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I am still hoping to visit a friend the Jersey shore this year by traveling to Atlantic City, where she will meet me. I will travel down NYC to Philadelphia on Amtrak and switch to NJ Transit there--did you know you can buy this ticket through Amtrak? I hope to come back using the ACES train to NYC, then Empire Service back north. I thought I had posted queries about what to look for, where to sit, etc, on the new-to-me parts of this route--Philly to Atlantic City, Atlantic City to NYC--but if I did, I cannot find the strand. Does anyone have any tips? Thanks so much!
dns8560 Member # 15184
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I road this line once, when it was run by Amtrak. Unfortunately, I don't recall anything scenic. There's the Delair Bridge I suppose. The rest of the way the view is the same, whichever side you pick.
-David
rresor Member # 128
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I'm always amused by people who claim to be railfans, then authoritatively proclaim that this or that route has "no scenery". Come on, guys, there's always *something* interesting to see.
Sojourner: Leaving 30th Street, you'll have a nice view of the boathouses on the Schuylkill River, then a look at the Philadelphia Zoo just before you cross the Schuylkill. Next up is the crossing of the Delaware. Sit on the right side for a nice view of the skyline of Center City Philadelphia.
From the bridge to Atlantic City is suburban scenery to Lindenwold, with the PATCO high speed line running alongside (right side) from Haddonfield south, and then mostly farm fields and peach orchards. It's a lot nicer (and more rural) than the view from the Atlantic City Expressway.
At Winslow Junction you'll cross the former Central RR of New Jersey Southern Branch (now a short line). There is some interesting equipment visible, mostly south of the Atlantic City line (right side). Between Hammonton and Atlantic City you'll cross coastal marshes and then the Beach Channel drawbridge. All in all, a pretty nice ride.
And yes, you can buy a through ticket from Amtrak. You'll have a separate Amtrak coupon for the Atlantic City portion, which you can use to confuse the NJT conductor (they don't see many).
sojourner Member # 3134
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Thanks so much for the description of 30th St to Atlantic City, RResor. Does anyone know about the other line--Atlantic City to NYC on this ACES train? That doesn't run through Philadelphia, does it--isn't it a line straight up from NJ? And, if so, again, what scenery/site highlights would you recommend I try to see?
rresor Member # 128
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The ACES train follows exactly the same route as the NJ Transit trains between Atlantic City and a point called Frankford Junction in Philadelphia, which is where the Atlantic City line joins Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. The ACES train "changes ends" at Frankford Junction (it has a locomotive on each end) and heads north to New York, so it does not pass through 30th Street Station. But the route it follows is the same one used by Amtrak trains between New York and Philadelphia.
However, by all means try it. It's nonstop (except, I think, for a stop in Newark) and the interiors of the cars are said to be very nice (externally, they're identical to the NJ Transit bi-level cars).
dns8560 Member # 15184
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rresor: My apologies. I didn't mean to or imply that I'm an authority. Your point is well taken. I just consider myself a rail buff. I just don't remember much vis-a-vis scenery on the AC line. You descibed some interesting sights. I stand corrected!
sojourner Member # 3134
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Thanks again, RResor, for the info. When it changes ends, does this mean if one were sitting facing forward from Atlantic City to Frankford Junction, one would be sitting "backwards" for the rest of the trip?
MDRR Member # 2992
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Yes, you will be riding backwards when it switches direction. However, I don't know that these trains are so crowded that you could not change seats...
sojourner Member # 3134
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I have one more question: Amtrak lists the Atlantic City stop for the NJ Transit train and the ACES train with different codes. Are they in the same station, or adjoining buildings, or what? When I tried checking station addresses, none was given at the website or in the schedule for the NJ Transit website (the ACES train is 1 Atlantic City Expressway). Thanks
MDRR Member # 2992
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It is all operated out of the same station; I am guessing the different station codes to differentiate the different train and fares for each.
sojourner Member # 3134
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I enjoyed my train trips to the Jersey shore (and pleasant Philly stopover), which by and large went very smoothly:
I left very early on an Empire Service train, pleasant ride as always down the river, with on time arrival at NYP. There I changed for a Regional to Philadelphia, a crowded train that again was on time. Arriving at 30th Street Station, with some time before my departure, I opted to take a taxi to the Edgar Allan Poe house because time constraints and heat made taking SEPTA or buses ill advised. I enjoyed that little stop and caught a taxi easily on Spring Garden Street to return to 30th Street Station. There I had a delicious lunch at Delilah's, a soul food restaurant that also has a branch in Reading Market.
I then caught a NJ Transit train to Atlantic City. The NJ Transit train was cheap and comfortable; my only complaint was that there was no escalator to get down to it, so I had to carry my luggage as I walked down the steps, always a bit tiresome for me.
I found the trip quite pleasant: the highlight of the new portion was the very interesting Delaware crossing, with city view, described by RResor above (I wisely sat on the right side to see it; thanks for the tip!) I find any new route exciting, and this one appealed to me also because my destination was Atlantic City, a place to which I've heard much about all my life (esp from Monopoly), even if much of what I heard was bad! I listened to "The Gambler," "St James Infirmary," "Jack of Diamonds" (and the Irish version, "The Moonshiner"), "Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts," "Cards on the Table," and so on. . . . The train itself wasn't too busy to start, but more and more people got on as we went along, so it was quite popular. Arriving in Atlantic City, we rode along a highway where cars seemed to be PARKED--people on board congratulated themselves for taking the train.
Traffic delayed my friend who was picking me up, but we then went down to the Jersey Shore, all of it quite nice. I saw the Wildwoods for the first time--those Doo-Wop Architecture motels, esp in Wildwood Crest, are pretty neat!
Returning, my friend again drove me up to Atlantic City train station, where I caught the ACES back to NYP. This is a very nice train, with very modern bells and whistles--little lit pushbuttons to open doors between trains, trash containers tha work quite well, nice if overpriced snack and bar kiosks . . . I checked out first class and various lounges too. My only complaint again was steps with luggage; it's a double decker train, and you have to walk up or down with your suitcase, always tiresome to me.
The train I took was not so busy, though I heard others over the weekend were full. But I was actually able to change seats after the environeer shift outside Philly, when the train begins running "backward."
I arrived in NY Penn Station on time and caught my very busy Empire Service train home.
All in all, a great trip, though too hot at the shore!!!
Thanks again for all your tips & advice.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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quote:Originally posted by sojourner: Arriving in Atlantic City, we rode along a highway where cars seemed to be PARKED--people on board congratulated themselves for taking the train.
That is the Atlantic City Expressway, where the toll rates are as bad as the congestion you note - 44 miles $3.75 toll.
sojourner Member # 3134
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I meant to add: I was surprised this double decker train could go in to Penn Station, and I've noticed other NJ Transit double deckers (and LIRR double deckers go there now too). I thought such trains are too high for Penn Station, or the tunnels to it, and that was the reason there are no Superliners to NYC. Are these ones lower? Or does it have something also to do with electric vs diesel capacity (I know no diesel passenger trains enter NYC).
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