Monthly Archives: July 2008

Three’s Company or a Crowd? Ask Straphanger Joe.

Posted on July 31, 2008 by timcol

THE POWER OF NOW At 9:10 a.m. I enter the F-train from my usual spot: the no-man’s land between the two stairs going up to the main level of Roosevelt Station in Jackson Heights. Inside, a roomful of open seats … Continue reading →

Posted in 23rd Street, F Train, getting a seat, Jackson Heights, Neighbors, Open Seats, Roosevelt, Seat, Straphanger Joe | Leave a comment

The Accident That Happened, The Altercation That Never Did

Posted on July 29, 2008 by timcol

A high-pitched scream came from inside Starbucks. An Asian woman visible through the hole in the store was pushing at her cheeks with her palms and staring at the floor. Continue reading →

Posted in cell phone, F Train, I Thought My Commute Sucked, mishaps, Starbucks Story | 2 Comments

Where Else Can You Sleep For $10?

Posted on July 25, 2008 by TJ

Our favorite conductor over at Derailed has some terrific shots of people passed out on the Metro-North floor. Conductor Bobby even dreams up a little profile for “Miss July.” Foods I crave: Jello shots. Ambition: To not sleep past my … Continue reading →

Posted in Derailed | Leave a comment

FRIDAY NIGHT VIDEOS: The Tunnel Boring Machine at Work

Posted on July 25, 2008 by TJ

Here’s some video of the giant boring machine digging out a new tunnel 140 feet below Manhattan. It’s part of the $7.2 billion project to link the Long Island Railroad to Grand Central (Nooooooo!!!!)–and, presumably, vice versa–by extending the subway … Continue reading →

Posted in LIRR, MTA | Leave a comment

Introducing Our Guest Editor

Posted on July 25, 2008 by TJ

As TJ gets a dreadful sunburn up in Cape Cod next week, Trainjotting will be in the very capable hands of journalist/novelist/memoirist/chiropodist/screenwriter/copywriter/EasyRider Tim Coleman. Tim has a Weegee-esque knack for stumbling upon curious and dubious happenings around Gotham, and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Metro-North Etiquette, Westchester Mag-Style

Posted on July 25, 2008 by TJ

The latest edition of Westchester Magazine offers a fairly perfunctory piece on the behaviors that irk Metro-North riders, not unlike what we do here at Trainjotting every damn day. Writer Sabina Cieszynski hits on all the obvious points: loud talkers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Westchester Magazine | Leave a comment

The Charm of the Franklin Avenue Shuttle

Posted on July 24, 2008 by TJ

The NY Times has a delightful little story (and slide show!) on the best little subway in all of New York. Formerly known as the “ghost train,” the Franklin Avenue shuttle landed a 97.7% on-time percentage in May, tops in … Continue reading →

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A Well-Respected Man Encounters Frustration

Posted on July 24, 2008 by TJ

Once in a blue moon, what you’re hearing on your iPod just so happens to perfectly mesh with what you’re seeing/feeling/smelling in the outside world. And that was the case this morning. The 8:16 actually pulled into Grand Central a … Continue reading →

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The Little Train Station That Could

Posted on July 23, 2008 by TJ

Some small-town hack has written in the NY Times about efforts to restore the old train station in Yorktown Heights. The little green station was part of the Old Putnam Railroad, which shut down 50 years ago. The train tracks … Continue reading →

Posted in Rail Trail, Yorktown | 2 Comments

A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall on TJ

Posted on July 23, 2008 by TJ

I had five minutes before I had to hop on the bike this morning, navigate the sleepy streets of Hummerville, and make my 8:16 train. I sat with Little G as we set up yet another “Big Car Party,” which … Continue reading →

Posted in Bike Rack, Bike to Work, Hummerville, Little G, The Missus | Leave a comment