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Philly Mini-Fests


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#1 KevinKorell

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Posted 08 March 2004 - 12:50 PM

There are two mini-Fests being planned for the Philadelphia area next week, in order to primarily ride the River Line. We'll throw in some SEPTA riding to make the time in the Philly area worthwhile.

The first one will be on Wednesday, March 17th. This day was chosen because our Boston-area member Jack Suslak will be in town on business, and will be able to do some riding around that day. We intend to ride the River Line in one direction, SEPTA R7 in the other. Jack would also like to re-create the Norristown circuit we did at PhillyFest 2001 -- that is: R6 from Center City to Norristown Transportation Center, 100 light rail from Norristown to 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby, and then the Market-Frankford Subway-Elevated back to Center City (which we really did at the 2004 Fest, not 2001). Lunch most likely will be at the food court at The Gallery at Market East, in between the River Line and Norristown runs. If time allows we may add more to the day. During the evening rush we could possibly take in Cynwyd or Newark, DE, or both since these are weekday-only lines.

Fest #2 will be on Saturday, March 20th. We will again ride the River Line in one direction and SEPTA R7 in the other. For the all-SEPTA portion of the day, we had a few options: Thorndale and Fox Chase were two. I decided though that the best one would be to ride the R3 out to Elwyn (this takes in the mile or so of trackage Media-Elwyn that the PhillyFest 2001 group did not get on this line). On the return we would get off at Angora, and walk over to Baltimore Avenue to ride the 34 trolley back to Center City. This was chosen because the Angora station is an endangered species, and it may not be there by the time we have our next full-fledged Philly Fest.

Neither of these is a major event; there will be no route guides, no handouts, no printed itinerary. Just feel free to come out and have a good time on the rails for one day (or two if you do both!).

Details of each gathering, including meeting locations and exact trip times, will be forthcoming later this week.

As always please e-mail me if you would like to attend, so we know who to look for each day.


Kevin Korell


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#2 NickG

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Posted 09 March 2004 - 11:37 AM

Kevin, SEPTA's City Division workers may be on strike during one or both of these fests. If they are, the Market-Frankford Line, the Broad Street Line and Broad-Ridge Spur, and all five Subway-Surface Lines (10, 11, 13, 34, 36) will NOT be running. Routes 100, 101, 102 should operate normally unless the picketing city workers form blockades at the transit garages as they have sometimes done in the past. However, they have usually focused most of their attention on stopping the suburban buses, so the chances of a trolley disruption are relatively small. The Regional Rail Lines also should operate normally, but they may be more crowded than usual during rush hour, when many displaced city transit commuters will be joining regular railroad pax to get home. Flexibility is definitely advised!
Nick Gibbon

New York, NY/Philadelphia, PA

#3 KevinKorell

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Posted 09 March 2004 - 01:09 PM

Thanks, Nick, I was not aware of a possible strike. We can surely stick to the Suburban Division and Regional Rail. Mini-Fests are not official, so we can surely improvise as needed when we are in town.


Kevin Korell


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#4 KevinKorell

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Posted 13 March 2004 - 01:19 AM

Here is the itinerary for the Philly MiniFest #1, taking place on Wednesday, March 17th. It assumes no strike taking place.

Those from the Philly area attending would take SEPTA R7 Train #721 from Philadelphia to Trenton. This train leaves Market East 8:55 AM, and 30th Street 9:01 AM. It arrives in Trenton at 9:51 AM.

Those coming from New York can take NJ TRANSIT's Northeast Corridor Line Train #3827, which leaves New York at 8:29 AM and gets to Trenton 9:56 AM.

Now depending on padding and timekeeping, we may have time to run across the street after the above two trains arrive, and catch the 10 AM River Line trip. If not, I have us penciled in for 10:30 AM. I, personally, plan to drive to Trenton, so I could pick up the tickets ahead of time at the River Line platform provided I know how many are coming.

Assuming we leave on the 10:30 AM River Line car, that will put us at the other end of the line, Entertainment Center in Camden, at 11:40 AM. After a 20-minute layover, we leave Entertainment Center at 12:00 Noon and get to Walter Rand Transportation Center 12:11 PM.

PATCO Speedline trains run roughly 12 minutes apart at that hour. There is one at 12:16 PM, and another at 12:28 PM. Again, it may be possible to make the earlier one, but keep in mind we have to both run across Broadway and purchase our tickets. I've selected the later 12:28 trip, but we could be earlier if we hustle. The 12:28 PM PATCO train gets us to 8th & Market at 12:35 PM after our scenic ride across the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Lunchtime is at the usual place, the Gallery at Market East. We will have a little less than an hour (or more than an hour if we took earlier River Line or PATCO runs!) to eat and use the facilities.

The afternoon turn to Norristown will begin at 1:34 PM as we board R6 Train #6636. That train gets to Norristown Transportation Center at 2:05 PM. We will have about 15 minutes here off the rails.

The 100 trolley departs from Norristown TC at 2:20 PM. After our half-hour ride on this unique light rail line, we arrive at 69th Street Terminal at 2:50 PM.

We leave 69th Street on a Market-Frankford train at 3:01 PM, and arrive at 30th Street Station 3:13 PM. We go to the suburban level of the station.

R2 Train #9241 departs from 30th Street at 3:21 PM. It goes all the way to Newark, DE, getting there at 4:30 PM. We have a 16-minute layover there.

Then we board the same equipment inbound, now known as Train #4760 (believe it or not destined for Chestnut Hill East!). This train arrives in Wilmington, DE at 5:03 PM. I will get off there, and so will Alan. We will each take a different AMTRAK train from there home. Jack plans to remain on the R2 train and return to his hotel near Market East. Anyone else can make their connections at any station downtown.

Now IF there is a strike, which would close down the Market-Frankford Line, we have a few options. We could return to Center City from 69th Street Terminal by taking the 102 Sharon Hill trolley to Clifton-Alden, and then the R3 train inbound to the three downtown stations. Or for a longer trip, we could do the 101 Media trolley to its namesake town and then use the same R3 train back to the city. Doing the first option, the 102 Sharon Hill trolley, would still give us time for the Newark run, albeit a later train..and Jack would not be able to join us because he has other plans for that evening.

Keep in mind that this is not an official Fest. I was very liberal with the dwell times. Therefore, if we are running early, it is unlikely that we will wait -- we are just going to go on and possibly finish up earlier than planned.

Finally, please don't confuse our activities on this Fest for the one we are taking on Saturday, March 20th. Different rail lines (other than the River Line), and different times.


Kevin Korell


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#5 KevinKorell

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Posted 13 March 2004 - 01:50 AM

Now here is the itinerary for Philly MiniFest #2, taking place on Saturday, March 20th. Again assume no SEPTA strike.

Those coming from the New York area would depart on NJ TRANSIT Northeast Corridor Line Train #7829, leaving Penn Station at 9:14 PM. It gets to Trenton at 10:38 AM. The connecting SEPTA R7 Train #1714 leaves Trenton 10:46 AM, and gets to Market East 11:43 AM. There is also the option of taking a faster trip on AMTRAK, departing from New York Penn Station on Train #143 at 10:05 AM, getting to 30th Street Station 11:29 AM. Then take any eastbound train to Market East to meet the group.

Those from the Philly area would meet us at that time at Market East station. We would have a quick bite to eat there, most likely taking food to go.

We would go for a ride on the R3 Media-Elywn Line, Train #8313. This train originates from Market East at 12:17 PM. It arrives in Elwyn at 12:54 PM. The layover here is 28 minutes. We leave Elwyn on Train #8316 at 1:22 PM, and ride as far as Angora, getting there 1:43 PM.

We will walk one long block on 58th Street to Baltimore Avenue, and then take a 34 trolley going inbound, back to Center City. We would get off at 15th Street at about 2:16 PM.

We walk south on 15th Street down to Locust, and then go into the westernmost PATCO Speedline station. The PATCO train departs from 15th-16th-Locust at 2:36 PM. We will take it into New Jersey, getting off at Broadway Station, which is under the Walter Rand Transportation Center (WRTC). Arrival there is 2:45 PM.

Since the River Line runs every 30 minutes, they give us either two minutes or 32 minutes to make a train bound for the Entertainment Center. Assuming the PATCO train is on time, we have a very tight connection. So I assume we will be taking the River Line towards the waterfront at 3:17 PM. That car gets to Entertainment Center at 3:25 PM. There is a 20-minute layover at the end of the line.

We will then board the same car bound for Trenton. It leaves Entertainment Center at 3:45 PM. It gets to Trenton at 4:58 PM.

At Trenton, the next NJ TRANSIT Northeast Corridor Line train is #7852, which leaves at 5:11 PM and gets to New York Penn Station at 6:41 PM. Alternately, there is AMTRAK #146 which departs Trenton at 5:45 PM and gets to New York Penn Station 6:45 PM.

If we were lucky enough to catch the earlier River Line car at WRTC, then we would arrive in Trenton at 4:28 PM, with enough time to catch AMTRAK #156 to New York, running exactly one hour earlier than #146 does.

Those of you who originated in Philadelphia have a couple of options. You could either double back on the River Line/PATCO combination, or you could take the next SEPTA R7 Train, #1728, which leaves Trenton at 5:47 PM and gets to 30th Street at 6:33 PM, Market East at 6:43 PM. Again if we caught the earlier River Line car, you would be able to take #1726, which runs about an hour earlier than #1728.

Now if there IS a SEPTA strike, the only thing that would be affected is the ride on the 34 trolley. We would just remain on board the inbound R3 train (#8316), get off at Suburban Station, and make our walk down 15th or 16th Street to the PATCO station.

Again do not confuse this itinerary with the one above for Wednesday.


Kevin Korell


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Lakewood, NJ





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