it used to be no problem to book a decently priced special on the Pennsylvanian (train 42) from any station in PA (except PHL) to NYC, like Paoli-NYC.
Now even if there is availability shown on the date I want to go, it tells me "no availability" if i chose a station between Harrisburg and Philly. Would it work to buy a ticket from Lewistown, PA and board the train in Paoli? Could I pick up the ticket at Paoli station after dept of the train in Lewistown,PA? I would really like to take Amtrak, but with those "normal" fares (almost 90 bucks for a party of two), it is hard not to take Septa/NJT on that route...