Seems a little fragmented this year, hopefully we can collect some data and go into next year with a solid plan for these trains.
My friend and I just booked the 174 regional, getting in around 6:45 on Thursday. We'll miss the dinner but be in time for the bar crawl or pre-pax boardgames.
We will also have Cards Against Humanity and various other games on the train up if you're there. Look for us in the dining car!
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Ok, on the real, I just joined this forum just for this one thread. I need info, and I need it quickly.
First time PAX attendant from NY, heard from my friend in Philly that the Pax Train Lines have some discounts and that the Sonic Line in particular runs from NY to Boston. Moreover, from skimming the pages, I notice some people mentioned games and hangouts and such.
Soooooo.....what is the Sonic Line, how much does it cost, what do you do, when is the train leaving, when do you have to come back and are there really discounts?
In no particular order. If there is a quick FAQ please direct me to it, otherwise, I appreciate anyone can answer those questions before the prices of the Amtrak start going up.
The Sonic Line is the train that runs up the East Coast to Boston, hitting DC, NYC, and (I think) Hartford before pulling into Boston's South Station. It costs whatever an Amtrak ticket costs, there isn't an extra fee or discount code or anything. It's just a way for PAXers to plan which train to get on so we can all hang out and play games on the ride. I haven't done it myself before, but I'm looking forward to it this year.
Traditionally, the Sonic Line has been the 176, which leaves DC at noon and thus allows other trains coming from inland a chance to connect up. The problem is that it doesn't pull into Boston until after 8pm, and many PAXers from the East Coast are interested in some of the unofficial Thursday evening activities such as the board game night at the Westin, or the dinner, or the Poke-crawl, or just want to get a good night's sleep before the early morning rush on Friday. So this year a lot of us are opting for the 86 train instead, which leaves NYC around 12:30 and arrives more like 4:30. And I think a few are planning on taking the 174, which gets in at 6:45.
It's likely that next year this earlier train (either the 86 or the 174) will be renamed and get its own thread. I think "Knuckles" was suggested, which makes sense -- it's like Sonic's little buddy!
Coming back doesn't really have a system because everyone is checking out at different times from Sunday afternoon all the way to Monday night, and everyone is probably going to be exhausted anyway. Personally, I'll be taking the 173, which leaves around 11:30 on Monday. I'm sure whatever train you take back you'll find at least one other PAXer to hang out with / ignore as you sleep your way back to Penn Station.
I bought my tickets 2 days ago and the saver seats were sold out... looked today and the value seats are gone ($71-$89 seats left). My boyfriend and I will be on the 172 arriving in Boston at 3:15 (we would've come in even earlier, but I have class until 12).
On the way back, we'll be on the 67, the last train out of Boston on Sunday night.
If anyone else will be on the 172 Thursday or the 67 Sunday, feel free to say "Hi!"
EDIT: Please don't forget, if you purchase your tickets <14 days from the date of travel, the fare will increase. I believe you have until the 25th to purchase w/o the price increase. Also, if you wait, the official Sonic line may be sold out. Happy travels!
The Sonic Line is the train that runs up the East Coast to Boston, hitting DC, NYC, and (I think) Hartford before pulling into Boston's South Station. It costs whatever an Amtrak ticket costs, there isn't an extra fee or discount code or anything. It's just a way for PAXers to plan which train to get on so we can all hang out and play games on the ride. I haven't done it myself before, but I'm looking forward to it this year.
Traditionally, the Sonic Line has been the 176, which leaves DC at noon and thus allows other trains coming from inland a chance to connect up. The problem is that it doesn't pull into Boston until after 8pm, and many PAXers from the East Coast are interested in some of the unofficial Thursday evening activities such as the board game night at the Westin, or the dinner, or the Poke-crawl, or just want to get a good night's sleep before the early morning rush on Friday. So this year a lot of us are opting for the 86 train instead, which leaves NYC around 12:30 and arrives more like 4:30. And I think a few are planning on taking the 174, which gets in at 6:45.
It's likely that next year this earlier train (either the 86 or the 174) will be renamed and get its own thread. I think "Knuckles" was suggested, which makes sense -- it's like Sonic's little buddy!
Coming back doesn't really have a system because everyone is checking out at different times from Sunday afternoon all the way to Monday night, and everyone is probably going to be exhausted anyway. Personally, I'll be taking the 173, which leaves around 11:30 on Monday. I'm sure whatever train you take back you'll find at least one other PAXer to hang out with / ignore as you sleep your way back to Penn Station.
ooh, well I guess I won't be hanging with you guys anyways then, because I only reserved my booking from Friday to Sunday. I figure I hop on the earliest train, drop off my stuff and then try to enjoy the event as much as possible before heading back to settle in. If there are any nighttime excursions on Saturday, maybe I can hang out with the rest off you.
I'll be taking the 190 Northeast Regional and arriving at 11:00 am, however when does PAX EAST end on Sunday? Maybe I'll be able to join one of you on the way home.
@flatline@randomatom@thunderbolt7 I'll be on the 174 Thursday from NY Penn station with my SO, I'll also wear a pax scarf. What car should we all head for? Rear most?
I'll be taking the 190 Northeast Regional and arriving at 11:00 am, however when does PAX EAST end on Sunday? Maybe I'll be able to join one of you on the way home.
So I noticed for last year's Sonic Line thread, they had everyone post their names, twitter accounts, games they are bringing, etc. in a semi-official format. Are we doing that here or should we make a new thread?
Well I guess I can start this up then. This is the form stolen borrowed from last year with an added entry for the line (Sonic/Knuckles).
Just copy/paste the code below and add your info:
[B]Name:[/B]
[B]Line:[/B]
[B]Twitter:[/B]
[B]Location:[/B]
[B]Boarding Stop:[/B]
[B]Ticket Purchased:[/B]
[B]Games You Are Bringing:[/B]
If you are feeling super awesome, color code your line with the color tag like this:
Name: Kevin Line:Knuckles Twitter: N/A (but I may make one soon) Location: South Jersey Boarding Stop: Philadelphia, 30th Street Station Ticket Purchased: yes (plus 3 friends) Games You Are Bringing: Nintendo 3DS with Bravely Default, Luigi's Mansion, and Star Fox, and Munchkin. (I may ask my friends to bring Story Wars)
Name: Ehhh......I'll introduce myself in person. Sorry, I'm paranoid about such things. Line: Knuckles Twitter: N/A Location: South Jersey Boarding Stop: 30th St in Philly Ticket Purchased: Yes (+1) Games You Are Bringing: Not sure yet. Probably things on the smaller side with not too many components to slide around/lose. I'll definitely have Zombie Fluxx and Zombie/Cthulu Dice with me for filler-type stuff, but need to figure out what longer board/card games I can pack easily. We'll both have our iPhones with us, too, so anything on that front can work, too.
Name: Kim Line:Knuckles (Assuming we are in fact referring to the 86, arriving at South Station at 4:36pm) Twitter: Teriwyn (I do not use this account much, but will fire it back up for PAX. Not a good way to contact me otherwise currently. Location: Frederick, MD Boarding Stop: BWI Ticket Purchased: Yes, my ticket and my husband's tickets are both purchased. Games You Are Bringing:
BANG!
We Didn't Playtest This At All
Poo
Phase 10
Love Letter
7 Wonders (probably not for the train, but we'll have it).
Dutch Blitz
No Thanks
Forbidden Island
Other: You'll be able to identify me easily, as I'll be the auburnbrown-haired pregnant lady.
Name:Redacted Line:Knuckles Twitter:Redacted Location: Rockville, MD Boarding Stop: Union Station Ticket Purchased: Yes Games You Are Bringing: Options include Cards Against Humanity, Zombie Fluxx, and Resistance. If someone can convince me that Lords of Waterdeep would not be a logistical nightmare for a variety of reasons inherent to train travel, I can entertain the idea.
Black lives matter.
Law and Order ≠ Justice
ACNH Island Isla Cero: DA-3082-2045-4142
Captain of the SES Comptroller of the State
On the other hand, there is a very good implementation of Lords of Waterdeep for the ipad... also a simply FANTASTIC Ticket to Ride (thematic!) and Smallworld.
Name: Paul
Line: Knuckles
Twitter: hokiewalrus
Location: New Jersey
Boarding Stop: NYP
Ticket Purchased: Yup
Games You Are Bringing: Ascension, possibly Magic, nothing else suitable for a train. Also an iPad full of digital board games.
@thunderbolt7 I'll be on the 174 Thursday from NY Penn station with my SO, I'll also wear a pax scarf. What car should we all head for? Rear most?
Yeah, we're probably going to head for the rear since the cars in the front usually fill up first. If you want, that day I'll tweet out what car we're in when we pull up to Penn, I have a friend that's getting on there that needs the info anyway. Handle is @mightyator.
Name:Damian Line:Knuckles Twitter:Mulajin Location:NoVa Boarding Stop:Union Station DC Ticket Purchased:Yup! Games You Are Bringing:Ummmm... my laptop, 3DS, could bring Catan, Cards Against Humanity, and traditional "family" board games
Finally booked my ticket on the 172 line. I had no idea "Sonic Line riders" was the train but anyone who's on my train should come by and say hello!
Name: Ryan Line: 172 NE Regional Twitter: @loofmodnar Location:PA Boarding Stop: Philadelphia Ticket Purchased: Yes Games You Are Bringing: 3DS, others depending on what I can fit.
Randomfool on
I do Pokecrawl things. Professor Team Instinct, Hufflepuff supporter.@loofmodnar
Having never been on a train, I've got a question that might be dumb. When people get a seat (for example in the back car), do they just leave their belongings there if they go to, say, the dining car for a while? Or do they haul everything with them and hope when they get back, the seat is still there...? How does that work?
All I can picture is a huge airplane that runs on the ground, lol, so I am a bit out of my element...
Name: I'll meet you at the station or on the train, we'll all be easy to spot. Line: Knuckles Twitter: PraxisLoki Location: DC Boarding Stop: Union Station Ticket Purchased: Yes Games You Are Bringing: COUP (With tokens so we can play with factions.)
Name: Look for the scarfs =D Line: Knuckles Twitter: What's twitter? (i forget what it is) Location: Baltimore > BWI Boarding Stop: BWI Ticket Purchased: Yes (5 of us) Games You Are Bringing: Definitely going to have: Spaceteam on cellphones, 3ds (mario party, tetris axis, poke x/y, and mario kart)
Board games: Telestrations, zombiedice, rest To be determined! I'll update this post tonight when my roommate and I figure out what of the 50 board/card games we own we are actually bringing.
Posts
My friend and I just booked the 174 regional, getting in around 6:45 on Thursday. We'll miss the dinner but be in time for the bar crawl or pre-pax boardgames.
We will also have Cards Against Humanity and various other games on the train up if you're there. Look for us in the dining car!
First time PAX attendant from NY, heard from my friend in Philly that the Pax Train Lines have some discounts and that the Sonic Line in particular runs from NY to Boston. Moreover, from skimming the pages, I notice some people mentioned games and hangouts and such.
Soooooo.....what is the Sonic Line, how much does it cost, what do you do, when is the train leaving, when do you have to come back and are there really discounts?
In no particular order. If there is a quick FAQ please direct me to it, otherwise, I appreciate anyone can answer those questions before the prices of the Amtrak start going up.
The Sonic Line is the train that runs up the East Coast to Boston, hitting DC, NYC, and (I think) Hartford before pulling into Boston's South Station. It costs whatever an Amtrak ticket costs, there isn't an extra fee or discount code or anything. It's just a way for PAXers to plan which train to get on so we can all hang out and play games on the ride. I haven't done it myself before, but I'm looking forward to it this year.
Traditionally, the Sonic Line has been the 176, which leaves DC at noon and thus allows other trains coming from inland a chance to connect up. The problem is that it doesn't pull into Boston until after 8pm, and many PAXers from the East Coast are interested in some of the unofficial Thursday evening activities such as the board game night at the Westin, or the dinner, or the Poke-crawl, or just want to get a good night's sleep before the early morning rush on Friday. So this year a lot of us are opting for the 86 train instead, which leaves NYC around 12:30 and arrives more like 4:30. And I think a few are planning on taking the 174, which gets in at 6:45.
It's likely that next year this earlier train (either the 86 or the 174) will be renamed and get its own thread. I think "Knuckles" was suggested, which makes sense -- it's like Sonic's little buddy!
Coming back doesn't really have a system because everyone is checking out at different times from Sunday afternoon all the way to Monday night, and everyone is probably going to be exhausted anyway. Personally, I'll be taking the 173, which leaves around 11:30 on Monday. I'm sure whatever train you take back you'll find at least one other PAXer to hang out with / ignore as you sleep your way back to Penn Station.
On the way back, we'll be on the 67, the last train out of Boston on Sunday night.
If anyone else will be on the 172 Thursday or the 67 Sunday, feel free to say "Hi!"
EDIT: Please don't forget, if you purchase your tickets <14 days from the date of travel, the fare will increase. I believe you have until the 25th to purchase w/o the price increase. Also, if you wait, the official Sonic line may be sold out. Happy travels!
3DS Friend Code: 2449-5711-0640
ooh, well I guess I won't be hanging with you guys anyways then, because I only reserved my booking from Friday to Sunday. I figure I hop on the earliest train, drop off my stuff and then try to enjoy the event as much as possible before heading back to settle in. If there are any nighttime excursions on Saturday, maybe I can hang out with the rest off you.
I'll be taking the 190 Northeast Regional and arriving at 11:00 am, however when does PAX EAST end on Sunday? Maybe I'll be able to join one of you on the way home.
PAX East ends at 7pm on Sunday.
Just copy/paste the code below and add your info:
If you are feeling super awesome, color code your line with the color tag like this: or
Line: Knuckles
Twitter: N/A (but I may make one soon)
Location: South Jersey
Boarding Stop: Philadelphia, 30th Street Station
Ticket Purchased: yes (plus 3 friends)
Games You Are Bringing: Nintendo 3DS with Bravely Default, Luigi's Mansion, and Star Fox, and Munchkin. (I may ask my friends to bring Story Wars)
Line: Knuckles
Twitter: N/A
Location: South Jersey
Boarding Stop: 30th St in Philly
Ticket Purchased: Yes (+1)
Games You Are Bringing: Not sure yet. Probably things on the smaller side with not too many components to slide around/lose. I'll definitely have Zombie Fluxx and Zombie/Cthulu Dice with me for filler-type stuff, but need to figure out what longer board/card games I can pack easily. We'll both have our iPhones with us, too, so anything on that front can work, too.
Line: Knuckles (Assuming we are in fact referring to the 86, arriving at South Station at 4:36pm)
Twitter: Teriwyn (I do not use this account much, but will fire it back up for PAX. Not a good way to contact me otherwise currently.
Location: Frederick, MD
Boarding Stop: BWI
Ticket Purchased: Yes, my ticket and my husband's tickets are both purchased.
Games You Are Bringing:
BANG!
We Didn't Playtest This At All
Poo
Phase 10
Love Letter
7 Wonders (probably not for the train, but we'll have it).
Dutch Blitz
No Thanks
Forbidden Island
Other: You'll be able to identify me easily, as I'll be the auburnbrown-haired pregnant lady.
Line: Knuckles
Twitter: Redacted
Location: Rockville, MD
Boarding Stop: Union Station
Ticket Purchased: Yes
Games You Are Bringing: Options include Cards Against Humanity, Zombie Fluxx, and Resistance. If someone can convince me that Lords of Waterdeep would not be a logistical nightmare for a variety of reasons inherent to train travel, I can entertain the idea.
Law and Order ≠ Justice
ACNH Island Isla Cero: DA-3082-2045-4142
Captain of the SES Comptroller of the State
Also, table space for a game like that would be sketchy at best.
Line: Knuckles
Twitter: hokiewalrus
Location: New Jersey
Boarding Stop: NYP
Ticket Purchased: Yup
Games You Are Bringing: Ascension, possibly Magic, nothing else suitable for a train. Also an iPad full of digital board games.
Line: Knuckles
Twitter: Mulajin
Location: NoVa
Boarding Stop: Union Station DC
Ticket Purchased: Yup!
Games You Are Bringing: Ummmm... my laptop, 3DS, could bring Catan, Cards Against Humanity, and traditional "family" board games
Name: Ryan
Line: 172 NE Regional
Twitter: @loofmodnar
Location:PA
Boarding Stop: Philadelphia
Ticket Purchased: Yes
Games You Are Bringing: 3DS, others depending on what I can fit.
Law and Order ≠ Justice
ACNH Island Isla Cero: DA-3082-2045-4142
Captain of the SES Comptroller of the State
Based on what was said in last year's thread, yes, we should try to get the back car.
*Disclaimer: This is my first time taking the train to PAX, so I'm going off the forums and don't have any actual Sonic Line experience.
All I can picture is a huge airplane that runs on the ground, lol, so I am a bit out of my element...
Line: Knuckles
Twitter: PraxisLoki
Location: DC
Boarding Stop: Union Station
Ticket Purchased: Yes
Games You Are Bringing: COUP (With tokens so we can play with factions.)
Name: Look for the scarfs =D
Line: Knuckles
Twitter: What's twitter? (i forget what it is)
Location: Baltimore > BWI
Boarding Stop: BWI
Ticket Purchased: Yes (5 of us)
Games You Are Bringing: Definitely going to have: Spaceteam on cellphones, 3ds (mario party, tetris axis, poke x/y, and mario kart)
Board games: Telestrations, zombiedice, rest To be determined! I'll update this post tonight when my roommate and I figure out what of the 50 board/card games we own we are actually bringing.
Where is everyone sitting?
2010 Team SQUIRTLE Trainer
By the way, I don't recommend missing a train. That's an expensive mistake.