mcgrath618 wrote:Decided to splurge a little and rode the GVF today with a friend.
Truly awesome to see it in person
MCG (and Everyone):
The problem with taking the GVF west of Paoli if you plan to return east is the long gap between
weekday evening eastbound trains from Thorndale: 5:36 and then 7:40 pm.
The current GVF stops at Paoli at 5:38 pm and only Malvern (5:42 W, 5:53 E) would allow enough
turnaround time provided the GVF is on or close to schedule to chance a long (unwanted) layover.
From Paoli east there are more scheduled local trains along with the 106 bus nearby if necessary.
The better long express or push-pull ride is taking one of the afternoon expresses to Newark, DE.
The early express leaves Jefferson Station at 3:05 pm; The PM Peak express leaves JS at 5:04 pm.
These trains arrive at Wilmington 3:55 and Newark at 4:14; 5:57 WIL and 6:26 NRK respectively.
From Newark and Wilmington there are three afternoon/evening limited stop trains to CCP:
4:46, 5:46 and 6:46 pm from Newark; 5:15, 6:15 and 7:06 pm from Wilmington.
I took a Newark afternoon round trip earlier this year using an Independence Pass thanks to this
being one of the longest possible RRD one way rides (38 miles to NRK) from CCP along with there
being no pass or schedule restrictions which are present on other lines that use push-pull trains.
It will remain to be seen how SEPTA replaces the eight current motors (using a PRR term used
for electric locomotives) with the new ACS64 Sprinter units. We may be saying "farewell" within
the next year with at least eight ACS64s in service making outright replacement possible...
MACTRAXX
EXPRESS TRAIN TO NEW YORK PENN STATION-NO JAMAICA ON THIS TRAIN-PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING TRAIN DOORS