John's Railfan Guide to 29th and Walnut.

This is a great location just to the west of center city Philadelphia. Within 200 yards of this intersection, the trains of Amtrak, Septa, New Jersey Transit, Conrail, CSX, and Delaware and Hudson may be seen.

Getting There:

Just take the train! Get off at 30th Street station. Exit the main waiting room behind the World War II memorial, turn right and walk two and a half blocks. If you insist on driving, take the South Street exit of I-76 (the Sure-kill Expressway) Remember, it exits from the left lane. Go west on South St. and turn right on whichever one way street goes that way. Turn right onto Market St., drive past the Post Office and 30th St. Station. Turn right onto 29th at the light before the Market St. bridge over the Schuylkill River. Cross Chestnut St. and park. Feed the meter. (Driving in the city sucks, this is why the train was invented.)

Radio Frequencies

Amtrak Northeast Corridor 160.920
Conrail Road 1 160.800
Conrail Yard 160.980
CSX Dispatcher 160.320
CSX Road 1 160.230

Images

The view from the northwest corner of 29th and Walnut. The Northeast Corridor mainline appears from beneath the 30th St. Post Office. In this scene a southbound clocker passes an F40 powered train.
New Jersey Transit runs the Atlantic City service from 30th Street. NJT power like Morrison-Knudsen GP-40F 4132 is usually present.
The view from the southwest corner of 29th and Walnut looking south. A northbound Amtrak Metroliner comes into view powered by AEM-7 953.
The view from the southwest corner of 29th and Walnut looking west. Although not heavily used in daylight hours, the former PRR West Philadelphia Elevated branch (the high line) crosses Walnut Street on a tall steel trestle about 150 yards west of the intersection. The high line is part of Conrail's Harrisburg line, connecting the yards and port in South Philly with the former Reading main line at CP Belmont.

The dragging equipment detector a CP Zoo just announced an eastbound local led by a NS C40-9 on a dreary November 14, 1999. The building in the background is the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field.

The view from the southeast corner of 29th and Walnut. CSX GP38 2623 still in Seaboard System paint wanders past the National Book and Bible Company on the east bank of the Schuylkill. This photo was taken on April 1, 1994.
The view from the northeast corner of 29th and Walnut. An eastbound CSX train led by CSX AC6000W 639 and ex-Conrail C40-8W 7365 pass the skyline of Center City, Philadelphia on a dreary November 14, 1999.
Wander across the Walnut Street bridge, and you may be treated to a scene like D&H train 558 rolling down the former B&O toward Grays Ferry Yard. 30th Street Station and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are in the background.
Cross Walnut Street and this is the view down the east bank of the Schuylkill. Conrail SD50 6511 leads a coal train toward Park Junction. This photo was taken from the stairway leading to the river bank. This area is to be developed into a riverfront park.

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