The Amtrak Guest Rewards program made a big change effective January 23, 2016, and not one for the better. At least not for those of us who snagged Select Plus status (and access to Club Acela/Metropolitan Lounge in busy stations) on the basis of the 100 point minimum for cheap trips. So before it all went away, I decided to do one last run.
The date picked, January 17. My goal: Every fare under $50, so that I could earn a 100 point minimum without having to spend $50. This is not easy to do on the NEC, except for the BAL-WAS run, which I wasn't going to do because that was too much like my daily commute. What I decided to do was visit Philadelphia, and improve my yield by taking a side trip on the Keystone to Paoli. This was a sentimental return to my childhood, as from ages 8 through 11, I rode the Paoli local between Bryn Mawr and Merion Station twice a week to attend Hebrew school. I also decided to visit the University of Pennsylvania Museum sort of near 30th St. Station, a favorite Sunday excursion during my childhood. Sunday the 17th worked perfectly. The next day was Martin Luther King day, which meant I was able to score a low bucket ($40 and change) Senior Value fare on the evening trip home. (Sunday evenings on the NEC can get pricey.) I also scored a $36 Saver fare on the trip up in the morning. So far, I'm ahead, but not by much. But the trip to Paoli: $6 senior fare each way for a cool 200 points. The total trip: an $88 spend for 400 points! Alas, such things are no more.
My morning train left Baltimore at 0703 hrs, at that time of the year, it was still darkish, and it was a cloudy day all day. All my photos were blurred. But we did get into Philadelphia a minute early. What is this, Switzerland or something? Nah, if it were Switzerland, the train wouldn't have been early, it would have been exactly on time.
I really like that they still have a Solari departure board.
No time to use my Select Plus and chill in the Club Acela, I just went into the cattle line (which wasn't much of one on Sunday morning), and boarded my Keystone. The last time I rode this route regularly was in 1975, and they were using Silverliners. Amfleets are a nice change.
Off we go, and here is my Hebrew school commute, in reverse. (Back then, in the 1960s, the fare was 30 cents, being younger than 12, I got to ride half fare, which was 15 cents. (that's $2.25 and $1.15 in today's money. The current fare is $3.50. And they wonder why ridership is down.)
Here's Merion Station ( a bit blurry)
Ardmore (This Keystone stops here):
Bryn Mawr
As we whizzed by Bryn Mawr, I saw that Parvin's Pharmacy was still in business! I used to walk up there when waiting for the train to buy a nickel candy bar to eat during my ride.
Finally, we got to Paoli, which will be another Amtrak station that is not included in the coffee table photo books of "Great Railway Stations of the World," but at least the waiting room was open and heated, and the restrooms worked.
While waiting for my return Keystone, I did get to see some SEPTA Silverliners in action,
Finally, my Keystone arrived, and I was whisked back to 30th street.
From there, I headed out to the subway entrance and boarded a "subway surface car" (i..e an underground trolley) to ride a couple of stops to the University of Pennsylvania campus. Had it been warmer, I might have walked, but why not ride more rail vehicles.
The Penn Museum is a great place for Indiana Jones fans. These guys dug up the ancient city of Ur in Mesopotamia in the 1920's, and they have some cool artifacts. When I was a kid, I loved coming through to see the Egyptian mummies. They don't have this stuff in Baltimore; not even Washington has this kind of collection.
When I was done there, it was time for lunch, so I found a local joint and had an authentic Philly cheese steak (or is it "cheesesteak?"). Then I rode the trolley back into Center City and knocked around a while till it was time to catch my train home. I took advantage of the free ride from Suburban Station offered by SEPTA to all with an Amtrak ticket. (Actually, offered to anyone, as I've never seen SEPTA conductors check tickets between Center City and 30th St.)
The ticket office at Suburban Station, where I picked up my first Amtrak timetable in May 1971. This used to be an Amtrak station, the Keystones terminated here.
Back at 30th street, I enjoyed a fancy imported beer and dinner at Bridgewater's Pub.
Then, up to the Club Acela and wait for my southbound regional, which I believe was running a bit late. It finally arrived, and I had an uneventful trip back to Baltimore.
But wait, there's a bonus. That wasn't really my last points run. That was a couple of days later, on Thursday the 21st. I had planned to ride MARC home, but as an attendee of an SAE conference, I got access to the preview night at the Washington Auto show, and by the time I was done, riding home on NER 188 made a lot more sense. Because it was a Thursday night, and crowds were fleeing the approaching apocalyptic snowstorm, coach was high bucket, and I anticipated crowds, so I splurged for business class. So a ~$39 ticket, but I still got the 100 points, not the 70 some points I'd get now.
And that was my last points run.
Now I need a new plan to reach Select Plus without having to spend $5,000 on Amtrak tickets.
The date picked, January 17. My goal: Every fare under $50, so that I could earn a 100 point minimum without having to spend $50. This is not easy to do on the NEC, except for the BAL-WAS run, which I wasn't going to do because that was too much like my daily commute. What I decided to do was visit Philadelphia, and improve my yield by taking a side trip on the Keystone to Paoli. This was a sentimental return to my childhood, as from ages 8 through 11, I rode the Paoli local between Bryn Mawr and Merion Station twice a week to attend Hebrew school. I also decided to visit the University of Pennsylvania Museum sort of near 30th St. Station, a favorite Sunday excursion during my childhood. Sunday the 17th worked perfectly. The next day was Martin Luther King day, which meant I was able to score a low bucket ($40 and change) Senior Value fare on the evening trip home. (Sunday evenings on the NEC can get pricey.) I also scored a $36 Saver fare on the trip up in the morning. So far, I'm ahead, but not by much. But the trip to Paoli: $6 senior fare each way for a cool 200 points. The total trip: an $88 spend for 400 points! Alas, such things are no more.
My morning train left Baltimore at 0703 hrs, at that time of the year, it was still darkish, and it was a cloudy day all day. All my photos were blurred. But we did get into Philadelphia a minute early. What is this, Switzerland or something? Nah, if it were Switzerland, the train wouldn't have been early, it would have been exactly on time.
I really like that they still have a Solari departure board.
No time to use my Select Plus and chill in the Club Acela, I just went into the cattle line (which wasn't much of one on Sunday morning), and boarded my Keystone. The last time I rode this route regularly was in 1975, and they were using Silverliners. Amfleets are a nice change.
Off we go, and here is my Hebrew school commute, in reverse. (Back then, in the 1960s, the fare was 30 cents, being younger than 12, I got to ride half fare, which was 15 cents. (that's $2.25 and $1.15 in today's money. The current fare is $3.50. And they wonder why ridership is down.)
Here's Merion Station ( a bit blurry)
Ardmore (This Keystone stops here):
Bryn Mawr
As we whizzed by Bryn Mawr, I saw that Parvin's Pharmacy was still in business! I used to walk up there when waiting for the train to buy a nickel candy bar to eat during my ride.
Finally, we got to Paoli, which will be another Amtrak station that is not included in the coffee table photo books of "Great Railway Stations of the World," but at least the waiting room was open and heated, and the restrooms worked.
While waiting for my return Keystone, I did get to see some SEPTA Silverliners in action,
Finally, my Keystone arrived, and I was whisked back to 30th street.
From there, I headed out to the subway entrance and boarded a "subway surface car" (i..e an underground trolley) to ride a couple of stops to the University of Pennsylvania campus. Had it been warmer, I might have walked, but why not ride more rail vehicles.
The Penn Museum is a great place for Indiana Jones fans. These guys dug up the ancient city of Ur in Mesopotamia in the 1920's, and they have some cool artifacts. When I was a kid, I loved coming through to see the Egyptian mummies. They don't have this stuff in Baltimore; not even Washington has this kind of collection.
When I was done there, it was time for lunch, so I found a local joint and had an authentic Philly cheese steak (or is it "cheesesteak?"). Then I rode the trolley back into Center City and knocked around a while till it was time to catch my train home. I took advantage of the free ride from Suburban Station offered by SEPTA to all with an Amtrak ticket. (Actually, offered to anyone, as I've never seen SEPTA conductors check tickets between Center City and 30th St.)
The ticket office at Suburban Station, where I picked up my first Amtrak timetable in May 1971. This used to be an Amtrak station, the Keystones terminated here.
Back at 30th street, I enjoyed a fancy imported beer and dinner at Bridgewater's Pub.
Then, up to the Club Acela and wait for my southbound regional, which I believe was running a bit late. It finally arrived, and I had an uneventful trip back to Baltimore.
But wait, there's a bonus. That wasn't really my last points run. That was a couple of days later, on Thursday the 21st. I had planned to ride MARC home, but as an attendee of an SAE conference, I got access to the preview night at the Washington Auto show, and by the time I was done, riding home on NER 188 made a lot more sense. Because it was a Thursday night, and crowds were fleeing the approaching apocalyptic snowstorm, coach was high bucket, and I anticipated crowds, so I splurged for business class. So a ~$39 ticket, but I still got the 100 points, not the 70 some points I'd get now.
And that was my last points run.
Now I need a new plan to reach Select Plus without having to spend $5,000 on Amtrak tickets.
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