Thank you for all the replies to my request,we will be there in june,comeing from Buffalo on the lakeshore.
RAYMOND T
If the Bendix station is adjacent to Amtrak's present station, it should have been kept at least as flag stop so people can make the connection. And a local bus should run to bring people downtown.
I remember the street-running very well.
South Shore's airport station replaced the one at Bendix Drive. After South Shore abandoned its street running in South Bend, Bendix Drive was close as you could get to downtown South Bend.
Is the only South Shore station at the Airport? Don't they have a station convenient for people wishing to go downtown?
The Amtrak and South Shore Line stations are several miles apart, even though the tracks are close together near the Amtrak station on Washington. SS station is at the airport..
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Another thought. If it is the South Shore that you want, you might wish to leave the Lake Shore Limited at South Bend. At one time Amtrak used the "Bendix" South Shore Station at South Bend as its station. I do not know if this is the case now or if the South Shore still uses it with its extension to the South Bend Airport.
Seven people can board the bus. YOu might play it by ear and sea just what comes first, taxi or bus.
Ogilvie Center (Metra UP lines) is at the corner of Canal St. and Madison, just two short blocks north of Union Station.
To get to Millenium Staion at Michigan and Randolph you could take the #60 bus directly ($2.25 each), but since their are 7 of you, it might be cheaper to use two cabs (about $10, see link):
http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Chicago
There will be seven of us and we will all have a fair bit of luggage,can we get it on the bus or will we need to take two or more taxis?
The South Shore and Metra Electric (the old Illinois Central Electric suburban sesrvice) share the old IC suburban tracks near the shore of Lake Michigan just east of Michigan Avenue. Union Station is about a 1-1/4 miles (OK two Kilometers) to the West. The rapid transit connections are not particularly good, involving almost as much walking as riding. There is a bus that starts at the street bus terminal at Union Station (signs point to it) that does run across town and then down Michigan Avenue to McCormick Place. This is how I usually made the connection. You get off just after the bus turns south on Michigan Avenue, and you will be near the Van Buren Street Station, the first stop of the South Shore and METRA Electric trains south of the Randolph Street Terminal.
Or just take a cab directly to the Randolf Street Terminal, Randolf St. and Michigan Avenue.
Most diesel METRA services use Union Station. Exceptions are those on the old Rock Island lines to Blue Island and Joliet (La Salle Street Station, several blocks east and then south of Union), and the now Union Pacific, formerly Chicago and Northwestern services north to Kenosha, Wisconsin, nothwest to Harvard, and west to Elgin, the "Ogelbie Transportation Center," a block west and two blocks north.
Another question from Australia,when I arrive at chicago union railway station from Buffalo,can I get a Meta train to Miller,Indiana or how do I get on the South shore line?
If you are a railfan you can combine that hobby with the trip on the Southwest Chief. The Chief's first stop after leaving LA Union Station is Fullerton, about 40 miles east of LA in North Orange County. In fact a lot of Chief passengers coming from San Diego and other points south take a Pacific Surfliner north to Fullerton and change to the eastbound Chief. I think there is even a transfer of checked luggage. We see a lot of Amish people who are coming back from Mexico after medical treatment. (Amish don't believe in insurance).
If you schedule your departure on the Chief for Friday, the train will get to Fullerton about 6:45 PM (1845). At that time on a Friday evening the station is full of railfans. You could easily take an earlier train to Fullerton and catch the Chief after a light supper at the station cafe. If you are staying near Disneyland, Fullerton is an easy place to board the Chief. Both are on Harbor Blvd, a major N-S street. Just remember, the Chief almost always boards from Track 1, the one nearest the station. This is left side running, a departure from usual American railroad practice.
One confusing fact: for the Chief: Fullerton is an east/west station. For the Pacific Surfliners from LA to San Diego, it's a north/south station. Just east of the station is Fullerton Junction where the line to San Diego turns right. The tracks in the station are oriented exactly east and west which causes some confusion. Just ask someone if you get turned around.. There is a pedestrian bridge and the elevators are usually working.
Fullerton is a prime train watching spot. On a Friday we get 56 passengers trains stopping there. Plus it is on the BNSF's Transcon Rouite from LA/Long Beach harbors to Chicago. That can mean over 75 freight trains a day and business is picking up.
Jack
When I read the first part of wjstix's post:
"One thing that I really enjoyed while visiting New York was taking the subway ...."
I thought he was going to echo my sentiment. I just enjoyed riding the subways. ( I'm easily amused.) I was really impressed when I discovered the parallel local/express lines. Talk about a marvel of engineering and coordination!
One more thing: contrary to popular belief, I found New Yorkers to be open and helpful. When I was confused in some of the larger stations and asked for directions, they were usually ready to help. Sometimes they'd instinctively turn away at first, probably thinking I was a panhandler or hustler, but when I asked for help, frequently they would not only give directions but walk with me to show me where to catch the train I wanted.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
wjstix One thing that I really enjoyed while visiting New York was taking the subway to Grand Central on a quiet Sunday afternoon, and then making a trip on Metra up the Hudson to Poughkeepsie and back on the old New York Central water level route. A lot of interesting things, like taking the train thru SingSing prison, seeing West Point military academy, and great scenery. It's about 70 miles one way so takes a couple of hours, and at the time I took it (mid-nineties) it only cost about $16.
One thing that I really enjoyed while visiting New York was taking the subway to Grand Central on a quiet Sunday afternoon, and then making a trip on Metra up the Hudson to Poughkeepsie and back on the old New York Central water level route. A lot of interesting things, like taking the train thru SingSing prison, seeing West Point military academy, and great scenery. It's about 70 miles one way so takes a couple of hours, and at the time I took it (mid-nineties) it only cost about $16.
Probably one of the most scenic rides in the NYC metropolitan area...on MNRR, Metro North Railroad! Any of the Conneticuit branches are scenic, too, and to Wassaic, NY is both scenic and historic. Unique and quick is Amtrak out of NYP to Pk'sie and MNRR to GCT, but more expensive. Out of NYP any trip on the LIRR can be fascinating for a railfan or anyone else...to Oyster Bay, Greenport, Montauk, Port Jefferson, or the south shore beaches (but be careful). Same for NJT to Port Jervis, or down to the Shore, out to Hackettstown or HIgh Bridge, or down to Trenton (and even on to Philadelphia on SEPTA or to Camden on the River Line's light rail diesel cars.
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
Phoebe Vet ... and another big misconception is that NYC is representative of New York State, so what's your point. The original poster is traveling as a tourist. I doubt he will be spending much time in the Bronx. My point is that NYC has such a dense population and such a well developed public transit system that public transit is more convenient than trying to drive and then trying to find a place to park.
... and another big misconception is that NYC is representative of New York State, so what's your point.
The original poster is traveling as a tourist. I doubt he will be spending much time in the Bronx.
My point is that NYC has such a dense population and such a well developed public transit system that public transit is more convenient than trying to drive and then trying to find a place to park.
Of course, and there's a lot of places in the sprawled-out, non-dense suburban areas of Los Angeles that tourists have no interest in seeing as well.
Phoebe Vet ... and another big misconception is that NYC is representative of New York State, so what's your point. The original poster is traveling as a tourist. I doubt he will be spending much time in the Bronx. My point is that NYC has such a dense population and such a well developed public transit system that public transit is more convenient than trying to drive and then trying to find a place to park. Now if he wants to go upstate and visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, or the wineries in the Finger Lakes, he will need a car.
Now if he wants to go upstate and visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, or the wineries in the Finger Lakes, he will need a car.
...and a raincoat, but not much sunscreen.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Metro Red Line Phoebe Vet: Many people who live in NYC don't even own cars. They rent on the rare occasions when one is needed. Have you ever seen street pictures of Manhattan? Notice that 90% of the cars are yellow (Taxis)? The Staten Island Ferry, also carries automobiles, after all.
Phoebe Vet: Many people who live in NYC don't even own cars. They rent on the rare occasions when one is needed. Have you ever seen street pictures of Manhattan? Notice that 90% of the cars are yellow (Taxis)?
Many people who live in NYC don't even own cars. They rent on the rare occasions when one is needed. Have you ever seen street pictures of Manhattan? Notice that 90% of the cars are yellow (Taxis)?
The Staten Island Ferry, also carries automobiles, after all.
Not any more, apparently. At least it didn't this past November.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Vet Many people who live in NYC don't even own cars. They rent on the rare occasions when one is needed. Have you ever seen street pictures of Manhattan? Notice that 90% of the cars are yellow (Taxis)?
The biggest misconception is that Manhattan is NYC...Though it's the main part of NYC, it's only one of five boroughs. Some people in Bronx or Brooklyn own cars. Most people in Queens own cars. EVERYONE in Staten Island owns a car. The Staten Island Ferry, also carries automobiles, after all.
And don't forget the NYC metropolitan area as a whole. People who work in NYC would probably live in Jersey, Long Island or Connecticut. A large majority of those people own cars and get around their neighborhoods with cars.
Los Angeles local here. Many will tell you that "You can't get anywhere without a car" but the reality is that with a car, you'll get stuck in traffic and have an even worse experience. Also, there are some places in NY or Chicago you can't get to on a train either, so it's somewhat of an unfair comparison.
True a lot of Los Angeles is sprawled and car-centric, but does a tourist really need to visit dull suburban places like, say Rancho Cucamonga or Corona? I think not.
We have a rail transit system that is 20 years old now and some 79-miles in length. For its young age and its size, you can go quite a few places directly by rail:
Downtown Los AngelesHollywood Blvd (Mann Chinese Theatre/Walk of Fame)Universal StudiosPasadena
There is an express bus that takes you between the airport (LAX) directly to Union Station for just a few dollars.
There's also a commuter rail system (Metrolink) that takes people even farther from the outlying suburbs.
Basically, if you stay in the Downtown, Hollywood, North Hollywood or Pasadena areas, you'll get around much easier. A lot of hotel guides say the hotel is in "Los Angeles" or "Hollywood" for marketing purposes but in reality they will be some 20-30 miles away, and people get ripped off because of that.
If you want more info, contact me via my user profile, I'd be glad to help you out.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR MARRIAGE!!!!
For Chicago, Metra has 12 train routes going in and out of the city. not all routes run on weekends (the North central District and Heritage Corridir only run on weekdays) There is the CTA in the city and bordering suburbs, and it goes to both Midway and O-Hare airports. CTA bussesare around in the city as well. all CTA is under $5, but Metra ticket price depends on the length of the trip. Bikes are allowed on Metra and CTA, but only on off peak trains for Metra (9:00AM-4:00PM and past 8PM)
Hi all,Thank-you to everyone who provided advice and links. It is going to come in very useful, and I will be referring to this thread a few times as I plan our honeymoon. My future wife and I both really appreciate this.The only 'railfanning' I'll be able to do this time around will be the Southwest Chief between Los Angeles and Chicago. We are considering another trip to the US in a few years, though, and will probably do a great deal more railfanning then - especially the former D&RGW narrow gauge.Thanks again, everyone. We're looking forward to coming over there.Cheers,Danny.
The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, OregonThe Year: 1948The Scale: On30The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com
Try Roanoke, Virginia, not only the rail-related musaeums, but great people friendly to visitors.
My comments were intended to be light-hearted (hence the smiley) and written from the perspective of a foreign visitor to the US (I live in the UK).
I've explored Boston, Chicago, New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, LA, Portland (OR) and Miami by bus, subway, light rail, heavy rail and on foot over the years. My first experience of driving a car in the US was in LA - and I wouldn't wish driving in six lanes of nose-to-tail freeway traffic in the pouring rain on anyone.....but if you do want to visit places like Tehachapi pass I think a car is the only easy way to do it.
I actually think that public transport in the big cities of the US is much better than some Americans think it is - LA is harder to get around (but possible) mostly because it's such a huge urban sprawl that's very car-oriented.
I'd also recommend trying to find a bit of 'small town' America if you have the time - it's a different (and usually much nicer) experience to contrast with the big-city hustle and bustle.
Tony
Owlsroost: he will be on his honeymoon and I think that is the position from which he asked the question. Flying in from Austrailia he will be without transportation; being a railfan he understands public transportation. But knowing how far behind the rest of the world our country is when it comes to public transportation and the bad rap a lot of US public transportation and inner city life gets, he has shown genuine concern and thus his quetion. Only he really knows if he will be on his honeymoon or an overseas railfan adventure! Either way, we should welcome him and his bride and offer the best help we can in seeing that they get around to see what they want to see the best way possible and wish the couple the best of luck!
If you're a railfan, how can you go to LA and not want to at least hire a car to visit Tehachapi pass? - I did on our honeymoon
If you don't want to tackle driving in LA (I can understand that) take the bus to Bakersfield and hire a car there - once you've got to Tehachapi you won't want to leave....
As was mentioned, LA is going to be the worst of the 3. Not because their transit is under developed, it's that the city is so spread out that it is very very hard for Rail transit to get you everywhere, but all is not lost.
First determine where you want to stay in the city. There are some locations that will make this easier than others. For instance, if you stay in South Orange County, Say San Clemente or San Jaun Capistrano, the Metrolink/Amtrak Pacific Surfliner will be right there. This will get you to Disneyland and Union Station and San Diego quite easily. The transit network can then get you to some other tourist sites, but be prepared to ride buses to get around.
I lived in New York City for eight years. I did not have a car, but I was able to get around nicely on public transport. I have also used public transport in Chicago and LA. All three cities have good public transport. I have also used public transport in Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston. In fact, I used public transort in Dallas for more than 33 years to get to and from work. So I am familiar with how public transport in the U.S. works.
Whilst I lived in Melbourne, Victoria, I rode public transit every day. Again, I did not have a car because I did not need one, although I did have a motorbike to get around on the weekends. I also used the public transit systems in Adelaide, Sydney, and Brisbane.
There is one cautionary note to observe when using public transit in the U.S. , especially at night. Be careful! Although the big city transit systems have a small army of transit police, they cannot be everywhere. Also, there are neighborhoods in the U.S. that one simply should not venture into. In New York, for example, be careful where you go in northern Manhattan as well as the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens.
I go back to New York at least once a year. Having lived in Bay Ridge for more than six years, I like to visit some of my old haunts. I have no qualms about taking the train from Manhattan to Bay Ridge. But at night I always sit in the same car as the motorman or conductor. Just in case. The train passes through (under) some pretty bad neighborhoods to get to Bay Ridge. And the bad guys can get on and off them with ease.
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