85 replies to this topic

[the_traveler]

- but you realize you will not get either hotel or AGR points? They specifically exclude them!

Why do you say that, Traveler? PL is an AGR 'Partner'. I did my most recent PL booking through the AGR site link. The points haven't posted yet, I admit, but I'm expecting them!

I didn't realize PL was a partner until a few days ago. Sorry!

[sttsxm]

Excellent choice!!! The City of Brotherly Love has Everything we need to make Gathering VI the Best one yet! I know theres still alot of hard work ahead for the Comittee and the Administrators, we appreciate what yall do for us! (But of course that's why ya'll get the Big Bucks!! )

And we'll get to Debate which CheeseSteak Joint in Philly is the Best!!!

Tony Lukes...BUT my personal favorite thing is DiNic's Roast pork in the Reading Terminal Market...

I think I might have to plan to attend...sheesh..might even pop for the 26 or so bucks and take Amtrak...or not! LOL

[sttsxm]

IIRC thru my foggy memory, wasn't there an unadvertised benefit that you could show your Amtrak ticket and ride free from 30th Street Station out to the airport on SEPTA? Is that still in effect? If so, it could save those staying by the airport money the 1st day - OW out to the airport!

I've tried...once i was successful, once the conductor looked at me like WTH???

Edited by sttsxm, 23 February 2012 - 11:18 PM.

[Train2104]

Not going, but I'll say some things about Philly:

-SEPTA is probably the last major transit system in this country to use tokens. I would buy a few.
-Don't forget that a few trolley routes to Center City serve the Eastwick area, in addition to half hourly regional rail service.
-Independence Pass definitely recommended. Basically a systemwide day pass save for weekday AM rush hour regional rail. Watch the $5 surcharge per trip for those of you coming from NJ!
-Transit Store @ 1234 Market has quite a few things, they may still have some retired Regional Rail destination signs...

[Acela150]

Excellent choice!!! The City of Brotherly Love has Everything we need to make Gathering VI the Best one yet! I know theres still alot of hard work ahead for the Comittee and the Administrators, we appreciate what yall do for us! (But of course that's why ya'll get the Big Bucks!! )

And we'll get to Debate which CheeseSteak Joint in Philly is the Best!!!

Tony Lukes...BUT my personal favorite thing is DiNic's Roast pork in the Reading Terminal Market...

I think I might have to plan to attend...sheesh..might even pop for the 26 or so bucks and take Amtrak...or not! LOL

Roast Pork isn't a Philly tradition though.. Cheesesteaks are!!

[Acela150]

Not going, but I'll say some things about Philly:

-SEPTA is probably the last major transit system in this country to use tokens. I would buy a few. True
-Don't forget that a few trolley routes to Center City serve the Eastwick area, in addition to half hourly regional rail service. Trolleys serve the other end of Eastwick Farther from the Airport. The Eastwick Station is closer.
-Independence Pass definitely recommended. Basically a systemwide day pass save for weekday AM rush hour regional rail. Watch the $5 surcharge per trip for those of you coming from NJ! Delaware is NOT included in this!
-Transit Store @ 1234 Market has quite a few things, they may still have some retired Regional Rail destination signs... The transit store used to be full of neat things but now it's full of stupid little things. Some things are interesting. The only real interesting things in there now are the Old Regional Rail Signs, i.e. R1, R2, R3.

[bbecker258]

Excellent choice!!! The City of Brotherly Love has Everything we need to make Gathering VI the Best one yet! I know theres still alot of hard work ahead for the Comittee and the Administrators, we appreciate what yall do for us! (But of course that's why ya'll get the Big Bucks!! )

And we'll get to Debate which CheeseSteak Joint in Philly is the Best!!!

Tony Lukes...BUT my personal favorite thing is DiNic's Roast pork in the Reading Terminal Market...

I think I might have to plan to attend...sheesh..might even pop for the 26 or so bucks and take Amtrak...or not! LOL

Roast Pork isn't a Philly tradition though.. Cheesesteaks are!!

Hmmm, I think I will try all of them just to be fair.

[jis]

IIRC thru my foggy memory, wasn't there an unadvertised benefit that you could show your Amtrak ticket and ride free from 30th Street Station out to the airport on SEPTA? Is that still in effect? If so, it could save those staying by the airport money the 1st day - OW out to the airport!

I've tried...once i was successful, once the conductor looked at me like WTH???

An Amtrak ticket is valid on SEPTA only for traveling from 30th St station to Suburban Station, though it also seems to work to Market East. It is just grandfathering of Amtrak service to Suburban Station which was discontinued sometime back. It certainly should not work to the Airport.

[PRR 60]

Not going, but I'll say some things about Philly:

...
-Independence Pass definitely recommended. Basically a systemwide day pass save for weekday AM rush hour regional rail. Watch the $5 surcharge per trip for those of you coming from NJ! Delaware is NOT included in this!
...

Just to make sure no one misunderstands what you are saying about the Independence (Day) Pass, the pass works to all SEPTA destinations, including the three rail stops in Delaware (Wilmington, Churchman's Crossing, Newark). For travel to New Jersey stations only (Trenton and West Trenton), the use of the pass requires payment of a $5 surcharge each way. The funny thing is that you can buy a ticket between Trenton and Levittown or between West Trenton and Yardley for $3.50. The Independence Pass works fine to or from Levittown or Yardley. So, if you buy a local ticket for $3.50 just to get between the New Jersey station and the first Pennsylvania station, you can save $1.50 each way compared to paying the pass surcharge. Just another of those charming SEPTA quirks.

[PRR 60]

IIRC thru my foggy memory, wasn't there an unadvertised benefit that you could show your Amtrak ticket and ride free from 30th Street Station out to the airport on SEPTA? Is that still in effect? If so, it could save those staying by the airport money the 1st day - OW out to the airport!

I've tried...once i was successful, once the conductor looked at me like WTH???

An Amtrak ticket is valid on SEPTA only for traveling from 30th St station to Suburban Station, though it also seems to work to Market East. It is just grandfathering of Amtrak service to Suburban Station which was discontinued sometime back. It certainly should not work to the Airport.

An Amtrak ticket or stub is valid between all three center city stops - 30th Street, Suburban, and Market East. Amtrak passengers can ride for free between those stations. The funny thing is that, unless you are extraordinarily unlucky, everyone rides for free between those stations. Tickets are not collected in center city, and the train crews change at Suburban. The crew where you get off is not the same crew as the one where you got on. They have no idea that you did not have your ticket collected by the first crew. It is kind of an unofficial SEPTA free transit zone. One more charming SEPTA quirk.

Edited by PRR 60, 24 February 2012 - 09:30 AM.

[Acela150]

Not going, but I'll say some things about Philly:

...
-Independence Pass definitely recommended. Basically a systemwide day pass save for weekday AM rush hour regional rail. Watch the $5 surcharge per trip for those of you coming from NJ! Delaware is NOT included in this!
...

Just to make sure no one misunderstands what you are saying about the Independence (Day) Pass, the pass works to all SEPTA destinations, including the three rail stops in Delaware (Wilmington, Churchman's Crossing, Newark). For travel to New Jersey stations only (Trenton and West Trenton), the use of the pass requires payment of a $5 surcharge each way. The funny thing is that you can buy a ticket between Trenton and Levittown or between West Trenton and Yardley for $3.50. The Independence Pass works fine to or from Levittown or Yardley. So, if you buy a local ticket for $3.50 just to get between the New Jersey station and the first Pennsylvania station, you can save $1.50 each way compared to paying the pass surcharge. Just another of those charming SEPTA quirks.

Thanks for that. I messed that up.

[Traingeek]

Can people do the Saturday and Sunday parts of the Gathering? I may only be able to do Saturday and sunday of the gathering due to work and other things. Are things usually scheduled to start after 9 AM (first train from ABE to PHL arrives around 8:30 AM)? Do things end before 7:30 PM (when the last train leaves PHL for ABE)?

[the_traveler]

Sure, you don't have to do some or all activities at the Gathering! However, we do have a group dinner usually on either Friday or Saturday night you may want to plan to attend with all the crazy AU members!

When the Gathering was held in BOS - only 90 miles from me - I did not attend Friday, but did Saturday and Sunday!

[AlanB]

Can people do the Saturday and Sunday parts of the Gathering? I may only be able to do Saturday and sunday of the gathering due to work and other things. Are things usually scheduled to start after 9 AM (first train from ABE to PHL arrives around 8:30 AM)? Do things end before 7:30 PM (when the last train leaves PHL for ABE)?

As mentioned by Dave, there is no requirement to attend everything. I seem to recall a few people over the years only showing up for 1 thing.

Regarding scheduling, generally I try not to start too early, but I cannot guarantee anything at this point in time. For example last year in Seattle, we did have to start one day at 7:30, since that was the departure time of the southbound Cascades train to Portland. But down in Philly we have many more train options available to us, so the odds are good that you'd be able to get into Philly with time to spare. Especially since most train rides run through the Philly train station anyhow.

[Ryan]

In making my return reservation to the DC area I noticed that some of the NERs (the 3:33, 4:33 & 5:33 departures specifically) have already sold out of the lower fares. Book early!

Ticketed for Saturday, up from BWI on # 162, return the same nite to BWI on # 165. Ryan? $32 each way.

(Michigan v. Purdue that day,& OSU v. Nebraska! THAT game will be of interest to a few AU-ers)

Finally got around to booking this - luckily still $32 each way. Was thinking about booking 167 as a backup, depending on where the Sat night dinner was going to be.

[rrdude]

In making my return reservation to the DC area I noticed that some of the NERs (the 3:33, 4:33 & 5:33 departures specifically) have already sold out of the lower fares. Book early!

Ticketed for Saturday, up from BWI on # 162, return the same nite to BWI on # 165. Ryan? $32 each way.

(Michigan v. Purdue that day,& OSU v. Nebraska! THAT game will be of interest to a few AU-ers)

Finally got around to booking this - luckily still $32 each way. Was thinking about booking 167 as a backup, depending on where the Sat night dinner was going to be.

Great Ryan, see ya on the train! You boarding at BWI or BAL?

[sttsxm]

Excellent choice!!! The City of Brotherly Love has Everything we need to make Gathering VI the Best one yet! I know theres still alot of hard work ahead for the Comittee and the Administrators, we appreciate what yall do for us! (But of course that's why ya'll get the Big Bucks!! )

And we'll get to Debate which CheeseSteak Joint in Philly is the Best!!!

Tony Lukes...BUT my personal favorite thing is DiNic's Roast pork in the Reading Terminal Market...

I think I might have to plan to attend...sheesh..might even pop for the 26 or so bucks and take Amtrak...or not! LOL

Roast Pork isn't a Philly tradition though.. Cheesesteaks are!!

Hmmm, I think I will try all of them just to be fair.

SPLENDID Idea........

I love me some roast pork though....heehee
now i am hungry.......that's the beauty of baseball season..i can have DiNics for an early lunch and head over to Citizen's Bank Park for a Tony Lukes steak!

[sttsxm]

i guess it would be pathetic to DRIVE to a rail fan gathering???

guess i can drive to the hotel..where ever i end up...and then take SEPTA into CC???

though the train would probably be cheaper, if gas keeps going up

Edited by sttsxm, 10 March 2012 - 11:55 PM.

[amamba]

Hrmm, not sure if I am going to be able to make it this year. Have you ever thought about changing the weekend? It's my wedding anniversary weekend and I'm not sure I can convince H to travel to Philly with me. Plus its a super busy time at work. I might be able to head down for the day on Saturday and take the 66 home.

[the_traveler]

Tell H that "It's (him) or AU"!

Remember you don't have to to all. When it was in BOS, I did not attend on Friday!