Something to do around Ft. Indiantown Gap, PA

Wow!  Indiantown Gap is still up and running?  I went through ROTC training there back in 64, and returned a couple of years later for a very brief stint as a training officer before going to S.E. Asia to play "real war" for a few years.

 

I do recall spending some time off at Hershey, PA.  The whole town smelled like chocolate.

When In the USMCR out of Philly,

That was one of the places we did our weekend partying ,Oh, I mean training exercises.

I did a field training exercise at FIG about 5 years ago. Great time!

Roadside America is up that way I think.

Barry's Train Shop

• 2 W High St
• Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2069
• Phone(717) 367-4745

Keystone Service Amtrak trains to Philly and New York depart Harrisburg on the hour. The former PRR station is located at 4th & Chestnut Streets, south of the Capitol. It's been restored and it really looks good. The first GG-1 to depart Harrisburg with a passenger train as well as a restored PRR wooden caboose is spotted by a platform. Use the parking garage across the street from the station. The ride to Philly takes about 90 minutes.

 

From 30th Street Station in Philly, take any SEPTA train to Center City (free for Amtrak passengers). Get off at the second stop, Market Street East and Convention Center, the former Reading Terminal at 12th & Market. Ride two escalators up to the Convention floor. The largest single-span train shed remaining in North America will unfold overhead. Then go back down one flight and enjoy lunch or dinner in Reading Terminal Market (www.readingterminalmarket.org). Take a cab or walk along Benjamin Franklin Parkway to The Franklin Institute (www.fi.edu). Enjoy a cab ride in Baldwin 3-cylinder compound 4-10-2 No. 60000 in The Train Factory (formerly Railroad Hall). Fels Planetarium and an IMAX theatre there put on good shows, too.

 

Across from City Hall is Macy's (formerly John Wanamaker's), a Philadelphia landmark. Speaking from experience, I know your wife will enjoy shopping there. A SEPTA Museum is located at 1234 Market Street. Independence Mall is located a few blocks east. Returning to 30th Street Station from Market Street East or Suburban Station (by City Hall), take any SEPTA train leaving from Track 3 or Track 4.

 

Farther afield, NJ Transit runs trains between 30th Street Station and Atlantic City.

 

Riding a Keystone Service train to New York City provides access to an F subway train to [the late Peter] Bianco's Trainworld at 751 McDonald Avenue (Get off at Ditmas Avenue). The subway becomes an elevated ("el") when it leaves Manhattan and enters Brooklyn. That would be a long day, but I'll suggest it as an option. If not this Thursday, maybe another time. 

 

We salute you, sir.

Depends what direction you want to go. There is Steamtown(steam engine musuem and some live steam engines as well) at Scranton PA, or Roadside America(O gauge model trains) near, just west of, Hamburg PA on I-78.

Strasburg is probally the best, has real railroad-a short line, and museum and model train museum and hobby shop and the closest to Indiantown Gap.

 

Lee Fritz

When I was there for Amy Reserves "Summer Camp", around 1970, we went to the "Oh Yes" bar in nearby Ono, PA (I kid you not). A stripper (looking about 45) would "dance" to the same song over and over. Other than that, there was NOTHING to do.

Haha yes I've found out that there's almost nothing to do. I'd love to head into Philly but we have a 50 mile liberty limit. I'll be sure to check out that train store I'm Elizabethtown. The Gap is still very much open, is now one of the largest National Guard specific training bases on the east coast anyways. They run a variety of MOS-T courses and NCO development classes. Thanks for all the suggestions so far!

While you are in Strasburg, your wife (and you) would most likely enjoy the nearby www.nationalchristmascenter.com . It is not crowded this time of year, and it's well worth seeing. Open weekends March and April, all week after that.

Good lord!  Indiantown Gap?  I'd forgotten about that Oasis in ****.  Nothing much to do there.  I too was there in 1968 before Ft Benning & Bragg in '70/ '71.

remember, they can make it toughr; but they can't make it longer!!

D 

 

How about the museum 

 

http://www.pngmilitarymuseum.org/

Joe- HA! HA!... I remember thhat place, but I doubt she was 45.  I think it was just that we were so young she looked 45 to us.  I do remember her stretch marks though- those were the first I had ever seen. -- Disgusting!  While at IG Res. celibicy was the operative word- was it not?  Now Bragg- that was a whole different story in '70.  Most probably still IS !!!

HA!

 

A trip along the Susquehanna River, North, US Rt 11, will take you though some beautiful Pennsylvania country. Weaver Models is in Northumberland, PA

Be nice if it warmed up.   Sun doesn't shine in Pennsylvania too often. 

 

Weaver Models

315 Point Township Drive

Northumberland, PA 17857 USA

Call them, They would most likely give you a shop tour.

 

If you Google "Oh yes, you'll want to go to Ono" you will get the scoop on this place. The Oh-Yes bar is no more, but a shopping spree can be done at the Oh-Yes Mini Mart. Learn how this 112 year-old town got it's name.

 

There is a world of learning on this Forum!

If you are interested in classic cars, motorcycles and buses you could check out the AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) museum on Rt. 39 a little north of Hershey.   http://www.aacamuseum.org/

 

As mentioned Hershey is a cool town to visit.   Chocolate World is a free simulated factory tour. 

Chris,

 

You are more than welcome to visit my layout in Camp Hill, about 25-30 mins from you. Contact me offline.

 

Cesar

Mike CT's post about Northumberland reminds me of Front Street Station, "A Railroad Eatery" in the former Pennsy station at the south end of Northumberland Yard. Food is good and the yard is busy outside the windows. It is located along Route 11. It is open 7 days a week from 11:00 AM to Midnight. The owner is Jay Seidel. The Website is www.frontstreetstation.com. The Pennsy's Northumberland Collection of historic cars and locomotives was stored there until it was moved to Strasburg as the nucleus of The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

 

The address and phone number are 2 Front Street, Northumberland, PA 17857 [570-473-3626 / 866-424-2775]

This comes close to your 50-mile liberty limit. The last of the great Lionel postwar layouts, Roadside America, is along I-78 East at Shartlesville (Exit 23) (www.roadsideamericainc.com). Haag's (HAYgs) Hotel in downtown Shartlesville is a great place to eat but dining room hours are limited. Go to www.haagshotel.com) and check.

 

It's probably too far away but about 10 minutes east of Shartlesville is the largest Cabela's in America, at the intersection of I-78 and Route 61. "The World's Foremost Outfitter" is about the size of The Gap. Maybe you could get a bus trip together and go there. Check it out at www.Cabelas.com

On a whole different theme, about 35 miles away in Pottsville you could tour the Yuengling brewery (oldest in USA). It is an interesting tour, but only given twice a day at 10:00 am and 1:30 pm.

 

http://www.yuengling.com/breweries/pottsville/

Chris,

  If your training is over on the 23rd, come on down to our Breakfast/Train talk

in the Pittsburgh, Pa area, Marines are always welcome here.

 

Allen,

  Way back Ft Indiantown Gap was my draft induction reporting station,

I doubt you will ever see Indiantown Gap stood down, as far as military installations go.

PCRR/Dave 

wonderful fond memories, barracks with a coal stove for heat or the flight in a C-130 for 6 hours in March. Great drizzle for 5 days. I think it was 1978.

It is said that you can find ANYTHING on eBay. I tested this out:

 

A ashtray from Bixler's grocery store in Ono, Pa

A matchbook from the O-Yes Hotel and Dance Hall in Ono, Pa

 Two different metal Ono, PA signs

Barry's Train Shop (Elizabethtown) is a good option as well as Cool Trains in Landisville (between Harrisburg & Lancaster)

http://www.cooltrains.com/

 

As phillyreading stated check out Strasburg for the railroad and Pennsylvania Railroad Museum.

http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/

 

Steamtown (Scranton will be outside your 50 mile liberty limit)

 

There are also a number of outlet shopping centers nearby in Hershey and Lancaster.  Cabella's (Hamburg) might also be outside the 50 miles but there's a very large Bass Pro Shop off I-83/Paxton St. in Harrisburg.

 

Check out the train action in Norfolk Southern's Enola Yard and nearby Rockville Bridge.

Lots of neat things to do in Hershey and it's not all train related (for the Mrs').  The Hershey Chocolate visitor's center ride is free.  There is also a car museum, some type of flower garden thing ( that my wife wants to see) and some nice resteraunts downtown.  Also check the schedule for the Hershey Bears, the local hockey team.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions! Cesar, I emailed you at the address in your profile. Dave, thanks for the invite but I'm only off tomorrow. We're back in training on the 22nd until the school is over on the 29th. I think I'll head over to Roadside America and then some of the stores in the area. I'd love to visit Hershey but not without the wife! Thanks again! Chris

Chris,

 

Reply sent. I am available all day tomorrow to host for you and anyone else you wish to invite. Any other forum members in the area who would like to attend, contact me offline.

 

Cesar

Go to nearby Hershey and visit the Hershey Museum.

Cesar

 

   Is "The Station" still open in New Cumberland. Great train shop. I was station at NCAD when I returned from Viet Nam. I purchased a lot of trains there. I don't remember exactly where it is located, I know it was a block or two off the main drag.

 

Bill

Think best suggestion on the table is a visit to FatBoy's O gauge Railroad.

Bill,

 

yes, it's still there on 9th St and Bridge st. Dick and Doris are still there and they have a really nice place.

 

Charlie,

 

Thanks for the kind words as always!

 

Cesar

My wife and I like to walk Memorial Lake. AS you have said Strasburg RR, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum across the street. If you like old cars the AACA Museum on Rt 39 north of Hershey is very nice. There is a Civil War museum in Harrisburg that is remarkable (Not sure why it ended up in Harrisburg) as well as Gettysburg near by. The new vistor's center is very nice. Troeggs Brewery in Hershey near Hershey park is fun to visit and has food available. Also Roadside America is on I-78 to the east of you maybe 10 miles? These are all easy drives from Indiantown Gap. As others have said, if you wish to travel further B&O Rairoad musem in Baltimore by the waterfront is fun. I'm a little late as this is Thursday!

Hobby shops for trains: The largest is Barry's Train Shop, 2 West High Street, Elizabethtown,PA (just off the square), Train Shop,20 Willow Street, Palmyra,PA (small shop in old Station building), and Draude's derailment, 744 Cumberland Street, Lebanon, PA (large size with good selection also)

Chris,

 

       First off thank you for your service.  I would suggest you visit Nicholas Smith train shop in Broomall, PA it is about 1 1/2 hours east of FIG.  You can take the PA turnpike east to the Mid-County interchange (476) and take that south to the Broomall/Newtown Square exit which is Route 3.  When turning off at the exit bear to the right and that will put you on to Route 3 (West Chester Pike) heading west.  Drive less than 1 mile and it is on your right with a large train as the buidling sign.  The train shop is upstairs.

http://www.nicholassmithtrains.com/store/

 

    Kevin 

Wow! I'm amazed that ITG military reservation is still there.  I went there for summer training with the Virginia National Guard around 1956 I believe.  Never saw a barrack though.  We slept in the field while on maneuvers with the Field Artillery.  I was in AAA artillery which was being retrained (because of then obsolete weapons) to close infantry support.  We had quad 50's on half tracks and towed 40MM guns.  Remember it was extremly dry that year and dust was a foot deep on the roads.  Lots of fires caused by artillery impact area too.  The only off duty place we went was Hershey.  Had an amusement park then and a nice museum plus the chocolate factory.  Heard a band play buglers holiday by LeRoy Anderson which was popular at the time.  Got a ride in a cessna bird dog spotter plane while at the Gap also.

 

Ray