SEPTA train.

Well you wouldn't be out the money, you could just apply that ticket to the next train. Or you could take SEPTA, hold onto your current ticket and apply it to the next trip you take, provided that trip is within a year's time. If you don't take another trip within a year, then convert it to a voucher before the year is up.

 

[AlanB]

Points Run question- if I book separate Philadelphia-Paoli and Paoli-Downingtown tickets on the same Keystone train and travel to Downingtown and back to Philadelphia (again on two separate tickets), will I get 4 x 100 x 3 = 1200 AGR points? Or will it be combined to give only 600 points?

You would only get 600 points, since its the same train. You'd have to get off in Paoli and wait for the next Keystone to Dowingtown, and then reverse that coming back, in order to get 1,200 points.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

My NER return train leaves at 4:33. Should that be enough time (barring any major unforeseen delays on the Keystone) for me to do the points run?

The odds are very good, although nothing can be guaranteed 100%. But in general, the Keystones are very reliable.

Of course, if I did miss the 4:33, then I'd be out the money on that and have to pay for the next available train. Or I could catch a SEPTA train.

Well you wouldn't be out the money, you could just apply that ticket to the next train. Or you could take SEPTA, hold onto your current ticket and apply it to the next trip you take, provided that trip is within a year's time. If you don't take another trip within a year, then convert it to a voucher before the year is up.

Thanks for the info. Guess I'll go book my points run now.

Edit: Booked. Guess that makes me a certified rail fan. :lol: My first points run. Dang, wish the tickets from WIL to PHL were that cheap. The time on the train is about the same.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I'm going to Paoli. (Not to be confused with Disney World.)

 

[PRR 60]

I'm going to Paoli. (Not to be confused with Disney World.)

No one who has been to Paoli would confuse it with Disney World! :lol:

 

[pennyk]

I just booked to Paoli - wanted to get my $1.30 AAA discount.

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

I see the Crescent has been running early lately, so hopefully I will be there several minutes before 12.08 pm

 

[pennyk]

I see the Crescent has been running early lately, so hopefully I will be there several minutes before 12.08 pm

It will be good to see you Bill, even if only for a few hours.

 

[AlanB]

I'm going to Paoli. (Not to be confused with Disney World.)

No one who has been to Paoli would confuse it with Disney World! :lol:

That's for sure! :lol:

 

[AlanB]

Just to review, I see in the poll the following people indicating that they will be in Philly on NTD:

Nickrapak

Sky Pilot

benjibear

NE933

KayBee *

amamba *

J-1 3235 *

Keystone648

pennyk *

the_traveler *

jimhudson *

The Davy Crockett *

jacorbett *

RRRick *

dlagrua

saxman *

Bill Haithcoat (I know you don't have a phone)

Ryan

AmtrakBlue *

longtrainrunning *

Jis *

If there is a star after your name, that indicates that I have a cell phone number for you. If for some reason you don't want a text message should things change on Saturday for some reason, please let me know. Also if your number has changed in the last year or so, please let me know.

If you don't have a star after your name, but do want to be added to the list to get a message just in case the meeting point needs to be changed or if you can't find the group and want to contact me, please get me a PM with your info in the next couple of days.

If anyone thinking of joining us in Philly on NTD isn't on the above list, please let me know that too, such that we'll be looking for you.

 

[Texan Eagle]

I did not vote in the poll since I had no fixed plans, but turns out I will be at Philly 30th Street on NTD too, though I would be meeting another group of friends, so I may not be able to join you folks for the entire trip and/or lunch/points run etc, but I'll try to stop by the statue to say Hi! I do not know anyone of you by face but I guess it would be easy to spot a group of 15-odd crazy

folks! Alternately if anyone of you spot me- young Indian-looking guy, mostly in a grey t-shirt, feel free to come by and say Hello!

 

[the_traveler]

I just booked to Paoli

If Penny is going to PAO, that may change my mind! The train may take a wrong turn and end up in BOS!

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I just booked to Paoli

If Penny is going to PAO, that may change my mind! The train may take a wrong turn and end up in BOS!

But that is just a hop, skip and jump from Road Island, so you'd be close to home.

 

[Exiled in Express]

Going to be at least passing through PHL on Saturday, dependent on the performance of US Airways/SEPTA/Amtrak. The optimistic plan is to get to 30th Street in time to do a turn on 663/SEPTA to Ardmore and enjoy the exhibits until departing west on 43. The more likely plan is miss 663 and tour until the departure of 43.

 

[Misty.]

Wanted to confirm that I will be at CHI, taking the usual 300 to arrive, 305 to depart. I'm also planning on a 337/338 points run to GLN.

My friend Will (G. Malpartida here, though all he's done so far is lurk), is planning on stopping by NYG for sure, and he might come by PHL later in the day. Feel free to call him out and say hi if you see him. He should be wearing his fez

 

[hessjm]

I will be in CHI also, arriving on 371, leaving on 370 and doing points to GLN via 335/336.

Maybe the CHI group should try to meet at some spot, any suggestions?

 

[thully]

I'm going to be in CHI (after having been there 3 of the past 4 weeks - lol!) - were you thinking before, during, or after the NTD events? We could meet to go on the excursion train or to go tour the various cars. I was planning on doing the excursion train at 11:30 and checking out some of the cars right before that (as well as during the various kiddy events). Also, we could meet before if that's what you were thinking (or after - though I'm busy afterwards...)

As it turns out, I'm not taking Amtrak there - I wanted a few hours extra to do a few things in CHI besides NTD, which means getting in earlier than #355 would and leaving later than #354 would. However, I didn't want to spend Saturday night (family things on Sunday), and I didn't want to take vacation time on Friday. Given these constraints, I ended up taking the 5pm Megabus to CHI and flying back on an 8:35pm flight. Blasphemy, I know - though it will definitely be an interesting comparison after having taken the Wolverine 6 times in the last month...

I will be in CHI also, arriving on 371, leaving on 370 and doing points to GLN via 335/336.

Maybe the CHI group should try to meet at some spot, any suggestions?

 

[Misty.]

I dunno... Wasn't planning on taking the excursion at all this year, mainly because I took it last year when it was free. I hear there is some equipment on display that I want to see again, and if I can, I want to see how long I can get away with staying there before getting told to go away. The only reason I'm really inclined to tour the equipment at all is because I plan on enabling the AGR MC option and getting in quickly. Before my points run happens, was mainly going to wander as my attention span demands, heh

 

[amamba]

Just wanted to say that I am really sad that I won't get to see you all on Saturday in PHL. Final update is that hair and makeup for the wedding is at 8 am. :help: And it goes until 2 pm when we go for pictures!

So I hope you all have a wonderful time, and I hope to be able to catch you all at the gathering in October.

I will be on the 2153 tomorrow and heading back north on the 2252 on Sunday in case anyone else has plans for those trains. Maybe I'll see someone in the Club Acela on Sunday?!

 

[pennyk]

Just wanted to say that I am really sad that I won't get to see you all on Saturday in PHL. Final update is that hair and makeup for the wedding is at 8 am. :help: And it goes until 2 pm when we go for pictures!

So I hope you all have a wonderful time, and I hope to be able to catch you all at the gathering in October.

I will be on the 2153 tomorrow and heading back north on the 2252 on Sunday in case anyone else has plans for those trains. Maybe I'll see someone in the Club Acela on Sunday?!

I am sorry I will miss you in Philadelphia on NTD, but hope to see you in October. Have fun at the wedding.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Just wanted to say that I am really sad that I won't get to see you all on Saturday in PHL. Final update is that hair and makeup for the wedding is at 8 am. :help: And it goes until 2 pm when we go for pictures!

So I hope you all have a wonderful time, and I hope to be able to catch you all at the gathering in October.

I will be on the 2153 tomorrow and heading back north on the 2252 on Sunday in case anyone else has plans for those trains. Maybe I'll see someone in the Club Acela on Sunday?!

I'm sorry to hear you won't be there as well. Wear your NTD pin at the wedding. :lol: That will teach 'em! :giggle:

 

[benjibear]

Saturday' weather is suppose to be nice!

 

[saxman]

I'm in Portland right now. Going to take the Downeaster to Boston, and then Acela to NYP tomorrow. Saturday, I'm on the 9 am Keystone to PHL from NYP.

 

[amtrakwolverine]

I dunno... Wasn't planning on taking the excursion at all this year, mainly because I took it last year when it was free. I hear there is some equipment on display that I want to see again, and if I can, I want to see how long I can get away with staying there before getting told to go away. The only reason I'm really inclined to tour the equipment at all is because I plan on enabling the AGR MC option and getting in quickly. Before my points run happens, was mainly going to wander as my attention span demands, heh

well Im coming in on 351 due in into chi at 11:20am if anyone wants to meet up. I'm thinking of touring the displays if possible since I do not have the agr mastercard thing.

 

[PRR 60]

I'll be at PHL on NTD - sort of. I'm doing a Keystone route ping-pong trip for a last gasp at 3X points. I'll leave PHL at 10:55 (just before NTD opens), and after visiting Parkesburg, Paoli and Lancaster, I'll roll back into PHL at 3:55 (on Keystone #670 that some of you will be on from Paoli). If I see any of you hanging out at the Angel statue before I head west to beautiful PAR, I'll stop over and say Hi. If I see you on #670, I'll do the same. I'm easy to spot. Look for a short, older guy with a bad attitude. That's me.