I live on Long Island, how do I get to Allentown, PA from where I live? I want to go to the rail yard there and exploreee [%-)] haha please help! thank you!
How do you propose to travel?
Private automobile (or equivalent? I drive a pickup.) Enter Mapquest in your search engine, select driving directions and fill in origin and destination. Careful!! It might put you on a toll road when there’s a parallel free Interstate.
Train? Fugheddaboudit. No service.
Bus? Direct from midtown Manhattan - but the bus station is in a bad part of town.
Just looked at Google Maps. The railroad yard isn’t exactly railfan friendly.
One thing. You, “Live on Long Island.” WHERE on Long Island? There are sovereign countries with less land area and far fewer people than Long Island. A little more precision might be helpful.
Chuck (EX-Noo Yawka - Bronx Science, Class of 55)
I could be very off base here so don’t take offense please. I sense from your post and bio that you are a very young girl. It also appears you don’t drive or know much about your geographic area and should proceed with caution. A better idea might be to go to a local hobby shop and build some friendships with local hobbyists and railfans. They could take you with them possibly but check with the hobby shop owner as to their charachter before going with anyone.
You say you want to “exploreee”…
Regardless of whether you are young or old or in between, or male or female… DO NOT TRESPASS on RR property. PERIOD. Stay on public areas (Sidewalks, roadsides) And stay out of the way of other people, workers or travelers (i.e.: don’t stand in the middle of the road to take a photo!). Do not “stand” in grade crossings nor walk down the tracks. Do not walk or climb on RR bridges or other structures.
The only way to “exploreee” is to view from a distance on public property.
I don’t know about railyards in New York, but some are “semi-friendly” to railfans in that they have a pedestrian bridge or road (city street) that has a pedestrian walkway over a part of the yard or the tracks that lead to it, that you can venture out on to view the yard. Some have a “PUBLIC” (not employee) parking area near some section of the yard where you can park and view operations. Union Pacific has the “Golden Spike Tower and Visitor’s Center” at the 2,850-acre Bailey Yard, in North Platte, Nebraska, that visitors can enter and view the huge yard there… but I don’t know of any other yards that have gone to the trouble of providing such a luxurious structure to the public.
Yeahthatengineer, have you looked through the TRAINS MAGAZINE forum? It’s much more active than this one, and there were a few discussions about RR employment. Here are a couple from about page 60 and beyond:
I live in East Rockaway [:)] and yeah I was also wondering if I can take the mta to the city and catch a train to pa, how does that work. ive been researching how to do it and i cant find anything [:^)] and btw what pickup do you drive, i love pickups…sorry [:D]
im around 20, and yes you are right. im bad with directions. that is a better idea to get to know other people 
thank you love!
thank you!! helps me a lot!!
understandable, and okay ill research a little moreee [A]
ndbprr gave you the best answer and seems to have your safety and well being in mind. While you are young and female you must never be any place where you could be in harms way. Perhaps you could bring a friend along with you for a railfan outing for a day. If interested write back and I could give you some places to explore safely or perhaps go along with you. Whatever you choose just do not go anyplace unfamiliar alone. Good luck to you and please be careful.
Yes I would very much like that!! What’s you’re name? Do you live around me? I don’t really know a lot of train fans like myself, or anybody that would enjoy it with me! Thank you so much, do you have any suggestions on where to go to see some nice trains? Have a great afternoon!!
[8D]talk 2 mookie. she is wiser than all us railroad guys!![bow]
Yes, Mookie is an old head (actually, she is several years younger than I am) who is well into the art of trainwatching. She likes to lurk in the Chatterbox on the General forum that Trains has, and you can find her in the Trackside Lounge as well. She does have the advantage of Driver to take her to her favorite trainwatching sites.
Incidentally, don’t be afraid to ask any question you have; we are glad to share such knowledge that we have, whether it comes from actual experience in working for one or more railroads or from our desire to learn more about the fascinating world of railroading.
Start with Google maps Satellite View and MapQuest Satellite View of the area before going there in person. Make sure you have a camera with a big Telephoto lens so that you do not have to get too close to the action. This would usually be a topic for Trains Magazine because it involves real trains.
My name is Tommy and I live in NJ. I could give you many places to go to view trains that are not to far from NYC but not to go alone. Assuming that you are a young lady it would be better if you could get a friend or relative to go along with you. One good spot to see mainline CSX action would be Ridgefield Park, NJ train station where other railfans frequently gather to watch and photograph trains and it is a safe place. However you must remember the first rule of safety when on or near railroad property STAY OFF ALL TRACKS AT ALL TIMES. If you wish to have further communication you can find me here as CP Green. Have fun and be careful.
[8D]sage advice for train watching anywhere today for all young ladies. bring a friend and ur cell phone. in some places a friend with a concealed carry permit is in order. stay safe. Stay happy and enjoy trains resposibly
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There is decent bus service from the Port Authoritiy Terminal in NYC at 42nd & 8th Ave, and from E. Rockaway, you can take LIRR to Penn Sta. and bus (M10 on 8th Avenue) or subway, one stop on any train on the northbound 34th St. Station platform, and then take the bus.
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There is a very active Allentown Area National Railway Historical Society chapter. You can probablyi find them on the web. You might tell them exactly what you are looking for, why you want a yard in Allentown in particular (I’d be interested out of curioslity myself), and see if it is convenient for one of their older and experienced members to meet you at the Allentown bus station, and be with you in your exploration. He or she may even have ways of getting the both of you permission to visit on railroad property…
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The NRHS member may even suggest that at Penn Station, you take a regional Amtrak train to Philadelphia and then transfer to a SEPTA commuter train to Lancaster, and meet him or her there, and return the same way. Lancaster is less than one hour’s drive from Allentown. Often, when I went to Allentown or neighboring Bethlahem, I went there by bus, but my clients knowing my love for trains, drove me to either Lancaster or Norristown so I could return to NYC by rail.
haha amazing advice! i agree 100%!! [:D]
thank you so much!!! this helps out so much!! 
The correct name for the NRHS Chapter IN Allentown is The Lehigh Valley Chapter