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Penn Station - Baltimore

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  • Member since
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Penn Station - Baltimore
Posted by mtnbikr63 on Friday, May 30, 2008 3:36 PM
I'm planning a trip via Amtrak to Baltimore's Penn Station.  Would appreciate any suggestions on where to stay and how to get around once I get there.  I know they have light rail which I have taken before, but I want to visit the B&O museum, trolley museum, etc., and know it doesn't serve those areas.  Thank you!
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Posted by amsr on Friday, May 30, 2008 8:23 PM
There are various name brand hotels in the Inner harbor area that would be fine.  Getting around baltimore is not difficult using taxis.  The B&O museum is not too far from Penn Station.  There is a lot to do in the inner harbor area.
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Posted by gardendance on Friday, May 30, 2008 8:27 PM

the streetcar museum is about 4-5 blocks from Penn Station. North (over the railroad) on Charles St, 1st left on Lanvale St, which becomes Falls Rd in one block after it crosses Maryland Ave, the museum is less than 100 feet after you go under the 2nd bridge.

There's a light rail problem now, they've taken a bunch of cars out of service due to wheel replacement, so there's no direct light rail from Penn Station until further notice. But if you walk or take the shuttle bus to the Mt Royal station you can use the light rail to the Lombard St stop, it's about 9-10 blocks from there to the B&O museum.

I remember years ago there were 2 direct bus routes from Penn Station to a few blocks from the B&O museum, but they've done some rerouting, I can't find those routes on the MTA web site.

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Posted by Last Chance on Friday, May 30, 2008 9:04 PM

The only place I can remember is down by Federal Hill in Baltimore. There is a road I think of that goes direct to the docks next to 95 right at the West (South) Mouth of the new McHenry Tunnel.

Parking is impossible there in the day time, however with a bit of walking you might get around a bit.

I must caution you that you will be entering a City that is in a state of change. Streetwise and Alert attention to everything around you is most necessary. Nighttime is dangerous downtown.

That is all I will put here. It has been many years since I resided near Baltimore but have never forgotten that City. I may be fuzzy and obselete on my details here so double check carefully.

I will say that the B&O Museum is a much better draw than some pax station. Since the 2003 collapse the Museum has been a Phoenix rising of sorts.

Good luck! Again, be very watchful, wear nuetral clothing no green, red, black or blue.

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Posted by JackP on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 12:33 AM

I recently took my grandson to Baltimore for a weekend. We rode from New York's Penn Station via Amtrak's Acela and had a wonderful trip down. From Penn Station in Baltimore was an easy trip to our hotel (the Admiral Fell Inn) at Fells Point, which is adjacent to the Inner Harbor. It's a nice enough place, with a feel of a bed and breakfast without the ungodly high prices of the Inner Harbor palaces!!! Access via water taxi from the hotel is just across the street and service was very good, taking only a few minutes to get from one point to another in the tourist areas. Plenty of casual, inexpensive restaurants to enjoy and lots of sights to see for the weekend.

A short taxi ride to the B&O museum is a little higher priced than I expected, but it wasn't enoughh to break the weekend's bank! The museum is fully repaired structurally and most of the displays are in excellent shape. Plan about two to three hours there.

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Posted by daveklepper on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 3:36 AM

From Baltimore's Penn Station, I did not have any difficulty finding the trolley museum.   I simply walked north out of the station, using the west doors and turning right, then, after crossing the bridge of the most northerly tracks below, kept turning to the left at each intersection and found myself at the musuem, which does indeed boarder the NEC ROW, so in addtional to an excellent in-service as well as display collection, friendly crews, and safe and sharp operation, there are also photo opportunities for the NEC.

My last trip to Baltimore was before the light rail lind to Penn Station was opened, but on many occasions I just went out those westside doors and walked straight west to Howard Street, where the main line Light Rail tracks are located.   Never found the walk long or tiresome, at the most it is half a mile.   The ride to the north along the old PRR line is very scenic.   I also think the walk from the Light Rail Line to the B&O musuem isn;t a problem.

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