# Questions about the LIRR **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 30, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406 "2014-04-30T23:15:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/21 "2014-05-03T02:34:30Z")
I made a mistake. the Amtrak/NJ Transit ticketing level is distinct from the Subway/LIRR ticketing level. They both have a shop concourse. I don’t know how I made that mistake; the whole point of mentioning the layers of the station is that there’s a quirk in leaving the Amtrak tracks. Most of the staircases from the Amtrak track level go up to Amtrak ticketing, but a few spit you out in Mezzanine level, near the [Hilton Corridor](http://www.lirrhistory.com/mar2006/pennsta13.jpg), which is surprisingly dank and claustrophobic, even for New Yorkers. However if you follow it to its end, it spits you out in the LIRR area. This is a pretty good [plan map](http://jasongibbs.com/pennstation/) of Penn Station ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/22 "2014-05-03T13:01:35Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I didn’t know this and don’t think it is official policy but thankfully the conductors seem to have great latitude in what they can do for their customers. > > One issue remains, that the Montauk line usually runs along the south shore while Mineola is on the ‘main line’. Yes a few trains ‘disobey’ this but it is really limited. If you skip Montauk, you can take the main line to Greenport, which these days is a nice destination; the village was named one of the most scenic in the US. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/23 "2014-05-03T13:11:07Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > Thanks for all the responses so far. Very helpful. 🙂 > > Anything else I should know about the LIRR? If it’s like it used to be when I used to take it out to Baldwin to visit relatives, the lights go out a lot, but it doesn’t mean anything-- that is, if it happens to you when you are riding, don’t worry that the train is about to get stuck, of something. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/24 "2014-05-03T15:33:24Z")
Penn Station: combining the worst features of a cow-town bus station and a lousy airport. So much better than that nasty old crystal palace. **EmilyG** , if you don’t respond to my previous PM about contacting me when you’re in NYC I’ll do a snit. I just made up that emotional state. Plus I love NYC and tourists in general. ETA: New York meetup in her honor? ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/25 "2014-05-03T19:10:16Z")
Sure, that’d be cool. 🙂 I sent you a message **Leo.** thanks everyone. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/26 "2014-05-05T16:09:16Z")
One more question: can I buy tickets with cash at the station? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/27 "2014-05-05T16:30:50Z")
Yes, the ticket vending machines accept cash. Be prepared to receive change in gold bullion. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/28 "2014-05-05T16:34:51Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/29 "2014-05-05T16:37:05Z")
Don’t buy “discount” tickets from that dude in the trench coat either… ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/30 "2014-05-06T04:59:29Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Yes, the ticket vending machines accept cash. Be prepared to receive change in gold bullion. He’s actually not joking. The machines only give coins as change, not dollar bills, so don’t put in a $20 to pay for a $6 ticket unless you want 14 gold dollar coins weighing down your pockets. The bathrooms on the train are in every other car, so if you need one and it’s not in your car, go either one forward or one back. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/31 "2014-05-06T13:55:02Z")
By “gold coins” they mean Sacagewa dollar coins which, in case you’ve never seen one in the wild, are golden in color, not made of gold. To be clear. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/32 "2014-05-06T13:57:25Z")
They’re actually made of chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/33 "2014-05-06T14:09:30Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > They’re actually made of chocolate. To avoid dental liability claims, you may want to add a disclaimer… ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/34 "2014-05-06T18:18:15Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > To avoid dental liability claims, you may want to add a disclaimer… Yes, be sure to take the wrapper off before biting into them. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/35 "2014-05-06T20:42:04Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > The correct pronunciation is, of course, “lrrrrrrrr.” Only if your name is Ndnd and you want to produce a batch of popplers. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/36 "2014-05-06T20:46:27Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Only if your name is Ndnd and you want to produce a batch of popplers. 😃 Fun fact: The LIRR’s little-known Omicron-Persei branch requires you to change at Jamaica twice. Each way. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/37 "2014-05-07T16:51:40Z")
I was just at Jamaica Station. On purpose. Now what’s this about an NYC Dopermeet? ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/38 "2014-05-07T22:11:16Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > I was just at Jamaica Station. On purpose. > > Now what’s this about an NYC Dopermeet? That’d be cool. Maybe I can start my own thread about it if I can work out plans and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/39 "2014-05-08T00:46:05Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > I was just at Jamaica Station. On purpose. > > Now what’s this about an NYC Dopermeet? Now maybe I’m not sure are you cool? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406/40 "2014-05-08T02:02:54Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > The correct pronunciation is, of course, “lrrrrrrrr.” My daughter insists on this pronunciation, mostly to annoy me. Given the number of things I do to annoy her, both on purpose and simply because I’m her father, it apt payback. Try to avoid travelling during peak times if you have large bags. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-lirr/687406.md?page=3)