NTD (Revised poll - due to new information)

[PerRock]

I'll probably try & make it over to Ann Arbor. They usually have some free coffee and some "VIPs". Nothing very exciting, but it's closer then Chicago.

peter

PS: can anyone get the NTD website to load? All i get is the Copyright info.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I'll probably try & make it over to Ann Arbor. They usually have some free coffee and some "VIPs". Nothing very exciting, but it's closer then Chicago.

peter

PS: can anyone get the NTD website to load? All i get is the Copyright info.

I just tried this: NTD Link and it worked for me.

 

[Railroad Bill]

Will be heading for NTD -7 in Toledo on May 5 to see the Anniversary Train at Toledo Station. :giggle:

They have some festivities planned and its only a 2 hour ride for us.

 

[Train2104]

I wish I could be in GCT, but alas I'll be in HOS that day!

 

[PerRock]

I'll probably try & make it over to Ann Arbor. They usually have some free coffee and some "VIPs". Nothing very exciting, but it's closer then Chicago.

peter

PS: can anyone get the NTD website to load? All i get is the Copyright info.

I just tried this: NTD Link and it worked for me.

Nope still nothing (new). I've looked at the page source code, and it appears to be one big java element that is the page & it's not loading. I tried turning ABP off as well with no luck.

peter

 

[AmtrakBlue]

NTD

Train Equipment Displays

Attendees in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles will have the chance to tour private luxury railcars, freight and commuter trains, as well as current Amtrak equipment.

Are you an Amtrak Guest Rewards MasterCard cardholder? If so, follow the Fast-Track signs to skip the line and avoid the wait.

Does this mean they're not issuing Fast-Track passes?

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Train Equipment Displays

Attendees in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles will have the chance to tour private luxury railcars, freight and commuter trains, as well as current Amtrak equipment. Are you an Amtrak Guest Rewards MasterCard cardholder? If so, follow the Fast-Track signs to skip the line and avoid the wait. Does this mean they're not issuing Fast-Track passes?

Apparently not. I actually see this sort of criteria as an improvement over Amtrak's previous setup last year. If they're smart they'll have forms and tables for folks to sign up for the AGR Mastercard while they wait in line.

 

[Ozark Southern]

Just booked us some tickets for the Branson Scenic Railway on NTD. Not Amtrak, but it's got Budd dome cars!

We managed to get enough money for an Amtrak trip after all, so we're moving the Branson trip to another weekend and going to St. Louis on NTD.

 

[PaulM]

Can we get a rundown of what is expected to be available at each location, at least to the best of our understanding? I checked www.nationaltrainday.com but it was mighty sparse without much information to base a decision on.

Yeh. Last year I took the train to NPV to bike the Illinois Prairie Path (former Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin) to downtown Chicago. I bailed in Lombard, a suburb, to take Metra to get to CUS in time to catch the festivities. With the exception of the ex-Milwaukee Road dome-lounge, I didn't see much of interest.

So this year, I plan to take advantage of the triple points, but skip train day in favor of biking the whole way. Now if they were to have a Viewliner II hot off the assembly line, that would be an entirely different situation.

 

[amtrakwolverine]

This year they don't have a reservation time for the equipment tour like last year. This time show your AGR MasterCard and you go right to the front of the line.

 

[Anderson]

Well, NTD is suddenly a bust for me. Let's just say that I got volunteered to serve on a committee at a convention that very day, which has killed my availability. Ugh.

The only other NTD-related thing I plan to do is an "Acela Bounce" that week to try and mine a few thousand points (and probably grab a nice dinner on the way home on the Meteor).

 

[dlagrua]

This year they don't have a reservation time for the equipment tour like last year. This time show your AGR MasterCard and you go right to the front of the line.

I thought that this was a joke but after checking it out its true.

I'll be doing two train trips in two weeks before NTD but I am still attending . Hallelujah for the AGR card holder and the new Fastrack lines! Those lines at NTD can get quite long. Its good that Amtrak is thinking about its core rail traveler audience.

Any meeting times/places setup as yet for the AU crowd?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

This year they don't have a reservation time for the equipment tour like last year. This time show your AGR MasterCard and you go right to the front of the line.

I thought that this was a joke but after checking it out its true.

I'll be doing two train trips in two weeks before NTD but I am still attending . Hallelujah for the AGR card holder and the new Fastrack lines! Those lines at NTD can get quite long. Its good that Amtrak is thinking about its core rail traveler audience.

Any meeting times/places setup as yet for the AU crowd?

Someone want to adopt me for a day. I don't have an AGR MC.

 

[pennyk]

My suggestion is that, for those of us celebrating NTD in PHL, we meet in the Club Acela (providing all of us will have access to the lounge).

If not everyone will have access maybe John (a PHL resident and Amtrak ace) can suggest a good place for us to meet.

I suggest 11am as a meeting time. If anyone has comments, suggestions, alternatives, etc., please post.

With regard to those folks without the AGR Master Card, I wonder if we could "couple up" for the purpose of getting through the express line. Maybe they will check the card of one person per couple as opposed to each individual. Does anyone know how this might work?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I don't have access to the Club Acela, but I could wait outside with my puppy dog eyes. I met AlanB and a few others in WIL when the anniversary train was there...so someone should recognize the poor puppy old dog waiting by the door. Just tell me where to find the door (I may be coming by SEPTA or by Amtrak...haven't decided yet).

 

[dlagrua]

This year they don't have a reservation time for the equipment tour like last year. This time show your AGR MasterCard and you go right to the front of the line.

I thought that this was a joke but after checking it out its true.

I'll be doing two train trips in two weeks before NTD but I am still attending . Hallelujah for the AGR card holder and the new Fastrack lines! Those lines at NTD can get quite long. Its good that Amtrak is thinking about its core rail traveler audience.

Any meeting times/places setup as yet for the AU crowd?

Someone want to adopt me for a day. I don't have an AGR MC.

If you attend NTD at PHL, there will probably be many honorable, respectable and good folks who would escort you in on the fastrack line. The week before NTD I will PM my cell phone number to you. I'll get to 30th st station around 11AM. Just call me and I will escort you through the fastrack line or if the AU group has a meeting place we can just meet there.

 

[Bob Dylan]

If you attend NTD at PHL, there will probably be many honorable, respectable and good folks who would escort you in on the fastrack line. The week before NTD I will PM my cell phone number to you. I'll get to 30th st station around 11AM. Just call me and I will escort you through the fastrack line or if the AU group has a meeting place we can just meet there.

You are correct about many honorable,respectable and good folks attending NTD in PHL, they just wont be AU Members! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Actually the AGR MC idea is a fantastic one, as others have said! The so-called Rez System, and having two lines, was a mess in WAS last year! but it worked great in PHL two years ago! I'm sure that Alan will come up with a convienent meeeting place for us, Penny's idea about the CA is very good also , the PHL Lounge is a good one for certain!

Moderator edit: corrected quote coding.

 

[PRR 60]

My suggestion is that, for those of us celebrating NTD in PHL, we meet in the Club Acela (providing all of us will have access to the lounge).

If not everyone will have access maybe John (a PHL resident and Amtrak ace) can suggest a good place for us to meet.

I suggest 11am as a meeting time. If anyone has comments, suggestions, alternatives, etc., please post.

With regard to those folks without the AGR Master Card, I wonder if we could "couple up" for the purpose of getting through the express line. Maybe they will check the card of one person per couple as opposed to each individual. Does anyone know how this might work?

Well, I'm not John, but my suggestion is to meet by the angel statue at the east end of the main concourse.

That is the location I have used for years when business required meeting at 30th Street. Meeting in the Club Acela does not work very well for those who do not have access to the Club Acela.

The statue was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Railroad in remembrance of the 1307 PRR employees who lost their lives in World War II.

Angel of the Resurrection Statue

 

[AmtrakBlue]

This year they don't have a reservation time for the equipment tour like last year. This time show your AGR MasterCard and you go right to the front of the line.

I thought that this was a joke but after checking it out its true.

I'll be doing two train trips in two weeks before NTD but I am still attending . Hallelujah for the AGR card holder and the new Fastrack lines! Those lines at NTD can get quite long. Its good that Amtrak is thinking about its core rail traveler audience.

Any meeting times/places setup as yet for the AU crowd?

Someone want to adopt me for a day. I don't have an AGR MC.

If you attend NTD at PHL, there will probably be many honorable, respectable and good folks who would escort you in on the fastrack line. The week before NTD I will PM my cell phone number to you. I'll get to 30th st station around 11AM. Just call me and I will escort you through the fastrack line or if the AU group has a meeting place we can just meet there.

Thanks! Now I just gotta decide if I want to splurge on Amtrak tickets (for the triple points) or take SEPTA.

 

[jis]

I am on 155 out of Metropark at 9:37 arriving Philly at 10:27 well in time for the 11am meet.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I just checked fares for my 20 minute ride. The low bucket fares are the early morning ones so I'd be arriving at 8:16 if I take Amtrak (and book it before the fare goes up).

There seems to be a better choice of low bucket fares for the trip home. What time do you think are "mini-gathering" will be over? I see some are catching the 97 just before 5 pm.

 

[pennyk]

I am on 155 out of Metropark at 9:37 arriving Philly at 10:27 well in time for the 11am meet.

I thought you were going to NYG first and PHL in the afternoon. Apparently my "source" got it wrong. I think Alan will be coordinating a meeting time and place in PHL. My guess is that will be a little later than 11am (but I have been known to make wrong guesses in the past :lol: )

 

[jis]

I am on 155 out of Metropark at 9:37 arriving Philly at 10:27 well in time for the 11am meet.

I thought you were going to NYG first and PHL in the afternoon. Apparently my "source" got it wrong. I think Alan will be coordinating a meeting time and place in PHL. My guess is that will be a little later than 11am (but I have been known to make wrong guesses in the past :lol: )

Well if people are meeting in Philly in the morning, it is better to do Philly first and then NY, if energy and desire lasts through the early afternoon for the same. I am not much one for planning too much. Takes the spontaneity and fun away. Look at how I did my big circle trip this last weekend. When I started I had no clue what I was going to end up doing. It's a nice break from incredibly structured and planned professional life during the work week for me.

 

[Long Train Runnin']

Just booked train 155 MET to PHL so I will be there for the 11AM meet up.

Do we have a tour time? Reading through the thread I'm a little confused. I have an AGR mastercard if that helps somehow.

EDIT: Guess it helps to actually read things I see that the tour is on a first come first basis this year and now understand the idea behind the mastercard.

 

[dlagrua]

Coming in via SEPTA from Yardley. I would prefer Amtrak but the one day Independence Pass is only $11 round trip and it allows you to also use all Philadelphia buses and subways all day. Anyone coming to 30th street station via SEPTA ask for the Independence pass as its a great deal.