wayman
Engineer
I jumped into the forum discussions without ever posting an introduction. Let's fix that!
I've lived in the Philadelphia area for twelve years since coming here for college. Eight years in Swarthmore (four of them in an apartment that overlooked the SEPTA R3), two in Bryn Mawr (half a block from the R5 four-track Main Line), and now two in West Philly (with trolley lines to downtown one block in either direction and an R3 stop four blocks away). My parents live in Lynchburg, VA, and I've taken the Crescent about half the time when I go home for visits, and for most school holidays while I was in college.
Dad's a lifelong railfan (grew up in Chicago back when it was served by a dozen Class 1s) and model railroader; I guess it's in the blood. My circle of Swarthmore alumni friends also includes a half dozen hard-core public transit geeks and railfans, and we play a lot of train-themed board games like Trans-America and Age of Steam.
I've taken the LSL (with a last-minute low-bucket bedroom), Three Rivers (RIP), and Capitol Ltd to Chicago (once getting a lucky $16 Rail Sale fare!), and last month the Crescent from LYH to NOL and back. So far those are my only LD trips, but that'll change big-time starting a week from today:
I go west by Carolinian to Capitol Limited to California Zephyr to GJT; my parents are taking the Crescent and we travel together from there. We've got five days in a rental car during which we'll see six National Parks in Utah. Then my parents drive back to Virginia in a friend's car (helping him move cross-country), while I have a day in Santa Fe to myself, and then a ride on the Santa Fe Southern to Lamy. I catch the Southwest Chief to CHI, have a day to enjoy the city, and then the Cardinal back to Philadelphia. Whew!
... unless you count LD trains in Europe, in which case add in several from the DB (including ICE), SNCB (inc. Thalys), SNCF (inc. TGV), and NS (most of the system, during a summer in the Netherlands with a Voordeelurenkaart (40% off all trains)). Anything you want to know about the Netherlands, including steam railways and obscure spur lines they've privatized, just ask away--it's a small country, but the rail network is extensive and fabulous
I stumbled onto this forum last week while Googling for something-or-another pertaining to my upcoming trip. And boy am I glad I found it!
Cheers,
Will
I've lived in the Philadelphia area for twelve years since coming here for college. Eight years in Swarthmore (four of them in an apartment that overlooked the SEPTA R3), two in Bryn Mawr (half a block from the R5 four-track Main Line), and now two in West Philly (with trolley lines to downtown one block in either direction and an R3 stop four blocks away). My parents live in Lynchburg, VA, and I've taken the Crescent about half the time when I go home for visits, and for most school holidays while I was in college.
Dad's a lifelong railfan (grew up in Chicago back when it was served by a dozen Class 1s) and model railroader; I guess it's in the blood. My circle of Swarthmore alumni friends also includes a half dozen hard-core public transit geeks and railfans, and we play a lot of train-themed board games like Trans-America and Age of Steam.
I've taken the LSL (with a last-minute low-bucket bedroom), Three Rivers (RIP), and Capitol Ltd to Chicago (once getting a lucky $16 Rail Sale fare!), and last month the Crescent from LYH to NOL and back. So far those are my only LD trips, but that'll change big-time starting a week from today:
I go west by Carolinian to Capitol Limited to California Zephyr to GJT; my parents are taking the Crescent and we travel together from there. We've got five days in a rental car during which we'll see six National Parks in Utah. Then my parents drive back to Virginia in a friend's car (helping him move cross-country), while I have a day in Santa Fe to myself, and then a ride on the Santa Fe Southern to Lamy. I catch the Southwest Chief to CHI, have a day to enjoy the city, and then the Cardinal back to Philadelphia. Whew!
... unless you count LD trains in Europe, in which case add in several from the DB (including ICE), SNCB (inc. Thalys), SNCF (inc. TGV), and NS (most of the system, during a summer in the Netherlands with a Voordeelurenkaart (40% off all trains)). Anything you want to know about the Netherlands, including steam railways and obscure spur lines they've privatized, just ask away--it's a small country, but the rail network is extensive and fabulous
I stumbled onto this forum last week while Googling for something-or-another pertaining to my upcoming trip. And boy am I glad I found it!
Cheers,
Will
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