LandDownUnder wrote:
Otherwise, what would be the minimum age to hire a car in the United States? I'm only 19 years of age, yet in Australia, the minimum age and license rating to drive motor vehicles solo is 17yrs.
...unfortunately, what with the lawyers and liability insurance in this country, I do not believe that any car rental agency will rent to anyone under 25, whether US citizen or not...
At one time, a US citizen with a valid US driver's license could get an "international driver's license" through the US based AAA (American Automobile Association) that would be valid in most foreign countries. I believe the license was nothing more than the information from your existing license, plus some additional information; officially translated into several languages on a universally-accepted license form. The fee for this was insignificant. If such a license was valid overseas, then I would assume that you could probably get something similar that would be valid in the US; however, since 9/11, a lot of things have changed here when it comes to identification and credentials and such. Check with the US Consulate in your country; they should be able to help. If you are able to get such a document, you would be able to legally drive a car here; but it won't change your not being able to rent a car. But if you could borrow a car from whomever you know or are staying with over here, it would be legal for you to drive it!
As for Strasburg, I believe you can get a taxi, but I would inquire as to the cost
first.... There might be some sort of bus or shuttle service on certain weekends. Call or e-mail the museum.
You asked about 30th Street Philadelphia to Lindenwold on NJ Transit... The only trains that run that exact route are the NJT Atlantic City line; schedules are available at the NJ Transit website. NJT at one time used to offer a "weekly" or a "10 trip" ticket, but I am not sure if they still do. You would have to purchase it from a ticket agent at a major station that still HAS ticket agents... Certainly at 30th Street. This route is not common to any other passenger rail in the State of New Jersey; but after it crosses the Delaware River into Pennsylvania, it joins the NEC to Philadelphia.
You may seriously want to consider PATCO if you will be in the Lindenwold or Collingswood area. They also offer some sort of multiple trip ticket; again only available at major stations where a ticket office is open. The PATCO route parallels the NJT Atlantic City line for several miles; but different track.
In Philadelphia, PATCO eventually runs west under Locust Street, ending at 15th & 16th street. Needless to say, 30th Street is about 15 blocks and a bridge away... But the PATCO stops in "Center City" are only a couple of blocks away from Independence Hall and the restored Reading Terminal. In the basement of Reading Terminal is a SEPTA station that is a result of extending the former PRR Suburban Station underground tracks (previously a "dead end" station) past the elevated shed of Reading Terminal (...also a "dead end" station) curving north and east and meeting up with the approach tracks to Reading. This connected two "terminal" SEPTA lines, one formerly PRR and one formerly Reading; with the unfortunate result that the Reading Terminal was closed...
...You can hop off PATCO, walk maybe 2-3 blocks, and hop on SEPTA and get to 30th Street easily. Philly residents more familiar with SEPTA might be able to suggest a better connection; but PATCO and SEPTA will offer much, much more frequent service than NJT.
If you make the transfer at the old Reading Terminal, make a slight detour on one trip... The old train shed has been preserved and turned into a convention center. Wander up from the station to the second floor, and if you are lucky and there is nothing scheduled for the day, you can walk through what was the old train shed. It might be a convention center today, but they did a marvelous job architecturally preserving the "feel" of the old station. It is really quite grand.... The floor of this great hall is inlaid with sets of silver "stripes" that reflect where the original rails were.
You also asked about Newark & Hoboken Stations. Newark is a major station; every NJT or Amtrak NEC train stops at Newark, and you will see a lot going on there because everything usually passes through on just 4 tracks. Most all westbound trains are on tracks 3 & 4, which share a common platform. Most every eastbound train to New York stops on track 1, where there is "across platform" access to PATH. An occasional eastbound train will come through on track 2 or more likely track "A". Track 2 also gives "across the platform" access to PATH whereas Track A requires stairs or escalator down to concourse level then stairs or escalator back up to PATH on the track 1 platform. Track 2 is frequently used for ACELA and Amtrak's long distance overnight trains where there are reserved sleeping accomodations. I guess this helps to keep the Amtrak commuters from boarding the "first class" trains. On one of your trips into NYC, get off at Newark, spend a half hour walking around the platforms and watching; make sure you take at least one pass throught the recently renovated waiting room, as well as the "Newark City Subway" in the basement; then go back to track 1 and hop the next train to New York!
Hoboken is accessible via PATH from New York (or from Newark Penn Station, for that matter...). If you take a ride on most any of the "northern" NJT routes, your train probably originates or terminates in Hoboken. The station is esentially "original"; not just a modern concrete and glass "box". The last time I was there, they were restoring the old main waiting room area. Don't know if that is complete or open to the public yet, but the station is still worth the visit.
When you get to New York City and decide to take the subway, try a ride on the "A" train to Far Rockaway (...NOT a "Lefferts Blvd" train!) The route becomes elevated out in Brooklyn, then turns and passes Aqueduct Racetrack, passes through Howard Beach, where you can change to the Kennedy Airport AirTrain (...which takes you to/thru the Airport, then up to the LIRR at Jamaica Station), then through a rather large wetlands/wildlife preservation area (in New York City? You bet!). You will cross the out-of-service North Channel swing bridge, the town of Broad Channel, then the recently renovated South Channel swing bridge across Jamaica Bay, through Hammel's Wye and terminating in Far Rockaway.
The route between Howard Beach and Far Rockaway is very scenic and very straight; NYCTA built a test track between North Channel bridge and Broad Channel station because it was the longest and straightest right-of-way on the system. The South Channel Bridge is the only moveable bridge on the entire New York Subway system, and I was involved with the renovation of the electrical system and bridge controls!
And if you are going to ride Amtrak anywhere along the NEC, take at least one trip on the Acela. While the highest speeds are only achieved north of New Haven, your next best bet is between New Brunswick and Trenton, which is part of the route between Philadelphia and New York. Right around Princeton Junction should be 125-135mph!
Enjoy!
My travels will be done on both weekdays and weekends, and plans can be moved around to suit anyone wishing to come along. 