The Grand Tour, Day Five [19 January 2003]

Once again, the dawn brings a radical change in scenery; this time from the plains of the midwest to the rolling river hills of Pennsylvania. This is the route of the Pennsy's Broadway Limited, along the Monongahela River and Horseshoe Curve. However, today we're on Amtrak's Three Rivers, which is dominated by the large string of mail and express cars tacked on to the rear, and doesn't even merit a full diner. But, the cafe food is adequate, and the scenery along the river quickly distracts you from the danish or hot dog. The most striking feature is the number of abandoned industrial sites, the product of America's first job export period of the 1970s. Along the way, we also see the imfamous Three Mile Island power plant. Arriving in Harrisburg late in the afternoon, we come across "the wire" for the first time, entering America's only mainline railway electrication district. At Philadelphia, I change trains one last time, in order to take the Northeast Corridor's overnight train, the Twilight Shoreliner.

At Harrisburg, our Viewliner attendant, Cami, stands at attention while we stretch our legs. Quite a change from two days ago in Albuquerque, with snow, parkas, and high station platform.
	Of all the changes, however, the one which strikes me the most is the appearance of overhead cantenary. Electric trains, the way a real railroad is powered!
A quick grab shot of my Viewliner Sleeper, before I head inside. The "upper" set of windows allow passengers in the upper bunk a view of the scenery, something that the Superliners lack.
	Philadelphia 30th Street Station was also the corporate headquarters of the Pennsylvania Railroad. As such, one can find all sorts of interesting fresco details cast into concrete, that time will never erase (unlike today's named sports stadiums). This particular shot was taken in the main waiting hall, with high ceilings and a winged tribute to Pennsy's fallen WWII veterans.

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