Separate tickets to and from New York were often cheaper than through tickets via Hell Gate bridge. The cheapest round trip between New England and points South of New York was the 17 day fare. But, from New York to New Haven RR stations, a 2 or 4 day Round trip was often available at only 25 cents more than the full 1 way fare. Penn Central quickly cancelled that one.
Tickets between PRR points and the South through Washington, D.C. were often more expensive than separate local tickets in and out of that point. I remember a footnote in a PRR "Through Trains to the South" timetable that such local tickets were not good for passage in through cars. Such cars might have a better chance of having reclining seats, air conditioning, etc. But, this doesn't seem to be the case with Amtrak today.
Tickets between PRR points and the South through Washington, D.C. were often more expensive than separate local tickets in and out of that point. I remember a footnote in a PRR "Through Trains to the South" timetable that such local tickets were not good for passage in through cars. Such cars might have a better chance of having reclining seats, air conditioning, etc. But, this doesn't seem to be the case with Amtrak today.