Passenger Trains > "On a downtown train."

An article in Newsweek Magazine for Feb 2, 2009 starts off with the above headline!

The next sentence reads "Obama is the first modern Metropolitan President- good news for ailing cities." The article describes a conversation with Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter.

The importance to Trainorders members is the following sentence "Obama's train to Washington began with a rally at Philly's GLORIOUS TEMPLE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, 30TH ST. STATION!"

Once again the mainstream media "blew" it.

The Temple was known as PENNSYLVANIA STATION - 30TH.STREET

It is currently desicrated with large profane advertising.........

Not really Amtrak's fault.....It is owned by a partner$hip.

Until about 10 years ago, drivers exiting the Schuylkill Expressway westbound at Walnut Street could see a big green sign above the Market Street intersection directing them to "P.R.R. Station -- 30th Street". Hey, it had only been 30 years since the Penn Central merger!

RunningMan Wrote:
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> Once again the mainstream media "blew" it.
>
> The Temple was known as PENNSYLVANIA STATION -
> 30TH.STREET
>
The "mainstream media" did not blow anything. During the Penn Central and early Amtrak years, the station was inidcated in timetables as Penn Central Sta. (30th St.) Amtrak's current timetable refers to it as 30th Street Station and which is what I've always called it.

I think the Broad Street Station at Philly still bears a sign that says something along the lines of "Pennsylvania Railroad, Broad Street Station." Course it is sort of a sign that is not easily removed, if you will.

Frankly, I think 30th Street Station still retains your train station quality and less commercialized, than say Washington DC. Granted half of 30th Street Station contains your retail outlets. I've been a little disappointed, though, on how much 30th Street Station continues to be "hidden" from various angles. But the front facade still can be seen from various streets as you move from downtown towards the station.

What you refer to is Suburban Station where the PRR signage still stands and the yellow lamps are illuminated once in a while. The sign remains because it is part of the historic fabric of the building and was required to remain by the city;s historic commission as part of the tax benefit package that contained "historic tax credits".

The signage noting Pennsylvania Station was at 30th street over the corner entrances and was supposed to remain also, but was removed by LaSalle partners. The concourse at 30th street has been cheapened by immense hanging advertisement banners especially near the war memorial and by large advertisement decals which are affixed to the floor. Every so often a conductor "slips" and pronounces, "Next station stop will be Pennsylvania Station 30th Street, Philadelphia". It actually dos happen much to the pleasure of those of "US" who know, "The rest of the story".

The soaring feeling of the grand space has been destroyed by the blatant commercial attempt to place someone's message or trademark on every available surface of the sacred edifice..........