by LandDownUnder
G'day to all
As a first post on these forums, I should introduce myself. My name is Maikha, and I'm a railfan posting all the way overseas from sunny Sydney, in Australia. In terms of my interest, I'm an avid railroad photographer, HO scale modeller, and also spend a fair bit of time volunteering for a heritage steam railroad as a Conductor (The Great Zig Zag Railway - http://www.zigzagrailway.com.au), and a Mainline Excursion operator as a passenger attendant (3801 Limited - http://www.3801limited.com.au)
I will be heading over to the United States during the course of Mid-July until Mid-August 2006, although mainly for Family reasons, I expect that spending a month over there will have me indulging in some local railfanning. I'll be leaving roughly on the 14th July 2006 and returning on the 17th of August 2006. Although somedays are planned in Los Angeles mainly for tourist stuff, the bulk of my stay will be in South-West New Jersey and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, staying with relatives in both states. In New Jersey, I will be staying in a suburb called Lindenwold, located on the Atlantic City Line and is a convenient 30minutes from Downtown Philadelphia, whereas in Philadelphia, I will be staying in an outlying suburb I'm unsure of yet.
At present, I am planning what locations and activities I could get up to in a railroad context, and would like to seek the assistance of all here in helping me find the following.
-Any website, railfan or official, which showcases the Railroads in NJ and PA. Mainly after any of you locals who may have websites/photographic galleries that may feature photographs of the railroads.
-What would be of immediate railroad interest in Philadelphia?
-Also anything interesting in/near Lindenwold/Berlin?
-Suggestions of what to do in Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore and Washington DC in a railroad context in terms of a Day visit.
-Information about Local and State based transit systems in NJ and PA (I'm aware already that from Lindenmold and Philadelphia, I have NJ Transit, PATCO and SEPTA)
-Model Railroad stores, Train Shows and clubs in Lindenmold and Philadelphia that I could acquaint with. Does TAMR have any division/meeting in Philadelphia?
-Preserved and Tourist Railroads in both states, particularly Steam based
-Any Mainline Excursions which may operate out of Philadelphia and/or New York/Baltimore in the time of my visit?
-Transport Museums of interests in the previously listed cities.
-Any good local railroad stations in Philadelphia where I could photograph a variety of trains, both passenger and freight
As well as that, I'm also open to suggestions of anything non-railway that I could get up to in those areas. Any assistance rendered would be grateful from me, and will allow me to appreciate the railroads and railfanning over there abit more.
Oh and another important thing I'll definately need. Would anyone know where I could find a list of American Railroad terms? I know a few already, although a fair bit differs from what we use in Australia (Which is British Based). A Conductor down here is referred to as a Train Guard
Sincere thanks. More will be posted in due course.
Also, would it be ok if I could make this same post in the PA State Forum?
As a first post on these forums, I should introduce myself. My name is Maikha, and I'm a railfan posting all the way overseas from sunny Sydney, in Australia. In terms of my interest, I'm an avid railroad photographer, HO scale modeller, and also spend a fair bit of time volunteering for a heritage steam railroad as a Conductor (The Great Zig Zag Railway - http://www.zigzagrailway.com.au), and a Mainline Excursion operator as a passenger attendant (3801 Limited - http://www.3801limited.com.au)
I will be heading over to the United States during the course of Mid-July until Mid-August 2006, although mainly for Family reasons, I expect that spending a month over there will have me indulging in some local railfanning. I'll be leaving roughly on the 14th July 2006 and returning on the 17th of August 2006. Although somedays are planned in Los Angeles mainly for tourist stuff, the bulk of my stay will be in South-West New Jersey and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, staying with relatives in both states. In New Jersey, I will be staying in a suburb called Lindenwold, located on the Atlantic City Line and is a convenient 30minutes from Downtown Philadelphia, whereas in Philadelphia, I will be staying in an outlying suburb I'm unsure of yet.
At present, I am planning what locations and activities I could get up to in a railroad context, and would like to seek the assistance of all here in helping me find the following.
-Any website, railfan or official, which showcases the Railroads in NJ and PA. Mainly after any of you locals who may have websites/photographic galleries that may feature photographs of the railroads.
-What would be of immediate railroad interest in Philadelphia?
-Also anything interesting in/near Lindenwold/Berlin?
-Suggestions of what to do in Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore and Washington DC in a railroad context in terms of a Day visit.
-Information about Local and State based transit systems in NJ and PA (I'm aware already that from Lindenmold and Philadelphia, I have NJ Transit, PATCO and SEPTA)
-Model Railroad stores, Train Shows and clubs in Lindenmold and Philadelphia that I could acquaint with. Does TAMR have any division/meeting in Philadelphia?
-Preserved and Tourist Railroads in both states, particularly Steam based
-Any Mainline Excursions which may operate out of Philadelphia and/or New York/Baltimore in the time of my visit?
-Transport Museums of interests in the previously listed cities.
-Any good local railroad stations in Philadelphia where I could photograph a variety of trains, both passenger and freight
As well as that, I'm also open to suggestions of anything non-railway that I could get up to in those areas. Any assistance rendered would be grateful from me, and will allow me to appreciate the railroads and railfanning over there abit more.
Oh and another important thing I'll definately need. Would anyone know where I could find a list of American Railroad terms? I know a few already, although a fair bit differs from what we use in Australia (Which is British Based). A Conductor down here is referred to as a Train Guard
Sincere thanks. More will be posted in due course.
Also, would it be ok if I could make this same post in the PA State Forum?