Pittsburgh - New York round trip 8/6 to 8/7 2022

[PaTrainFan]

Awesome trip report! Yes, I always choose the north side of the train but mostly to avoid the glare of the sun. I've been meaning to take a trip from NYP out to the 'Island' on the Long Island trains... hope to do it soon.

For a perfect hotel at NYP always try to get the Fairfield Inn across the street. Always wangle a way with points to stay there for free... but ya need a lot of points!

While there I have no hesitation to get a meal from the Halal trucks... really good and New York is strict with food inspections so it's always been a good choice for me.

RE: North along the Hudson [on the Hudson side of course] is some of the best viewing Amtrak has to offer. Below taken last winter:

View attachment 29189

I stayed at the Fairfield Inn a year ago and it served my purposes well but this time around, when I checked the price was double that of The New Yorker, so no brainer for me, even though am a Bonvoy member.

 

[railiner]

Wow, it's nicer than I remembered. I literally haven't been in the bus station since shortly after it opened, for curiosity. Though I have used the parking garage on a few occasions. For goodness sakes, Amtrak's "Union Station" doesn't even have the PIDS train information displays yet.

I actually thought it was better before they rebuilt the 1959 terminal in 2008...
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/i0kAAOSwubFaed08/s-l1600.jpghttps://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/GB10_PC3-FrankW_bb-1024x695.jpg
And the 1937 Art Deco one, across the intersection was even nicer...

 

[Steel City Don]

Our Greyhound station I haven't been in in over 10 years, I prefer not to use Greyhound that was a terrible experience. That was before the remodel as I can see from the pictures, it looks better

 

[danasgoodstuff]

I too stayed at the New Yorker hotel recently, reasonable and convenient.

 

[railiner]

I too stayed at the New Yorker hotel recently, reasonable and convenient.

That hotel, like others built in its era, to serve "commercial traveler's", had a huge number of rooms, but they tended to be tiny by todays's standards. The Hotel Pennsylvania, at the other end of Penn Station, was similar.
Have they enlarged the rooms and reduced the number since being remodeled?

Edit: I got curious so looked up this fascinating history on the web...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyndham_New_Yorker_Hotel

 

[PaTrainFan]

That hotel, like others built in its era, to serve "commercial traveler's", had a huge number of rooms, but they tended to be tiny by todays's standards. The Hotel Pennsylvania, at the other end of Penn Station, was similar.
Have they enlarged the rooms and reduced the number since being remodeled?

This being my first visit to The New Yorker I cannot compare to the past, but my room was rather small. A Queen sized bed. I didn't need more; I just needed a clean room and a comfortable bed to sleep in as I was there only a few hours outside of shuteye time. It was quiet other than the usual outside city noise. The TV had issues, but that was no biggie to me. I will say I object to paying a "facility fee" for Internet, Fitness Center and Business Center, none of which I used but that seems to be common these days. I stayed at The Pennsylvanian several years ago and I can say without question The New Yorker was far superior.

 

[PVD]

The New Yorker was powered by its own DC power plant for many years, and in the 65 blackout was still "lit" The irony is, the champion of AC generation Nikola Tesla spent his last years living there.

 

[PVD]

When Reverend Moon's Church first had it restored to limited hotel use, it was under Ramada. But they have greatly expanded the number of floors and rooms and spent quite a bit of money renovating. It has been a Wyndham for some time now.

 

[railiner]

This being my first visit to The New Yorker I cannot compare to the past, but my room was rather small. A Queen sized bed. I didn't need more; I just needed a clean room and a comfortable bed to sleep in as I was there only a few hours outside of shuteye time. It was quiet other than the usual outside city noise. The TV had issues, but that was no biggie to me. I will say I object to paying a "facility fee" for Internet, Fitness Center and Business Center, none of which I used but that seems to be common these days. I stayed at The Pennsylvanian several years ago and I can say without question The New Yorker was far superior.

And apparently, the home of "Pennsylvania 6-5000, is no more...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Pennsylvaniahttps://untappedcities.com/2021/11/16/hotel-pennsylvania-demolition/https://w42st.com/post/penn15-rises-taking-the-place-of-the-legendary-pennsylvania-hotel/

 

[railiner]

When Reverend Moon's Church first had it restored to limited hotel use, it was under Ramada. But they have greatly expanded the number of floors and rooms and spent quite a bit of money renovating. It has been a Wyndham for some time now.

I Imagine, source of work for Local 3, eh?

 

[PVD]

I don't know if our people did the renos (around 900 rooms). My office was a block away. But I'll ask. They may have gone cheap. I'm sure when the conversion to an AC service took place 50+ years ago we did it.
But the real point is that it is now a convenient decent place for NYP passengers at a reasonable price point. And having an alternative to the high-end hotels, or the dives, in a convenient spot is something that many people ask about on this forum.

 

[danasgoodstuff]

If I go back to Manhattan, which I hope to do, and can get even a half-way decent price, I will probably stay there again. Even as someone who had never been in NYC before it was dead simple to get to and from; it really could hardly be more convenient for a rail passenger. And it puts you in the heart of mid-town, close to the High Line, Times Square, Broadway, theaters, etc. We were able to walk almost everywhere we wanted to go.

 

[PVD]

Work started on the connection from the high towards Moynihan, should be open next year.... But to slide back to Pittsburgh, the original topic, in an earlier post, someone mentioned Church Brew Works, and some years ago, I had recently been appointed NY District Coach in Chief for USA Hockey and a major coaching symposium was set for Pittsburgh and I traveled there to help out. Short walk from Amtrak to the Westin, but I did fly home. So, I checked the registration listings and invited anyone from New York to join me for dinner at Church Brew. Quite a few did, picked up a heckuva check, but it was great fun and an opportunity for folks from all over the state to get to know each other.

 

[danasgoodstuff]

Work started on the connection from the high towards Moynihan, should be open next year.... But to slide back to Pittsburgh, the original topic, in an earlier post, someone mentioned Church Brew Works, and some years ago, I had recently been appointed NY District Coach in Chief for USA Hockey and a major coaching symposium was set for Pittsburgh and I traveled there to help out. Short walk from Amtrak to the Westin, but I did fly home. So, I checked the registration listings and invited anyone from New York to join me for dinner at Church Brew. Quite a few did, picked up a heckuva check, but it was great fun and an opportunity for folks from all over the state to get to know each other.

Which connection? ("from the high towards Moynihan")

 

[Mike99]

I like the bullet point style, great read, thanks for posting

 

[joelkfla]

Which connection? ("from the high towards Moynihan")

"Expected to be completed by the spring of 2023, the High Line X Moynihan Train Hall Connector will move east along 30th Street and turn 90 degrees north along Dyer Avenue into the public space at Manhattan West, Brookfield Properties’ mixed-use development. Pedestrians will be able to move through Manhattan West to 9th Avenue and into Moynihan Train Hall which is directly across the street."


https://www.thehighline.org/connections/
https://abc7ny.com/high-line-moynih...ll offer a safe, scenic,end of the High Line.

 

[PVD]

"Expected to be completed by the spring of 2023, the High Line X Moynihan Train Hall Connector will move east along 30th Street and turn 90 degrees north along Dyer Avenue into the public space at Manhattan West, Brookfield Properties’ mixed-use development. Pedestrians will be able to move through Manhattan West to 9th Avenue and into Moynihan Train Hall which is directly across the street."
View attachment 29225

https://www.thehighline.org/connections/

Thanks, that is a good explanation. I should never take for granted familiarity with the area.

 

[danasgoodstuff]

"Expected to be completed by the spring of 2023, the High Line X Moynihan Train Hall Connector will move east along 30th Street and turn 90 degrees north along Dyer Avenue into the public space at Manhattan West, Brookfield Properties’ mixed-use development. Pedestrians will be able to move through Manhattan West to 9th Avenue and into Moynihan Train Hall which is directly across the street."
View attachment 29225

https://www.thehighline.org/connections/
https://abc7ny.com/high-line-moynih...ll offer a safe, scenic,end of the High Line.

Thanks, that should help turn the High Line from a fun walk (which it is now, and which is great as far as that goes) into a more useful day to day pedestrian right of way.

 

[Stremba]

I have done this trip on the Pennsylvanian many times. Glad you enjoyed it. Another hotel option for the budget-conscious that I have used. Don’t stay in Manhattan; stay at the Doubletree in Newark. It is usually significantly cheaper than any option in Manhattan, and it is convenient to Newark Penn. it is connected via a walkway — you don’t even have to go outside to get from the station to your room.

Admittedly it is a bit less convenient while visiting. You do have to catch a PATH or NJ Transit train to get into Manhattan, but those trips are fairly short and painless.

Just a tip if you do this and are traveling with a group or are picky about where you sit on the Pennsylvanian: book NYP-PIT rather than NWK-PIT for the return trip. You can go NJT from NWK-NYP and there are a lot of pax boarding at NYP; your seating choices may be quite limited if you board at NWK.

 

[freejak]

An alternative is the Wall Street Inn at 9 S. William St. It's right by Wall Street so excellent if you need to be at that end of town. Small (and the usual small rooms) but very friendly. I haven't stayed lately, but still getting 4 1/2 starts at Trip Advisor.

 

[jpakala]

Caddy-corner from Penn Station in NYC at 7th Ave & W 31st St is the Stewart Hotel (formerly the Governor Clinton) which is closer than the Fairfield and others and we enjoyed it and found it very reasonably priced. My father during the mid-20th century always stayed at the Governor Clinton though his meetings often were at the more expensive Statler (across from Penn Station but no longer there).