Philadelphia 2010

[AlanB]

How far were you thinking of going, Alan? The 3:00 pm gets to Paoli at 3:25 pm, and a return to Philly calls at Paoli at 4:25 pm. That's perfect timing for a five minute walk over to TJ's pub and a relaxed pint if the travelers are so inclined. Or were you thinking of going further and taking a later return?
If you've never seen the Amtrak mural at Paoli, that's a nice bonus -- always nice to see when a community really embraces their trains. It's not quite as nice as the enormous Amtrak mural in Elizabethtown, but the Paoli mural is conveniently on the bridge across the tracks right at the station -- we'd walk right past it on the way to the pub.

I had been thinking of Exton, but the fare is the same to Paoli, so it wouldn't matter if I got off there either. The big issue is killing 1 hour, especially since I'm not a beer drinker. I'm also not 100% sure if I'm going to do that trip anyhow; won't know for sure till the morning.

 

[wayman]

How far were you thinking of going, Alan? The 3:00 pm gets to Paoli at 3:25 pm, and a return to Philly calls at Paoli at 4:25 pm. That's perfect timing for a five minute walk over to TJ's pub and a relaxed pint if the travelers are so inclined. Or were you thinking of going further and taking a later return?
If you've never seen the Amtrak mural at Paoli, that's a nice bonus -- always nice to see when a community really embraces their trains. It's not quite as nice as the enormous Amtrak mural in Elizabethtown, but the Paoli mural is conveniently on the bridge across the tracks right at the station -- we'd walk right past it on the way to the pub.

I had been thinking of Exton, but the fare is the same to Paoli, so it wouldn't matter if I got off there either. The big issue is killing 1 hour, especially since I'm not a beer drinker. I'm also not 100% sure if I'm going to do that trip anyhow; won't know for sure till the morning.

Exton shortens the time slightly, but there's absolutely nothing there -- just a bus shelter and a parking lot.

TJ's has excellent food as well (though we will have eaten lunch quite recently); it has been fairly quiet on the Saturday afternoons I've visited, and even has some "living room seating". There's also a coffee shop at the Paoli station and a Starbucks across the street. Can't think of much else offhand, I'm afraid. The "Whole Foods for Pets" natural pet store is interesting... and of course there's a Wawa a block away... and it's only a half mile walk to the public library... but there's not a huge world of excitement within walking distance.

Ardmore has tons of shopping and food right at the station, but of course then you're on the train for barely a blink of an eye and have an even longer layover. It's great if you want to go grocery shopping and spend a long time playing with iPads at the Apple Store, not so great if you want to ride trains

 

[the_traveler]

I'm doing a turn to DOW on 667/672 at 4:55 and returning at 6:53. Anyone else? :huh:

 

[AlanB]

I'm doing a turn to DOW on 667/672 at 4:55 and returning at 6:53. Anyone else? :huh:

I'll already be arriving back in NYP about the time you're returning to Philly.

 

[FrankStar]

I'm meandering around Center City at the moment (currently sitting on a park bench at Rittenhouse Square to check e-mail) and I should be at 30th Street in about an hour or so. I'm about 5'9", with a shaved head and wearing glasses. I'm wearing black. If you see someone using a netbook with a Victory Brewing sticker on it, that's me.

 

[FrankStar]

I'm at 30th Street.

It appears that the meeting area has mostly been subsumed by the line for the equipment displays at Track 1. I propose the Pennsylvania Railroad Memorial sculpture, just in front of Track 1 and fairly clear at the moment) as an alternate.

 

[FrankStar]

On the 3 p.m. Keystone, and I think I've lost you all. It didn't help that the guy at the bottom of the stairs pointed me toward the wrong car when I said "Downingtown" so a move was needed.

 

[Long Train Runnin']

Just got back from Philly what a wonderful day it was so nice meet everyone a full report and my pictures should be up tonight!

 

[DivMiler]

Sorry I missed everyone! My daughter and I left for the train before 9 (and therefore missed FrankStar's new suggested meeting place. Once I realized that there were a lot more people in the station than I had anticipated (and knew nothing of what any of you were wearing -- and vice versa), I gave up trying to meet and my daughter and I enjoyed ourselves. The kids' area on the other side of the food court was crowded, but there was a lot of stuff going on.

I'm sorry I didn't get to see the baseball exhibit and that there wasn't a Viewliner on display. The Pullman car (Dover Harbor) was interesting -- train travel really was fancy in the "good old days"!

 

[Acela150]

It was a good time! Although I didn't see any of you. The Equipment Display was nice. The Acela was in need of new paint though. It was nice to see 9800! Kind of a reminder of the X2000 in a way. I was disappointed in the Baseball display. The new Septa railcars were nice.

Steve

 

[dlagrua]

Glad to read that the event was nice. I am still home recuperating from the knee surgery that I had this past Wednesday but should be back on the rails real soon.

I am sorry to have missed National Train Day. I was really looking forward to it but will have to settle for the photos online for now and next month its Chicago so we have some fun lined up. .

 

[Ryan]

I had a blast too! I ended up on the 4:12 Acela (after getting a tour of one, I had to take a ride in one, and it was only $37 more than the regional ticket that I had bought). We passed Bill and Jim's Crescent at BAL, so I hung around BWI when I got off and got some pictures and a video of them running through the station that I'll post shortly (after I take a rest, I just finished installing a Mothers Day present in the form of a ceiling fan in the dining room - not my idea of a good time!).

It was a pleasure meeting all of you, can't wait until the next time!

 

[wayman]

A great day! Wonderful to finally meet so many of you all at once

Special thanks to Ryan for the tour ticket, and a confession to you all: the reason I was a little late rejoining you after the tour is that I took a little excursion trip in the Hickory Creek

 

[Long Train Runnin']

:lol: very cool looks like you lucked out :lol:

 

[wayman]

:lol: very cool looks like you lucked out :lol:

You can tell I went quite far away from Philadelphia 30th St, because there are no catenary wires in sight

Huge bonus points to anyone who can recognize roughly where on Amtrak the background photo was taken. I took the photo looking out the back door of a train (but had to work pretty hard to warp the photo to get the perspective right, given the change in camera angles!).

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

Here I am at home Sunday afternoon, and feel so good about the trip.

It was good to meet new people and good to see people I already know.

Jim and I had a good time on the train back, him returning to Texas and me to Atlanta.

We did notice Ryan's Acela pass us by in Baltimore.The nerve! :lol: :lol:

And if Wayman had REALLY gotten to ride in Hickory Creek, and not me, he would be in big time permanent trouble with me!! :lol: :lol:

My train was on time in each direction. But aren't trains always on time?

 

[the_traveler]

I had fun in PHL too, and seeing new and old friends!

But that cat problem in NJ cost me a 350 point run! :angry: I was going to take a turn to WIL and catch #66 there. but at least I got a 3X turn out to DOW - for 700 points for $13!

My train was on time in each direction. But aren't trains always on time?

They usually are when I'm on them! :angry: I want some extra train time!

 

[wayman]

I had fun in PHL too, and seeing new and old friends!
But that cat problem in NJ cost me a 350 point run! :angry: I was going to take a turn to WIL and catch #66 there. but at least I got a 3X turn out to DOW - for 700 points for $13!

Great to meet you, if only briefly! Next time, perhaps we'll meet on a train

I have cat problems in PA just about every morning. They try to trip me as I walk past their food bowls on the way to the coffee pot -- they must be fed before I get my coffee or there will be dire consequences! (What consequences? I don't know, I don't dare find out!)

You missed a trip to WIL (and the advantage of boarding 66 a little earlier and getting more sleep), but you got a much better deal, 700 AGR for $13, than you would have for any ticket on the NEC!

 

[Green Maned Lion]

I couldn't find you punks, either. I'm sad, I was looking forward to it.

 

[AlanB]

I couldn't find you punks, either. I'm sad, I was looking forward to it.

I stood right by the massive column by Gate 1 for over an hour, from my arrival until 12:30 when we left for lunch. The lines for the equipment display were between us and the baggage check area running down that long hall towards the Club Acela. Most of the time there were at least 4 or 5 of us, if not more there.

Sorry it didn't work out!

 

[Green Maned Lion]

I couldn't find you punks, either. I'm sad, I was looking forward to it.

I stood right by the massive column by Gate 1 for over an hour, from my arrival until 12:30 when we left for lunch. The lines for the equipment display were between us and the baggage check area running down that long hall towards the Club Acela. Most of the time there were at least 4 or 5 of us, if not more there.

Sorry it didn't work out!

Musta passed that area half a dozen time and didn't see you. Heh, toldja I'm going blind.