Plan your Trip...Book your Ticket....and Hop Aboard
The Pennsylvanian travels 422 miles from NYC to Pittsburgh across diverse and eclectic changing scenery and landscapes. You will hit everything from major US Cities (NYC/ Philadelphia/Pittsburgh) to the most tranquil farmlands (Lancaster County) to the rolling hills of former steel cities in Western PA. The Amtrak Pennsylvanian is equipped with 4 Coach Class Cars, a Cafe Car (with drinks and snacks/sandwiches, and 1 Business Class Car
The Pennsylvanian travels 422 miles from NYC to Pittsburgh across diverse and eclectic changing scenery and landscapes. You will hit everything from major US Cities (NYC/ Philadelphia/Pittsburgh) to the most tranquil farmlands (Lancaster County) to the rolling hills of former steel cities in Western PA. The Amtrak Pennsylvanian is equipped with 4 Coach Class Cars, a Cafe Car (with drinks and snacks/sandwiches, and 1 Business Class Car
Highlights of Ride:
New York City home to Broadway, Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, World Trade Center and NY Penn Station (one hectic and jam packed rail center). The streets and terminal buzz heavily with travelers, tourist and many people as the station is one of Amtrak's main hubs along the east coast where most train line start go through or end. Penn Station serves as the starting point for train 43 and ending point for train 42.
The City of Brotherly Love....30th Street Station is one of a kind and one of the major/busiest Amtrak Stations in the country as it sits along the Northeast Corridor section of Amtrak Service. Philadelphia is also the place for an engine change on the Pennsylvanian as they switch from electric to diesel and vise versa (based on which direction your heading) as navigating western PA you lose electric service and need the power to navigate the terrain changes.
Winding tracks and miles of fields as far as the eye can see leads The Pennsylvanian through laid back and a whole different way of life and you know you've entered Amish Country of Lancaster County. A landscape dotted with farms and rustling of horse drawn buggies coming down the street and people hanging clothes out on the lines with a slight breeze.
The Pennsylvanian Route is filled with many iconic landmarks along its journey and this is a rather recognizable one just before pulling into Harrisburg. Most people have heard about the partial meltdown that occurred at 3 Mile Island and luckily the line goes by it everyday.
The recognizable PA State Capital Complex in Harrisburg that houses the State House, State Senate and the Governmental Offices. Harrisburg has a bustling atmosphere and mix of people as right in downtown there is State Leaders, College Students attending University of Sciences, and people at the various really quality restaurants along 2nd street. It offers everything from Museums/Science Centers to Minor League Baseball with the Senators on City Island and is just minutes away from the World Famous Hershey Park and Chocolate Factories.
Charming small-town main street feel is exactly what Huntingdon, PA has to offer. A quaint town that has a rich railroading history to go along with it. A town dotted by a close knit street of mom and pop shops that draws many people for its character along with college students to Juniata College who can take train from home to campus.
The Pennsylvanian Route passes yet another iconic and historic landmark in the World Famous Horseshoe Curve between Altoona & Johnstown. The Horseshoe Curve is probably one of the greatest engineering feats for the rail industry of its time if not all time. The picture can't do the curve justice as it looks flat but there is really a huge elevation change from the right side of the picture to the left (hundreds of feet). When it was completed it opened train transport wide open.
A resilient town built from the ground up on the back of the steel industry and survivor of a major flood Johnstown is a highlight along the Pennsylvanian. Filled with museums and rich history you pass by the steel mills as you approach the town and station and see all of the now in place flood measures that the Army Core Engineers and government have put in to make sure a disaster never occurs again. The town today has a laid back feel and a rich group of locals that take pride in living there even though not much has been revived. You can tell what effects the flood and down-grade in production of steel has cause on the local economy as there is little downtown and many closed up shops and businesses but somehow they carry on with daily life.
Pennsylvanian is a state deep rooted in beer and breweries as it houses some of the oldest ones anywhere in the country. Walk into just about any bar and your bound to see a rolling rock neon sign in the window but what you may not know is that the Pennsylvanian goes right past the birthplace of it all at our Latrobe, PA stop. It's yet another vibrant small town main street setting with shops and eateries with a casual laid back environment.
The Mighty Three Rivers....A place like none other in the country as Pittsburgh was built on a point and confined by the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers.Today it is a vibrant downtown steeped in its love affair with pro sports (Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers) and cultural district populated with many top theaters and musical venues. It's broken into three sections being North Shore housing the sports stadiums, Downtown with its many college campuses and market square along with the cultural district, and Southside with the vibrant bars and restaurant and popular nightlife scene. Pittsburgh marks the beginning for train 42 and the end point for train 43. Many people use Pittsburgh as a connection to points west in Cleveland, Chicago and Kansas City serviced by the Capitol Limited Amtrak Line that runs through Pittsburgh.