Coming up in mid August I will be taking the Penn train from Newark to Pittsburgh on a wed, then have a 4 hour layover before I hop the Capital Limited on to Chicago. I am riding couch and was wondering what can I expect from both trains in the area of service, views and such and what is the Pittsburgh station like as I have a bit of a wait there on my transfer.
Penn and Capital Limited
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On the Pennsylvanian You will ride backwards from Newark to PHL. Cars are usuallly long distance coaaches which give you additional leg room. There will be a Am cafe snack car for light snacks and microwave food and beverages.
After leaving Harrisburg you cross the Susquehanna River on a stone arch bridge (which you have been following since Elizabethtown and Three Mile Island fame.) and then follow the Juanita River upstream curving around many hills.
(From Wiki): "The scenic part is after leaving Altoona, you climb up the mountain and go around the famous "horseshoe curve" where the tracks literary do a 180 degree turn as you ascend the mountain. You should see the front and rea of the train as you turn thru the curve so sit on the inside if you can.
Horseshoe Curve is a 3,485-foot (1,062 m) segment of the Pittsburgh Line, the Norfolk Southern Railway's main east–west route in its Pittsburgh Division between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Trains heading west from Altoona have to ascend a maximum grade of 1.85 percent for 12 miles (19 km) to the summit of the Allegheny Mountains in Gallitzin.From there, trains traverse the Gallitzin Tunnels and descend for 25 miles (40 km), at a maximum grade of 1.05 percent, into Johnstown.
The curve is located 5 miles (8 km) west of Altoona in Logan Township, Blair County at railroad milepost 242."
At Pittsburgh you get off and can wait in a waiting room located in one corner of the old Pennsylvania RR station. However there are many restaurants nearby within a 10 minute walk that you can find adequate food and libations. Just google restaurants for Pittsburgh(downtown)and you will find many. The area is as safe as any downtown area can be.
The Capitol Ltd usually arrives around 11:30 pm ( if it is on time) and boarding is announced about 10 minutes before departure. It is superliner equipment with coaches and sleeping cars and a diner that will be open for breakfast.
Enjoy the trip. I have done this trip at least 3 or 4 times a year for the last 20 or so so years.
After leaving Harrisburg you cross the Susquehanna River on a stone arch bridge (which you have been following since Elizabethtown and Three Mile Island fame.) and then follow the Juanita River upstream curving around many hills.
(From Wiki): "The scenic part is after leaving Altoona, you climb up the mountain and go around the famous "horseshoe curve" where the tracks literary do a 180 degree turn as you ascend the mountain. You should see the front and rea of the train as you turn thru the curve so sit on the inside if you can.
Horseshoe Curve is a 3,485-foot (1,062 m) segment of the Pittsburgh Line, the Norfolk Southern Railway's main east–west route in its Pittsburgh Division between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Trains heading west from Altoona have to ascend a maximum grade of 1.85 percent for 12 miles (19 km) to the summit of the Allegheny Mountains in Gallitzin.From there, trains traverse the Gallitzin Tunnels and descend for 25 miles (40 km), at a maximum grade of 1.05 percent, into Johnstown.
The curve is located 5 miles (8 km) west of Altoona in Logan Township, Blair County at railroad milepost 242."
At Pittsburgh you get off and can wait in a waiting room located in one corner of the old Pennsylvania RR station. However there are many restaurants nearby within a 10 minute walk that you can find adequate food and libations. Just google restaurants for Pittsburgh(downtown)and you will find many. The area is as safe as any downtown area can be.
The Capitol Ltd usually arrives around 11:30 pm ( if it is on time) and boarding is announced about 10 minutes before departure. It is superliner equipment with coaches and sleeping cars and a diner that will be open for breakfast.
Enjoy the trip. I have done this trip at least 3 or 4 times a year for the last 20 or so so years.
Horseshoe Curve was one of the best parts of the old "Broadway Limited" train...
the_traveler
Engineer
If at all possible, I personally would take a Regional to WAS and take the CL from there! I'd rather have a full Dining car for dinner, instead of an Amcafe, a Sightseer Lounge instead of an Amlounge and be asleep before Pittsburgh (no offense) instead of waiting until almost midnight just to get on the train! And if you have a sleeper, you can wait in the Club Acela in WAS and enjoy a free dinner on the CL! (PGH doesn't have a lounge to wait in - only hard seats.)
Already have my meal planned for Pittsburgh..heard about this place call Primanti's...plan on walking down to the original location and seeing what all the fuss is about..;-)
1. That option is more expensive
2. I wanted the layover in Pittsburgh to try Primanti's
3. Going couch the entire way, sleeper to expensive
4. Will take snacks with me for Penn route
Is there a certain side I should sit on for better viewing?
If you have access to the "Travel Channel," there have been several shows that have featured Primanti Bros., including Adam Richman's "Man Vs. Food." You can probably find a re-run at some point. It has quite a following there, and the head chef is quite an "interesting person." However, you must be willing to accept the sandwich as they prepare it. They don't do "special orders" and get insulted if you try. See their menu. The original store is the "Strip District" store.
ATXEagle
Service Attendant
I agree, if I was traveling, I would probably connect to the CL in Washington.
However, being a former resident of Pittsburgh, if you do make the 4-hour connection there I suggest that you leave the station and enjoy downtown. Downtown Pittsburgh is compact, easily-walkable, and safe. The subway is free downtown (but has very few stops).
I would definitely recommend walking the short distance to the Wood St. T station or Steel Plaza and riding the T across the river to Station Square. Exit the T and ask for a continuation fare for the incline. The Monongahela Incline is adjacent to the Station Square Station. You can ride it to the top of Mt. Washington and experience breathtaking views of downtown. I used to live right by the Mon Incline and I think it's one of the best views anywhere. When you've walked around and are ready to descend, ask the Incline operator for a continuation fare downtown. All together this round trip from downtown to Mt. Washington and back shouldn't cost more than about 5 bucks (depending on how much the Port Authority has raised their prices since I moved to Texas). You might also catch a cab at Station Square or the Amtrak Station and visit the waterfront casino. There are plenty of ways to pass the time, and it would be a shame to waste 4 hours in Pittsburgh's underwhelming Amtrak waiting area.
A cab or city bus could also take you from the station to the nearby Strip District. Although most of the shops will be closed, two of my favorite restaurants are there... Kaya and Eleven. There's also the famous Primanti Brothers, with fries and cole slaw on the sandwich.
However, being a former resident of Pittsburgh, if you do make the 4-hour connection there I suggest that you leave the station and enjoy downtown. Downtown Pittsburgh is compact, easily-walkable, and safe. The subway is free downtown (but has very few stops).
I would definitely recommend walking the short distance to the Wood St. T station or Steel Plaza and riding the T across the river to Station Square. Exit the T and ask for a continuation fare for the incline. The Monongahela Incline is adjacent to the Station Square Station. You can ride it to the top of Mt. Washington and experience breathtaking views of downtown. I used to live right by the Mon Incline and I think it's one of the best views anywhere. When you've walked around and are ready to descend, ask the Incline operator for a continuation fare downtown. All together this round trip from downtown to Mt. Washington and back shouldn't cost more than about 5 bucks (depending on how much the Port Authority has raised their prices since I moved to Texas). You might also catch a cab at Station Square or the Amtrak Station and visit the waterfront casino. There are plenty of ways to pass the time, and it would be a shame to waste 4 hours in Pittsburgh's underwhelming Amtrak waiting area.
A cab or city bus could also take you from the station to the nearby Strip District. Although most of the shops will be closed, two of my favorite restaurants are there... Kaya and Eleven. There's also the famous Primanti Brothers, with fries and cole slaw on the sandwich.
the_traveler
Engineer
Left side westbound, right side eastbound.
Oh I have the MVF episode saved on my Youtube..it was via all those shows that I found out about it. Looking forward to trying it their way...;-)
I have been to Pittsburgh 3 other times as I am a huge baseball fan and we travel around to see different parks. However on none of my previous visits did I know about Primanti's. The Incline we did on our last visit plus road the paddle wheel over to PNC park before the game. My plan is to stroll down for dinner, enjoy dinner and walk around a bit. Alot will depend on weather and such and how timely the Penn is getting into PGH.
So facing the engine the left side? When the train gets to Philly do we switch trains or how do we go from riding backwards to frontwards?
NY Penn
OBS Chief
At Philly, a locomotive is attached to the other end of the train - the passengers stay in their seats.
If you board at any station between NY & Philly, you want a seat on the right side. After the train changes ends in Philly, you'd then be on the left side.
As it turns out, this episode is airing *tonight* on the Travel Channel at 7pm ET.
jis
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BTW the river that is followed after Harrisburg is the Juniata, not Juanita. The ex-PRR, now NS Juniata Shops in Altoona is named after the river.
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