|
|
| Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) (492168) | |
 |
|
| Home > SubChat | |
[ Post a New Response | Return to the Index ]
|
| (492168) | |
Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by R36 #9346 on Wed Sep 19 15:38:48 2007 As you may have guessed by my recent posts, I went to Philadelphia yesterday as part of NJ Transit's "Student Pass Week" program. I started the trip with the 10:01 train to Trenton. It was supposed to leave NYP at 10:01, and when I got there a few minutes before, I saw "Stand By" in the comments slot. After a few minutes of waiting, I finally got on and we were on our way (by about 10:10). It went a bit slower than I thought it would, but it was an overall enjoyable ride.Once in Trenton, it was River LINE time, and I was whisked away by car 3501 to Walter Rand. Then, I decided to try something completely different. Instead of taking PATCO into Philly, I decided to take the bus. I learned that all but two routes that run between Rand and Philly stop inside the building at Gate 8, I went in search for the rhyming location. As I walked into the area where the bus gates were, I saw Gates 1 through 7, but was mystified as to the location of this "Gate 8." I found it, and missed a bus in the process. However at a bus stop with 249057624501 routes going to the same destination stopping there, I figured it would only be a few minutes before the next one shows up. Sure enough, it did. A Metro B took me onto Market Street, and I continued. After buying the "Inconvenience Pass" at 1234 Market, and lunch at the Gallery, I went to my first spot. I took the Ridge Spur to North Philadelphia. I got a seat right behind the motorman, with a view of the line ahead, and the speedometer. While leaving Chinatown station, we broke 30 before leaving the station. On the express run, we hit 61. (I had a set of R68A's hit 62 once, but the Broad Street cars didn't need a downgrade in excess of 4% to break 60.) After a few minutes, and a couple of train pics, I decided to surface and take the bus. I took the C bus to Girard. Then, I took the 15 to Front. QUIRK #1: A strange thing about the car I was on. Occasionally, the back door would stick, and that would cause the driver to walk back and try to unstick it before moving on. This led to the greatest photo op at Front. A westbound car was on its way out, and the rear door got stuck again. So while the westbound car passed, I snapped a pic of it and the eastbound car. I then crossed Pigeon Poop City to the MFL entrance. I took the train to 30th Street and then took a non-10 car to the 40th Street portal. I saw two SEPTA trucks in the portal plaza, but they left soon after I got there. After a few minutes, I got on an eastbound car. QUIRK #2: By this time, I had 4 rides punched out of my pass. When I handed my pass to the driver of the car, he looked at it and then handed it back to me, without punching a hole in space #5. Did he forget his SEPTA-issued hole puncher or something? Anyway, I got out at 30th Street, and sought a restroom there. After using it, I got back on the MFL, transferred to the BSL, and took it to Walnut/Locust. That's where I boarded a PATCO train and rode back to Broadway. I sat near the operator's position. The operator was a talkative guy, and he was chatting with a lady sitting in front of me. Another guy came in and joined the conversation at 12th. As we were passing the Franklin Square station, he handed us some "inside information" about the status of the station, saying that it would be re-opening in a year and a half. He also said that the mayor was in the station looking at it. That's when the other guy asked, "Did someone try to push him off the platform?" I guess it was a bit funny, but not knowing the general popularity of the mayor, I kept relatively quiet. Back at Broadway, I was about to exit when a guy who had just taken taken a paper ticket from the new vending machine asked if it was still needed. I replied in the affirmative, and then proceeded to use my paper ticket to exit. Arriving just a bit too late to catch one northbound River LINE train, I proceeded to wait for the next one. I took it to Trenton, and waited for my train to New York. I was debating whether to take the 6:13 express, or wait for the two scheduled bi-level trains to pass and then take the 6:40. My answer came when a train of bi-levels (north car #7005), pulled into the station. I got my pics and proceeded to the other platform to catch the 6:13. The station announcer was very nice in explaining why the SEPTA train was being put in ahead of it. After getting a pic of south motor 9010, the 6:13 pulled in. I was reluctant to board because it was a set of Arrows, but I got on. QUIRK #3 After leaving, the conductor comes by, checking tickets. When he gets to me, I show him my I.D., and the coupon, and say, "New York." He then says, "What I.D. is that?" and comes in for a closer look. I hear him mutter, "Queens College," and something else, then he puts the seat check in, and I have a nice ride back to New York. A moment after pulling into Penn Station on Track 3, something else comes in on Track 4. The lead car was bi-level #7005. The bi-level train followed us here all the way from Trenton! I got a couple of pics, and left. Here's a couple of pics for now. More will show up in my upcoming montage.     
|
|
|
| (492382) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by Terrapin Station on Wed Sep 19 23:30:30 2007, in response to Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by R36 #9346 on Wed Sep 19 15:38:48 2007. After buying the "Inconvenience Pass" at 1234 Market:( While leaving Chinatown station, we broke 30 before leaving the station. On the express run, we hit 61. (I had a set of R68A's hit 62 once, but the Broad Street cars didn't need a downgrade in excess of 4% to break 60.) That's what I'm talking about. Nice trip. Could do with less buses though. And nice photos. Thanks for the story. I love Philly. |
|
|
| (492393) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by South Ferry on Thu Sep 20 00:27:21 2007, in response to Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by R36 #9346 on Wed Sep 19 15:38:48 2007. GREAT story & GREAT photos!! Betcha didn't realize had you skipped the 10:01 for the 10:28, you coulda had a bilevel ride to start your day! |
|
|
(Sponsored) |
iPhone 6 (4.7 Inch) Premium PU Leather Wallet Case - Red w/ Floral Interior - by Notch-It |
|
| (492407) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by 5119 on Thu Sep 20 01:39:07 2007, in response to Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by Terrapin Station on Wed Sep 19 23:30:30 2007. Once I was on a Broad Street Express northbound to Olney. Damn if we didin't hit 68 passing through the Wyoming Station. |
|
|
| (492421) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by R32 B Train on Thu Sep 20 02:44:03 2007, in response to Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by 5119 on Thu Sep 20 01:39:07 2007. It feels like it goes faster northbound than southbound. |
|
|
| (492490) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by TransitChuckG on Thu Sep 20 07:13:21 2007, in response to Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by R36 #9346 on Wed Sep 19 15:38:48 2007. Glad you enjoyed your trip to Philly. So your Route 15 trolley had some door problems? Most of those Callowhill drivers are pretty nice on there, I know a few.That express run on the BSS is really enjoyable. |
|
|
| (492491) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 07:25:40 2007, in response to Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by South Ferry on Thu Sep 20 00:27:21 2007. I saw a train of bilevels in Sunnyside Yard on my way into Penn, and I later saw it on track 13 as my train was boarding on 11. |
|
|
| (492493) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 07:28:42 2007, in response to Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 07:25:40 2007. So I basically started and finished my day with seeing the bilevels. |
|
|
| (492621) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by South Ferry on Thu Sep 20 13:13:20 2007, in response to Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 07:28:42 2007. It's much different riding them... Heh.Still... great to see you got out and participated in College Week!! |
|
|
| (492645) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 14:19:24 2007, in response to Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by South Ferry on Thu Sep 20 13:13:20 2007. Today I plan to ride the S89 to Bayonne and ride the light rail up to Hoboken. |
|
|
| (492678) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by JBar387 on Thu Sep 20 15:55:32 2007, in response to Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by R36 #9346 on Wed Sep 19 15:38:48 2007. Looks like you had fun, It is rare to see that Budd Car on the R7. It has been a spell since I rode one. Nice Pics! |
|
|
| (492833) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 22:12:31 2007, in response to Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by JBar387 on Thu Sep 20 15:55:32 2007. I thought that was rare, so I took a pic of it. |
|
|
| (492834) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 22:13:58 2007, in response to Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 07:28:42 2007. Not just that, it was FOUR trains of bilevels. The first was the one I photographed in Trenton and New York, the next two were the regularly scheduled southbound trains, and a fourth train soon followed. |
|
|
| (492846) | |
Thursday's Trip |
|
|
Posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 22:25:10 2007, in response to Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 14:19:24 2007. Well, I finished the S89 trip earlier today, and I gotta tell ya, it was really great. I'll save the details for BusChat. But anyway, it seems the SIR cars have received new number plates, or rather, someone made new number stick-ons (white Arial numbers on black background) and stuck them on the existing number plates.Had an enjoyable ride on the HBLR. As my HBLR car entered Richard Street, I noticed that the operator activated the track brakes (I sat so I could look into the cab). That thing hauls once it gets south of Liberty State Park! Speaking of hauling, If you want to see R44's go zoom, look for the SIR Express. I rode that on the way to Eltingville, and the train topped out at 61 somewhere between New Dorp and Oakwood Heights. I took the ferry to get to Staten Island, and I rode on the John F. Kennedy. Still got it! |
|
|
| (492966) | |
Re: Thursday's Trip |
|
|
Posted by Terrapin Station on Fri Sep 21 00:10:38 2007, in response to Thursday's Trip, posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 22:25:10 2007. Speaking of hauling, If you want to see R44's go zoom, look for the SIR Express. I rode that on the way to Eltingville, and the train topped out at 61 somewhere between New Dorp and Oakwood Heights.Yes, I rode the express recently, we hit those speeds, and I gained new found respect for the SIR. Puts the NYC Subway to shame. |
|
|
| (493004) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by JBar387 on Fri Sep 21 02:34:24 2007, in response to Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 22:12:31 2007. Yes, If I recall that is the oldest equiptment being used by SEPTA. The last time I rode that unit, She was smoking like an arnie! |
|
|
| (493083) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by kp5308 on Fri Sep 21 08:39:38 2007, in response to Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by JBar387 on Fri Sep 21 02:34:24 2007. Ex-Reading Budd class of '63...... |
|
|
| (493085) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by kp5308 on Fri Sep 21 08:40:53 2007, in response to Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by R36 #9346 on Wed Sep 19 15:38:48 2007. Good job w pics & text-thanks. |
|
|
| (493511) | |
Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics) |
|
|
Posted by South Ferry on Sat Sep 22 02:19:34 2007, in response to Re: Tuesday's Trip (& a Few Pics), posted by R36 #9346 on Thu Sep 20 22:13:58 2007. yep... in three scheduling instances, the bilevels pwn two consecutive departures (an express and a local as the follower).. |
|
|
