Newark Penn Station, which is discussed on a separate page.

Departing southbound, the PATH tracks cross overhead and lead into a small yard on the west side. Following the PATH yard is evidence of the abandoned Newark-South Street station, which featured low brick platforms and ornamental iron railings. Shortly past there, we pass Hunter tower and bid goodbye to the New Jersey Transit Raritan Valley line. The next station is the Newark Liberty International Airport station. This station connects to the Port Authority's AirTrain Newark airport monorail extension serving Newark Liberty International Airport. The station consists of two island platforms, each 1,050 feet long and 32 feet wide, and an enclosed 280-foot-long elevated crossover concourse. This pedestrian concourse links the NEC platforms with enclosed waiting areas and the monorail platform. The facility is climate controlled and is equipped with public restrooms. Four tracks serve the station; two additional tracks serve as express tracks, bypassing the station. Both New Jersey Transit trains and Amtrak's conventional Amfleet-equipped trains stop at this station. From here to Trenton, all stations have two side platforms unless stated. The line reverts to four tracks.  

Metropark, with 4 tracks, 2 side platforms. Metropark is one of NJ Transit's and Amtrak's most utilized stations. The station is on an embankment, with Wood Av. to the south and the Garden State Parkway to the north. A center exit leads from the northbound platform to an elevator and stairs, which lead to a small station house at ground level, which has benches, a ticket booth, and a small Dunkin' Donuts inside. A crossunder is from the southbound track, and comes up directly into the station house. Just across the street from the station house, there are  large 5 and  7 story parking garages with long-term and hourly spots. A train to bus connection is available here as well as a connection to Amtrak. The station opened in 1971 as an Amtrak only station and was soon joined in service by NJT's predecessors. A renovation  expanded the station from 850 foot platforms to  1050 feet Eastbound and 1135 feet westbound and will for the first time have a pedestrian connection to NJ route 27 ( which is on the other side of the Westbound platform).

We cross the Raritan River on a massive concrete arch bridge

Trenton  has the station building over the tracks and offers a train spotter’s dream view of trains from NJT, SEPTA and Amtrak. The waiting room is on the west side and there is also an exit on the east side. The track level is located in an open cut, and has island platforms for tracks 4 and 5 and tracks 1 and 2, and a low platform for track 3. There are two center bypass tracks used by Amtrak trains not stopping in Trenton and several storage tracks used to lay up SEPTA trains to the west of track 5. In order from west to east, the layout is as follows: two storage tracks, 5(High)-4(High), westbound bypass, eastbound bypass, 1(High)-2(High), 3(Low). An unusual feature at Trenton is the dual use of track 5. Trains from both SEPTA and NJT will platform at the same time, with 1-2 car lengths between the front of the NJT train and the rear of the SEPTA train. The main Trenton platforms can hold approximately 18-20 cars! Transfer can be made here to the SEPTA Regional Rail to Philadelphia and the River Line to Camden. 

(Amtrak) North Philadelphia is an ever changing picture of tracks. As of 1/29/2006 there are two high island platforms. Westbound SEPTA trains use the express track since the local track is removed. There is one bypass track in the center (the second one is being removed). To our north is a view of the (SEPTA) North Philadelphia Station served by R8 Trains to Chestnut Hill West. Westbound has a removed bypass track to the south of the local track. There are platform area enclosed waiting areas to the station house at street level to the south but they have been heavily vandalized. The station has been renovated and shortened. We now pass through the massive Zoo interlock with its numerous flying junctions and the Schuylkill River on a sweeping curve over a stone arch bridge and see the Zoo.

30^th Street Station is discussed on a separate page

Wilmington  has ADA and the station house is at street level. the inbound outer platform has been raised to a full 48 inch platform. The outbound side platform remains a low platform. Center platform, is a high platform and used by Acela Trains and most other Amtrak trains

Baltimore Penn Station** is a multi modal station with Amtrak, MARC and Baltimore's Light Rail. The light rail uses a low floor island  platform to the South of the Amtrak/MARC tracks. There are four high island platforms and eight tracks, tracks 6 and 7 being used for Amtrak. The station is in a partially covered open cut. Your webmaster thanks the anonymous gentlemen that answered questions about this station. Thank you, Gentlemen, for your contribution to this site. 

BWI Airport has three tracks and two high side platforms. The official name is "BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport." Black gooseneck lights are featured along with a crossover which also leads to the namesake airport to the East of the train station. A canopy exists on both platforms in the center. This station is owned by Amtrak and has Amtrak signage . The old low platforms are to the South.

New Carrolton  has two tracks and a high island platform. The enclosed exit is is down to the WMATA Orange line to the East of the Penn Line Tracks. The line becomes three tracks North of this station

Washington DC Union Station** has tracks in a cut which is partially covered. There are 29 tracks. Tracks 16,17,18,19 have high platforms while the rest have 8 inch platforms. Access to the tracks is via ten "gates" but once inside the gates you could go to any track. Greyhound stops on the upper level and the WMATA Red Line stops on a lower level. Three MARC (Maryland Area Rail Commuter) Lines stop here as does VRE (Virginia Railway Express).