Being one of those Govt workers on furlough, I had some time off yesterday (and today, and tomorrow. It's kind of like practice for retirement.) So I decided to earn a few TQP for 2019 and burn a few AGR points and get out of town for the day. My main mission was to go to SEPTA HQ and get a Senior Citizen Key Card that allows me unlimited free rides on SEPTA. Wish WAMTA and MARC would offer such a deal. But half price isn't so bad.
I rode up on the Vermonter, leaves at 850 am, gets into Philly at 10. I splurged for BC with the 2x1 seating, and had a seat pair to myself. Free coffee and a nice on time ride to 30th st.
As mentioned, the Solari board is still there.
Went up to the SEPTA level. They have turnstiles for track access, but there was a person at an open gate who waved me through as I displayed my Amtrak eticket. Went up to the track, took the next train toward Center City, which was a Silverliner V. Got off at Jefferson, went upstairs, crossed Market St., and went into SEPTA HQ, where I was directed downstairs for my photo ID. They have some historical exhibits, the best is a fully restored PCC car, just like the ones that clanked down the street in front of our house, circa 1970 and kept me up all night until I got used to it.
That was a real time warp. I might still have one of those SEPTA maps somewhere in my clutter.
I had to wait a bit for an open office, but they accepted my Maryland driver's license as proof of age, and I was soon the proud owner of a SEPTA Key Senior Fare Card. Apparently I have to come back in 4 years and get a new picture.
Now, what to do with it. I had a little time before lunch, so I decided to ride the Broad St. subway to Fern Rock, and then catch a regional rail back to Center City. Back in the day, this connection didn't exist. In fact, this is the first time I rode the Broad St. Line since 1973, when I was in college and worked at Albert Einstein Medical Center during a vacation. I was a regular on the line for 4 years during high school, too. We didn't do wimpy things like yellow school buses in Philly.
To be continued, as I'm having problems uploading pictures from my phone.
I rode up on the Vermonter, leaves at 850 am, gets into Philly at 10. I splurged for BC with the 2x1 seating, and had a seat pair to myself. Free coffee and a nice on time ride to 30th st.
As mentioned, the Solari board is still there.
Went up to the SEPTA level. They have turnstiles for track access, but there was a person at an open gate who waved me through as I displayed my Amtrak eticket. Went up to the track, took the next train toward Center City, which was a Silverliner V. Got off at Jefferson, went upstairs, crossed Market St., and went into SEPTA HQ, where I was directed downstairs for my photo ID. They have some historical exhibits, the best is a fully restored PCC car, just like the ones that clanked down the street in front of our house, circa 1970 and kept me up all night until I got used to it.
That was a real time warp. I might still have one of those SEPTA maps somewhere in my clutter.
I had to wait a bit for an open office, but they accepted my Maryland driver's license as proof of age, and I was soon the proud owner of a SEPTA Key Senior Fare Card. Apparently I have to come back in 4 years and get a new picture.
Now, what to do with it. I had a little time before lunch, so I decided to ride the Broad St. subway to Fern Rock, and then catch a regional rail back to Center City. Back in the day, this connection didn't exist. In fact, this is the first time I rode the Broad St. Line since 1973, when I was in college and worked at Albert Einstein Medical Center during a vacation. I was a regular on the line for 4 years during high school, too. We didn't do wimpy things like yellow school buses in Philly.
To be continued, as I'm having problems uploading pictures from my phone.