PAX Unplugged party train line from Boston - Nov 16, 11:15am 173 Northeast Regional
ChimneyImp
Shifty EyesBostonRegistered User regular
Shifty EyesBostonRegistered User regular
So, other PAXes often do organized train lines for people traveling from various places so people can meet up and play games on the way. This PAX seems like a good place to do this, since we can play board games on the train. I'm probably taking the train from Boston the Thursday right before the convention. Is anyone else from that part of the world taking the train to? If so, we should all coordinate.
The (un)official party train is 173 Northeast Regional, Boston South Station to Philadelphia 30th Street Station, 11:15am - 4:52pm. The snack car normally has tables, and a mid-day train on a Thursday is unlikely to be crowded even around Thanksgiving.
If anyone wants to organize a train back, please do so! I'm not going back until later that week so I won't be organizing one myself.
If you're interested, post here and list any games you're bringing.
I'm bringing:
Trains (natch)
Love Letter
Welcome to the Dungeon
The (un)official party train is 173 Northeast Regional, Boston South Station to Philadelphia 30th Street Station, 11:15am - 4:52pm. The snack car normally has tables, and a mid-day train on a Thursday is unlikely to be crowded even around Thanksgiving.
If anyone wants to organize a train back, please do so! I'm not going back until later that week so I won't be organizing one myself.
If you're interested, post here and list any games you're bringing.
I'm bringing:
Trains (natch)
Love Letter
Welcome to the Dungeon
ChimneyImp on
+2
Posts
Yeah, tons, both bus and subway. It's also a 30 minute walk if you're traveling light. Google Maps link
The train is pretty easy - the Amtrak is nice and the staff are helpful. All you have to do is board and wait until Philly, and let the conductor check your ticket once.
I've booked by (and a friend's) ticket for the train in the OP, so there will be at least two of use there.
If anyone wants to organize a train back, please do so! I'm not going back until later that week so I won't be organizing one myself.
Amtrak will bring you into 30th Street Station in Philly. It's a huge station, some actually REALLY good food options (I highly recommend Beck's Cajun) including some food trucks outside on some days.
Once you are leaving there, you have a couple of really good options:
1) Taxi/Lyft/Uber. Obviously the most expensive, but then you jut get right over there.
2) SEPTA Regional Rail. Don't get scared by there being a billion different lines. If you take any Regional Rail train going east will go 2 stops and let you off at Jefferson Station (just ask someone who works there what track for the next train going east/to Jefferson). It costs $6/person but they basically never check tickets mid-city like that, so just have the money on you in case they check on the train but expect it to probably be free.
Jefferson Station is .2 mi from the convention center.
The same holds true for the return trip, every Regional Rail train going west will get you back to 30th Street Station.
(side-note, I'm gonna really miss this train ride, I always love doing the reverse going up to Philly)
I don't think that's what he was doing. I think what he meant was that the conductors usually will wait until the train is leaving philly to collect fares on the train. So, while it is $6 you might not even end up paying that much because no one will be collecting your fare. I've had it happen to myself a few times. However, I agree definitely don't go out of your way to evade paying $6. That's silly.
So you can head upstairs from AMTRAK to the SEPTA rail platform, and hop on any train headed east towards Suburban Station and Jefferson Station (formerly Market East) and your AMTRAK ticket is valid fare. In reality, those three stations are a single fare zone at the center of a spoke system and essentially a free interchange area where it's unlikely anyone will check tickets/fares until the train leaves the zone.
Please note, these are the regional rail trains that head out to the suburbs, not the subway system within the city.
And yea, I completely forgot the Amtrak->Regional Rail thing. A guy I work with does this daily. It definitely works.
I lived in Philly for a few years and I don't recall them ever checking fares at the downtown stops. Until today I always assumed they were free.
Awesome! I'll be around Sunday night, although I'm not sure if I'm going to be awake for that. In PAX East a ton of people hang around the hotel or the general area, so if you're looking for an afterparty (i.e. more board games) it shouldn't be hard to find.
Are you still planning on taking this train? about to book my tickets from NYC and I might grab this one if you are going to be on it as I kind of want to explore Philly a bit and get there earlier. Otherwise I will book the regular party train.
I’ve booked my tickets and will be on the train from Boston
I will also be on the 141. I will try to look for you. although i won't have a switch.
Switch is a great idea, I'll bring mine too.
Day of the train, look for the fat white guy in a a PAX shirt and chessboard bandana - I'll make sure I'm hard to miss so I can attract people to play games. I'll probably be set up in the dining car because they normally have tables there.
https://allmylinks.com/topherxbeads