Author: subwayblogger

That is a bold move

subwayblogger8 Comments

I’m not sure why this caught my attention this morning, but it did.

As my train just approached, I looked up at the front of the train as it went past me. The train operator and I almost made eye contact. Then I saw the frame around his windshield.

Someone had tagged (graffiti) the window frame with blue Sharpie marker. It was just around the left side of the window, probably within sight from inside the operators cab. That’s a bold move!

Imagine if someone walked up to your car at a red light and tagged their name on your hood. That’s what someone must have done to this train.

The only way someone could have done it is if the train was at platform level. If it was parked in the rail yard, there’s no way someone could have reached that high.

That means someone walked right up to the train operator, in full view, and tagged the train with blue marker.

Wow. I thought that only happened back in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

——————-

UPDATE:

Ok, there seems to be some confusion about where the trains was tagged.  Here’s a little illustration I whipped up to demonstrate.

ftrain2.jpg

Would you work on the tracks?

subwayblogger2 Comments

Can you even think of a more miserable job than working on the subway tracks? Holy mother, no f-ing way.

Think about what a typical shift must be like. First of, it’s gross. Then factor in that you’re surrounded by rats. Hell, the rats are probably hiding in the shadows planning a revolt.

Think about how hot it must be to work down there in the summer! Even at night, it must be 100+ degrees, and you’re expected to haul concrete? Fugetabowdit.

Think of all the crap you must be breathing in, too. All that soot and brake dust. Lord knows what other carcinogens are loose down there. I’d think lead and asbestos are probably the least of your worries.

As if all that weren’t enough, you’ve got to keep your ass from being run over by trains!

There must be something I’m missing, otherwise I don’t know why anyone would want that job.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Marvin Franklin: Second MTA Worker Killed in Five Days

subwayblogger13 Comments

G Subway TrainA second and third MTA construction worker were struck by a train yesterday. Mavin Franklin, 55, was struck and killed after being dragged by the train. Jeffrey Hill, 41, was also struck by the train, but was pulled out alive. Hill is listed in stable condition.

This second death in 5 days promted an emergency suspension of all nonessential construction work in the system.

Franklin and Hill were allegedly sent to retrieve a dolly of some sort. The two men decided to take a shortcut across the active tracks instead of walking the long way around. The men would have had to carry the dolly up onto the platform, up a flight of stairs to the mezzanine level, across to the other side, then back down another flight of stairs to reach the opposite platform. Basically, they would have had to walk the route a typical straphanger does when they accidentally miss their stop and need to catch a train back in the other direction.

Since the men were already working down on the tracks, they figured they would just take the quick shortcut across the tracks instead of going up and over.

Unfortunately, there was an active line in their path. A “G” train came through the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station, and struck the men. The train operator saw the men, but it was too late to hit the brakes.

Since the “G” line was live that night, there were no construction signal lights on the tracks telling the operator to stop or slow down. Basically, all signs point to they should not have been there in the first place.

This second death came on the day of Danielle Boggs funeral service. Boggs was killed last week at Columbus Circle while he and a partner were setting up construction warning lights.

Getting a new MetroCard throws off your game

subwayblogger5 Comments

Is it me, or does getting a new MetroCard throw off your morning “flow?”

I’m talking about the days when you don’t realize that your monthly pass has expired. You swipe in your normal hurry, and DENIED.

Without fail, there will then be a empty train filled with open seats approaching your stop. Of course, there’s no way you’ll make it in time because there’s a line at the MetroCard machine. But you’ll try anyway, only to make it down to the platform as the doors close.

So I guess there’s something to be said for Transit Check. At least you know that someone else will keep track of when you need a new card. However, there’s something about that system that I just don’t trust. I don’t know what it is, I just don’t like to be at someone else’s mercy. I prefer to screw up my own commute.

So anyway, new card day is a sure way to ruin your transit mojo. Plus, it sucks to shell out $78 $76 bucks for a new card.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Evil fun with Red Sox fans

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So yesterday afternoon, SUBWAYblogger went to the Yankees vs Red Sox game (which by the way the Yankees finally won).  Getting up there was a complete nightmare.  Like a complete idiot, SUBWAYblogger forgot that the A and C lines were scheduled to be all F-ed up.

First, there’s no C trains at all.  Damn.  Then, the A trains were running local when in fact they did stop.  Many stops were simply being skipped all together.  At the time, the A trains were running nonstop uptown from 59th Street to 125th Street.  That’s a long, nonstop haul.  So if you were looking (as SB was) to get on at any point in between, you were out of luck. Usually, you can take an A train to  145th Street to catch the B or D.

Anyway, as described, the trains were a complete nightmare.  So there were tons of people that had no idea what to do because they aren’t subway riding regulars.  When people asked, SUWBAYblogger helped them find their way.  Basically, it was “Don’t worry.  Just follow me.”  So I ended up having a little trail of followers.

Then, there was the ride home…

Feeling a bit relieved after our Yankees victory (finally), we were headed back to the train.  There was a group of complete asshole Red Sox fans causing trouble the whole way.  The kind of people you just want to smack.

At one point, they turned around and in my general direction asked, “Does the 4 or the D train go to Grand Central??”

Here was my chance.  “Take the D train!” I yelled back.  Gratefully, they headed for the D.  So there’s a certain amount of satisfaction in sending a posse of Red Sox fans all over Manhattan.

Just some innocent fun.  Hell, I could have told them to take an UPTOWN D train, and that would have been even more fun.

Introducing: unRAILED.com

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unRAILED.com

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are proud to present the newest addition to the SUBWAYblogger family: unRAILED.com.

Shouldn’t it be “derailed.com?” Well, yeah…but that domain name was already taken. Plus, unRAILED.com is a little more quirky in that it really isn’t a word. Who knows, maybe it will become mainstream one day!

What is unRAILED.com? In a nutshell, it’s everything NOT subway related. So often while cruising around the city, we see things that we think would make a cool blog post. But many times, there’s no subway connection. So, we don’t ever want to fill up SUBWAYblogger.com with bullshit, non-subway related stuff. We like our little niche here! So, we created unRAILED.com as a place for everything else. As we go along, I’m sure it will take much more of a specific focus.

Who writes unRAILED.com? Well, SUBWAYblogger people write unRAILED too. But, we are looking for contributors. So if you would like to become a regular contributor, let us know and we will get you set up to post. It always helps to get your own name/blog out there in front of other audiences.

Anyway, go take a look! We hope you enjoy.

See something. Say something. Just don’t touch it!

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backpack.jpgThe NYPD has been doing a sneaky sting operation lately in the subway. They leave a bag of goodies sitting by itself somewhere in the system, and wait for someone to pick it up. So a bag of electronics is left sitting near a bench or on a train seat. Somebody comes by and sees it assuming that it was forgotten. If they take the bait, they get arrested.

Aquarius Cheers saw a Verizon bag with things in it. He picked it up and walked onto the next train instead of turning it over to the police officer standing nearby. Because he did not turn the goods over, that’s a theft according to the police. Cheers was arrested, however the charges were dropped.

So what’s the point? Why would the NYPD want to crack down on people taking forgotten goods? Is there an epidemic of people leaving stuff and coming back only to find that it’s been taken?

No, it’s much deeper. The NYPD is banking on the fact that the “usual suspects” will take the bait. Picking up that lucky bag means that they have the right to arrest and search you. So, they are really hopping to catch larger felons, people carrying weapons, drugs, etc. It has very little to with the merchandise being taken in the first place.

See something. Say something. Just don’t touch it!

subwayblogger1 Comment

backpack.jpgThe NYPD has been doing a sneaky sting operation lately in the subway. They leave a bag of goodies sitting by itself somewhere in the system, and wait for someone to pick it up. So a bag of electronics is left sitting near a bench or on a train seat. Somebody comes by and sees it assuming that it was forgotten. If they take the bait, they get arrested.

Aquarius Cheers saw a Verizon bag with things in it. He picked it up and walked onto the next train instead of turning it over to the police officer standing nearby. Because he did not turn the goods over, that’s a theft according to the police. Cheers was arrested, however the charges were dropped.

So what’s the point? Why would the NYPD want to crack down on people taking forgotten goods? Is there an epidemic of people leaving stuff and coming back only to find that it’s been taken?

No, it’s much deeper. The NYPD is banking on the fact that the “usual suspects” will take the bait. Picking up that lucky bag means that they have the right to arrest and search you. So, they are really hopping to catch larger felons, people carrying weapons, drugs, etc. It has very little to with the merchandise being taken in the first place.