Archive for September, 2007
Friday, September 28th, 2007
Straphanger Joe Gets Comeuppance on F Train
OK Regression
My excuse is simple. I was tired and hadn’t slept much, working on a grant application and burning the candle brightly into the night.
It’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
The F train doors opened. I was at my usual pole position. But a man, balding with red hair Friar Tucked in […]
No Comments » - Posted in Straphanger Joe by TJ
Friday, September 28th, 2007
Trainjotting Puts Metro-North to the Test…Again
After the great fun we had in charting Metro-North’s on-time percentage–and allowing for 59 seconds of tardiness, as opposed to the 5:59 Metro-North gives itself–we’re going to do it again.
Yes, starting on Monday, Trainjotting will bust out the stopwatch (mind you, the Brit term “trainspotting” means just that–charting trains’ times, not shooting dope while collecting […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Metro North, Slippery Rail by TJ
Thursday, September 27th, 2007
Val-Hell-a
The 6:33 was chugging along to points north. I had the express pleasure (or was it the local pleasure?) to have the Missus and Little G in tow, after Missus visited with a friend in Gotham.
We were pulling out of Valhalla when a rider came bursting through the door.
I’ve seen this a few times. As […]
No Comments » - Posted in Harry Potter, Uncategorized, Valhalla by TJ
Thursday, September 27th, 2007
CTRider Crazy From the Diesel Fumes
October is nearly here, and the hottest part of the year is now behind us, thank God. Unfortunately, I ride the dilapidated New Haven line with its 20+ year old cars that have been in the process of being replaced since I was in high school. The current rumor is that the new cars will be coming […]
No Comments » - Posted in CTRider, New Haven Line by TJ
Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
Welcome to Straphanger Nathan
A hearty web welcome to Nathan, who recently launched his blog “A Straphanger Emerges.” As the name indicates, the blog focuses on riding the subways, and all of the unintentional objets d’art found therein.
I don’t know Nathan, but I think I’ve got him pegged. Young guy, writerly ambitions (note the word “plethora” in his Welcome […]
2 Comments » - Posted in Straphanger Joe, Uncategorized by TJ
Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
Riding New Jersey Transit With Ethan Hawke
Was that Ethan Hawke on the 7:22 from Roselle Park this morning?
From Hawke’s really not-very-memorable ‘96 novel The Hottest State:
I loved trains. I loved anything that moved. I sat down on the neon-blue plastic seats of the New Jersey Transit train and let it carry me. My eyes burned from the white glare outside the […]
No Comments » - Posted in New Jersey Transit by TJ
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007
Lame Backpack of the Week
Whether we’re Northeastern Petrofiber Sales Managers or members of the Midwestern Tobacco Retailers Association, we’ve all been to that lame convention where they give out backpacks or nylon briefcases with the conference name embroidered on the front.
Usually these sad sacks are relegated to the B-team, stashed in closets and basements for the rare chance at glory […]
No Comments » - Posted in Uncategorized by TJ
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007
Bloggers Snap and Crackle Over Popped Collars
We expressed serious doubt that the guy in the popped collar and suit in Grand Central last week was in any way a decent man. Apparently we’re not alone in assuming that all men wearing shirts with the collar raised to cover the neck lack style, character and soul.
From the blog 78th and 2nd…
No Comments » - Posted in Uncategorized by TJ
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007
Word of the Week: TRAUMADINEJAD
TRAUMADINEJAD \TRAW ma DINN eh JAHD\ noun: The extra traffic stress felt by car commuters when a controversial world leader is in Manhattan.
USAGE: I caught all sorts of Traumadinejad on the FDR Drive because that Iranian president dude is at the U.N.
No Comments » - Posted in Ahmadinejad, Word of the Week by TJ
Monday, September 24th, 2007
Metro-North’s Poll Position
The “Metro-North Customer Satisfaction Survey 9/07″ has been sent to WebTicket customers, with 77 questions about stations, schedules and service.
A few revelations:
* Metro-North is planning some sort of special thingy for its 25th anniversary next year. The questionnaire asks riders if they’ve been riding since 1983, when the Sony Walkman changed the face of commuting forever, and […]