Boston to NYP trip - we let the Redcap cart the bags and chose the quiet car. A long walk to the front of the train so glad we had him. Train 173 goes to NYP for us and on to WAS.Â
Sparsely populated at first. Noted the electric outlets at each seat, wonderful. But not as much legroom as a Surfliner and the reading lights make you think you have gone blind. The car filled up as we went but it was never totally full. Stayed quiet as advertised.
Nice scenery of towns with pastel sided homes and tall church spires. Smooth track!
Used a redcap at NYP and glad we did. It was a long walk and two escalators. Outside, NYC at 3:30 on a Friday. What a zoo. Got a cab and traffic made it take 1/2 hour to go the short distance to our hotel, the Herald Square. Really glad we chose a hotel so close to the station.Â
The hotel is a bit quaint. We opted for the upgraded bathroom room. So we have a small room, nice bed, great bathroom. Window is covered so it is totally dark at night. But it is also quiet. Good choice which we learned about on the forum. Thanks.
NYP to PHL - Planned to walk to NYP to depart but a cab driver right outside the hotel enticed us. Worked out well, much less traffic than on our arrival. The station is nice, roomy and bright. Used the Quiktrax and saw the Amtrak waiting area. Redcap said he would come get us when it was time. We are, as usual, over an hour early. Wifi here!
Terrific boarding by the Redcap, I think I love them. Chose regular coach next to the cafe car. NEC 125 on track 15. Art was one of the random ID checks. Amazingly after a relatively short underground (under river?) trip we emerged in the country, no city visible. Car is pretty full, conductor heaved a bunch of big bags up top. Must build muscles.Â
Newark, Trenton, etc. Not scenic. PHL station very nice and easy out to cab. Staying at Club Quarters won on Priceline. Very nice, a real window and a view. Now 80 degrees. But forecast for tomorrow is 60 and rain.
PHL to WAS - enjoyed waiting in 30th St Station although their wifi was very slow. Switched to AT&T network which worked better. We did have rain in Philly but today is gorgeous and sunny.
Glad we used the Redcap, got us to a car with some seats but it did end up with one guy standing. NEC 95 at 12:00 noon. Think it started in Boston. An Amtrak Police K-9 team came through the car during the trip.Â
No stations were ever announced until Union Station (city not specified). We all trooped to the front of the car, retrieving our copious baggage and attempted to negotiate the four narrow metal steps to the platform. The conductor watched us all struggle with great interest but no helpful hands.Â
The death march to the actual station was accomplished with multiple rest stops. No redcaps in sight. A sign said Taxi so we went that direction. But there were to be no more signs. We asked a guard and he directed us to the light. Where we found a long line for the taxis. But it moved fast.Â
Got our cab to the Four Points by Sheraton at K and 12th. Hotel is lovely. Will check out Union Station when we return in three days.
NEC impressions - the trains are nice. The information provided about stops is poor. I guess they think we all are familiar with the routes. Conductors were efficient but not very friendly. And the routes sure are heavily utilized. Good train adventure and I learned a lot. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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I'm glad you enjoyed your trip so far. Did you have Abe as your redcap in Philly. I prefer the Acela to the NE Regional personally. Which Silver Service are you taking
Posts: 465 | From: elgin (s-line) | Registered: Dec 2008
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Vicki, great report. Operating crews in the East do tend to be dour, I've noticed. Maybe it's just a defensive measure against the demanding New Yorkers.
Crews in the Midwest and West do tend to be friendlier, but only by about one order of magnitude. I guess their minds are on the hardware, not the humanity.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Thanks for the interesting report, Vicki. I think that's the part of this forum I enjoy the most. You're report reminds me of the days of the Pennsylvania RR that operated the NEC (at least NYC to DC) until 1967 when something called Penn Central ran it into the ground.
Your comment and Henry's about the less than pleasant crews on the NEC makes me wonder if it must be something in the genes for conductors on that territory.
My parents would not take the PRR from Wilmington as they viewed the crews as very cold and unfriendly. So we always took the good ol' B&O, until they discontinued service in 1958. It was slower and older equipment but crews were always outstanding. Says something about the value of good customer service.
I'm looking forward to your segment on the Meteor.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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I think New Yorkes are a genre of their own. Different from all the rest of us. Maybe it is because it is a noisy place and one usually needs to shout to be head, push people out of your way to get through places. The New york based crews seem to me to be like that. Years ago the conductor on the now long gone Pioneer told me he wouldn't have an eastern crew on his train because they all had an attitude. I don't even like visiting there any more. It is too loud, dirty and frantic for me. Vicki the way to get a red cap in DC is to ask the conductor to call ahead and have one meet you at the train. (and hope you don't get the one we call MR> grump!!)When you leave ask for Dallas if he is still there. He is super tops.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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oops my fingers are ahead of my mind.Meant New Yorkers, shout to be heard not head
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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I wish it was the star, I would meet you at CLB. If you have Yvone as your conductor, and Mr. Michals as the assistant, they are really nice, or to me for sure. HOpe you enjoy P097
Posts: 465 | From: elgin (s-line) | Registered: Dec 2008
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Vicki,I think Henry is correct. The NEC crew attitude is probably a defense mechanism against New Yorkers. As a native New Yorker reading your description of the NEC service that's exactly what I was thinking. I grew up in Brooklyn,lived in Queens and have worked in Manhattan years ago. That defense mechanism is part of the New York way of life. Unfortunately it does not reflect the true spirit the New Yorkers really have.
Posts: 498 | From: New Hope, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Correct Chris. The Herald Square was very quiet and I believe it was you who recommended it.
As for New Yorkers, they were all great. Art had his Clippers jacket on so we had many basketball conversations with strangers. A lovely young lady helped us select the correct subway and escorted us to the right exit.
We did go back to Union Station today to explore and take pictures. Quite a place, as many people as places we visited in China. Love the jaywalkers in all these cities. So impatient to get across the streets. Found myself doing it too.
Will let you know how the Meteor trip goes.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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I'm on train 111 PHL to WAS most Mondays and usually train 196 on Thursdays WAS to PHL. Conductors always announce stations -- in fact, it gets tiresome after so many roundtrips to hear, yet again, "next station BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. All doors will not open (how are passengers supposed to get off?). Exit at the front or rear of the cafe car."
I suppose she means, "Not all doors will open".
Posts: 614 | From: Merchantville, NJ. USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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Sorry I've been away and never commented before . . . glad your NEC adventure went well. I'm surprised about no announcements on train; sometimes happens but usually they are announced. Car attendants/conductors do keep an eye on who is going where (from tags), but still, they ought to announce! I find most staff very brisk and busy, more businesslike than dour. When less busy (as on Boston to NYP), friendlier. But it's never good to generalize; the nastiest meanest car attendant I ever encountered in my life was on a Pacific Surfliner.
So glad the hotels worked for you. I thought you were staying in the HArrington in DC, but will have to add yours to my list of possibles. Did you get to see the Acela Lounge in DC?
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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The next morning you take Amtrak for your first meeting, in Washington. You pass through the utilitarian ugliness, the abjuration of all elegance that is Penn Station. On the trip south, past Philadelphia, you see the physical deterioration that echoes what you saw on the TV—broken neighborhoods, abandoned factories with shattered windows, graffiti-covered abutments. It looks like old films of the Depression!
By the time you reach Washington—at least Union Station is august and beautiful—you are amazed to find yourself thinking: "Good thing America is coming to save us. But it's funny she doesn't want to save herself!"....
This column is only tangential to the Corridor, but I think it is a worthy read. Ms. Noonan's column is practically the first thing I read in Saturday's Journal.
Related, but still a diversion from topic, this past Saturday, I went to Detroit to hear the Detroit Symphony perform (I fear they are not long for the world; a thought held by other patrons as well). Unfortunately, leaving CUS 730A on 350(22), there was no newsstand open - and the "comp' Business Class paper was the Trib (hey it could have been McPaper). So I had to wait untill getting to the newsstand at Book-Cadillac for my Times and Journal 'fix".
Ironically, guess what was the "comp" paper on 353(24) - The New York Times!! (Detroit's paper, the Free Press, is now web only). However, I had already bought my Sunday Times, again, at the hotel's newsstand. Talk about an O'Henry "Gift of the Magi" moment.
Oh well, guess the trip cost $6 more than it had to.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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(hey it could have been McPaper). So I had to wait untill getting to the newsstand at Book-Cadillac for my Times and Journal 'fix".
