Philadelphia 2010

[Long Train Runnin']

For those meeting in Philly, I'm going to suggest the following. My train gets in at 11:10 AM in theory, so upon arrival I'm going to head for the hall that leads towards the Club Acela. I'll stand right near the end of the hall so that we can still see out into the main waiting area. This hall is past Gate 1 and right near where one would check-in luggage with the Redcaps for checked baggage service. All this assumes that they don't somehow setup some exhibits/vendor tables in that hall. If that happens, then I'll probably try to find some area right near there that gets us out of the heavy traffic.
I'll remain there until either the Crescent carrying Bill Haithcoat arrives or about 12:15 PM, which ever comes first. If Bill is really early, then we may well return to the "meeting" point if not everyone whom we're expecting to see has arrived. At that point those of us who have found each other will attempt to either find a couple of tables in the food court for lunch or perhaps as someone has suggested maybe we'll go to lunch at a resturant/bar that exists in the station. I can't recall it's name right now. I'll try to remember to wear my AU name tag from the Gathering and I'll also have on my Amtrak Wilmington Shops baseball cap with the old pointless arrow logo for Amtrak.

I am coming in on 143 so I will be (hopefully) 15 minutes behind you and will look for the group there.

 

[AlanB]

I am coming in on 143 so I will be (hopefully) 15 minutes behind you and will look for the group there.

Ok, will look for you.

Of course you have an advantage over some of the others as you already know what a few of us look like. That will make it easier for you to find us just in case you are running late.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

I think Steve knows what I look like since he seems to notice me around town, mostly at Little Silver. Of course, he's too shy to ever say hi, so I have no idea what he looks like!

 

[Long Train Runnin']

I think Steve knows what I look like since he seems to notice me around town, mostly at Little Silver. Of course, he's too shy to ever say hi, so I have no idea what he looks like!

:lol: yes I have seen you a few times I guess Saturday will be ice breaker if I ever happen to be on the same train as you or at the same gas station l

 

[wayman]

For those meeting in Philly, I'm going to suggest the following. My train gets in at 11:10 AM in theory, so upon arrival I'm going to head for the hall that leads towards the Club Acela. I'll stand right near the end of the hall so that we can still see out into the main waiting area. This hall is past Gate 1 and right near where one would check-in luggage with the Redcaps for checked baggage service. All this assumes that they don't somehow setup some exhibits/vendor tables in that hall. If that happens, then I'll probably try to find some area right near there that gets us out of the heavy traffic.
I'll remain there until either the Crescent carrying Bill Haithcoat arrives or about 12:15 PM, which ever comes first. If Bill is really early, then we may well return to the "meeting" point if not everyone whom we're expecting to see has arrived. At that point those of us who have found each other will attempt to either find a couple of tables in the food court for lunch or perhaps as someone has suggested maybe we'll go to lunch at a resturant/bar that exists in the station. I can't recall it's name right now. I'll try to remember to wear my AU name tag from the Gathering and I'll also have on my Amtrak Wilmington Shops baseball cap with the old pointless arrow logo for Amtrak.

I'm late to the party -- didn't realize this separate forum was set up! Sounds like we'll be having AU Mini-Gathering Philly

I'm planning to head in on the R3 that arrives at 11:52am, and will head to the meeting point Alan has identified.

I heartily recommend Bridgewaters (the pub in 30th St). For those as want beers, I'm pretty sure it's the only alcohol-provending establishment in the station, and the food is quite good too. Who knows how crowded it will be, though. Especially if there's a Phillies or Flyers afternoon game on top of National Train Day. We'll just have to see.

 

[amamba]

I have 1:30 PM equipment tour tickets for Philly, but I'm not 100% sure that I'll be able to make it. I am in town for a wedding and might get sucked into getting mani/pedis instead. I know, I know, getting your nails done is no where near as interesting as the equipment tour, but I am seeing some friends that I haven't seen in ages and they don't share my enthusiasm for railfanning.

Never understood it. My manicures and pedicures are done by courtesy of the scissor in my SwissCard. Who looks at other people's nails? Really.

Well I personally don't but its more of a female bonding type activity. It is what it is. I certainly hope to be able to make it over there to see all of you, especially since I missed the gathering this year when it it was on my home turf.

 

[FrankStar]

There's a Phillies game at 3 p.m. - so I'll miss the first hour or so on my way to the Victory Brewpub in Downingtown. It's a good thing I have a netbook w/3G so I can follow the game online for the first hour.

The Pub can get a bit crowded at times, but they are also pretty good about keeping non-paying customers away from standing in front of the bar and watching sports events.

 

[Acela150]

For those who are interested the New septa SL V's will be on display on the Septa Level of PHL. Just found on septa.com.

Steve

 

[the_traveler]

I will try to do a quick day trip to PHL. (After all, I haven't been there in almost 30 hours! :lol: ) I'll be arriving on #195 at 12:28 pm. (It's the first train out of KIN unless I want to take #67 and arrive at 0 dark 30! ) I also have tickets for the 1:30 tour.

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

Good news!!

I just now found one of the ID tags to put around my neck from an AU Gathering.

At least, this way I should be able to identify and find myself! :lol:

 

[GG-1]

Good news!!
I just now found one of the ID tags to put around my neck from an AU Gathering.

At least, this way I should be able to identify and find myself! :lol:

Aloha

Buy\t the real Answer ... The group can find you :lol: ... Maybe next year I can Join everyone at NTD

 

[AlanB]

For those who are interested the New septa SL V's will be on display on the Septa Level of PHL. Just found on septa.com.
Steve

I hate to say it but, I told you! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Acela150]

It's ok Alan. One of my friends at Septa had mentioned that the display at Suburban would be the only public display. That is where my comment came from. But who cares! I have not had a chance to see them. I have pictures of them but not been on the cars yet.

Steve

 

[wayman]

It's ok Alan. One of my friends at Septa had mentioned that the display at Suburban would be the only public display. That is where my comment came from. But who cares! I have not had a chance to see them. I have pictures of them but not been on the cars yet.
Steve

You'll enjoy them! I got to do a walkthrough when they were on Track 0 at Suburban Station, and I was very impressed. The most amazing thing was the smell -- there's actually a "new train smell", like "new car smell"! I hope they still have that

The other great thing was watching all the toddlers ooh and aah over the "engineer seat" -- with half-width cabs, there are passenger seats facing out the front window now, just like on PATCO. Seeing their excitement was fun. Of course, knowing our enthusiasm, some of us may be shoving the toddlers out of the way so we can sit in those seats!

 

[Ryan]

Got home today and found out that my plans for this Saturday were changed while I was gone, so I'M FREE!!!!
Think that the boy and I are going to make a run up to Philly and see you kind folks. I just locked in my 1:30 reservation, what time are folks thinking of arriving/departing? Thinking of maybe springing for the Acela for one way to get my first ride in one.

Crapola. Just got the boy's baseball schedule for the next week (they have an aversion to publishing schedules in advance) and he's got a 1:00 game on Saturday.

I'm BACK!

My stepson's bio-dad is going to spend the day with him, so I'll be free to partake. I'm going to head up on 164, so I should be getting in around 11:15 and will make my way to the designated meeting area.

What time are people's trains heading out in the afternoon?

 

[AlanB]

Bill goes out on the Crescent, a few of us have trains that leave in the 5 PM hour, but I'm not sure about everyone.

I'm also however considering a quickie round trip on a Keystone for some extra points at 3:00 PM.

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

It's ok Alan. One of my friends at Septa had mentioned that the display at Suburban would be the only public display. That is where my comment came from. But who cares! I have not had a chance to see them. I have pictures of them but not been on the cars yet.
Steve

You'll enjoy them! I got to do a walkthrough when they were on Track 0 at Suburban Station, and I was very impressed. The most amazing thing was the smell -- there's actually a "new train smell", like "new car smell"! I hope they still have that

The other great thing was watching all the toddlers ooh and aah over the "engineer seat" -- with half-width cabs, there are passenger seats facing out the front window now, just like on PATCO. Seeing their excitement was fun. Of course, knowing our enthusiasm, some of us may be shoving the toddlers out of the way so we can sit in those seats!

I have experiened new train smell twice in my lifetime. Once was in childhood when the Dixie Flagler was reequipped and renamed the Dixieland. Secondly, on the Sunset Limited when the first batch of superliners were still very new.

 

[the_traveler]

I'm leaving at 9:23, so I'll join you for the 3 PM point run, then maybe catch dinner before heading out to WIL (for more 3X fun ) - and then head back on #66 . (Maybe some food and drinks will help me sleep better!)

 

[wayman]

Bill goes out on the Crescent, a few of us have trains that leave in the 5 PM hour, but I'm not sure about everyone.
I'm also however considering a quickie round trip on a Keystone for some extra points at 3:00 PM.

I'm local, so I'll just play it by ear. If I don't have any other commitments, I'll probably join the 3:00 pm Keystone ride

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.

 

[FrankStar]

OK, I'll meet at the Meeting point, hopefully shortly after 11 a.m. I plan to just look around - no tour reservations. But I'm interested in the seeing the baseball exhibit and the new SEPTA trains, which I missed at Suburban.

My short run itnerary is this:

<Departs>

Service: 665 Keystone

Duration: 0 hr, 37 min

Philadelphia - 30th Street Station, PA (PHL)

08-MAY-10; 3:00 pm

<Arrives>

Downingtown, PA (DOW)

08-MAY-10; 3:37 pm

---------

Service: 672 Keystone

Duration: 0 hr, 43 min

<Departs>

Downingtown, PA (DOW)

08-MAY-10; 6:10 pm

<Arrives>

Philadelphia - 30th Street Station, PA (PHL)

08-MAY-10; 6:53 pm

I'll be hitting the Victory Brewery restaurant in between (it's about a mile away from the train station, probably I'll walk). I've never been before and it's a good excuse as any to stop by and check it out.

I spent $13 for the tickets and I'll get 600 points out of it - more than I got for my trip to Boston in February.

 

[njdon]

I've got two tickets for the 1:30 tour if anyone needs them.

Hello Ryan. I'd sure be interested in those Philly tickets since I don't seem to be able to make reservations on line. How would we make the exhange if they're still available?

 

[Long Train Runnin']

I've got two tickets for the 1:30 tour if anyone needs them.

Hello Ryan. I'd sure be interested in those Philly tickets since I don't seem to be able to make reservations on line. How would we make the exhange if they're still available?

I have 1 extra ticket for the 1:30 PM tour that your more then welcome to use.

 

[Ryan]

I've got two tickets for the 1:30 tour if anyone needs them.

Hello Ryan. I'd sure be interested in those Philly tickets since I don't seem to be able to make reservations on line. How would we make the exhange if they're still available?

I have 1 extra ticket for the 1:30 PM tour that your more then welcome to use.

That'd be great if you can help him out, turns out that I can use mine and wayman's using my extra.

Sounds like a fun turn on the Keystone (not to mention some extra points), I'll plan on that and set the return for 163 leaving at 5:30.

 

[Long Train Runnin']

I've got two tickets for the 1:30 tour if anyone needs them.

Hello Ryan. I'd sure be interested in those Philly tickets since I don't seem to be able to make reservations on line. How would we make the exhange if they're still available?

I have 1 extra ticket for the 1:30 PM tour that your more then welcome to use.

That'd be great if you can help him out, turns out that I can use mine and wayman's using my extra.

Sounds like a fun turn on the Keystone (not to mention some extra points), I'll plan on that and set the return for 163 leaving at 5:30.

Cool I look forward to meeting you.

When I made reservations I figured hey 1 extra ticket couldn't hurt I'm sure I can give it to someone so NJDon if you can make the 1:30 tour time you are more then welcome to the ticket

 

[J-1 3235]

I'll be arriving at 1:10, so I'll miss lunch. But I'll see everyone with a 1:30 tour reservation. A quick points run on the Keystone Service sounds good, too. See you tommorrow!

Mike