Monthly Archives: July 2010

My Nine-Minute Trip From Work to GCT

Posted on July 29, 2010 by TJ

It was, quite simply, the least amount of time I’ve ever given myself to catch a train. And I’ve pushed the limits quite a bit. I had my eye on the 5:46. I’d like to say I had something absolutely … Continue reading →

Posted in 28th Street, 6 train, 6:10, Chappaqua, Grand Central | Tagged | 3 Comments

Flower Power at Hawthorne Station

Posted on July 27, 2010 by TJ

Hawthorne station was like Santa’s workshop on Christmas Eve this morning, but instead of elves putting the finishing touches on the children of the world’s trains, drums and dollies, the workers were working to beautify the station. I counted something … Continue reading →

Posted in Hawthorne, Joan Maybury | Leave a comment

Your Train is (Much) Later Than You Think

Posted on July 27, 2010 by TJ

We here at Trainjotting have been harping on this for years: the railroad’s “on-time performance” is a very misleading figure. Metro-North touts an “on-time” percentage in its monthly Mileposts mouthpiece that’s about as high as the temps this past weekend–the Harlem … Continue reading →

Posted in Metro North, Mileposts, New Haven Line, New Jersey Transit, On-Time Challenge | Leave a comment

New Life For Old Train Station Floor

Posted on July 26, 2010 by TJ

The ripped up wood floors from the renovated Mamaroneck train station were simply scrap to the builders, but someone else saw serious value in them. Polly Kreisman’s Westchester news site TheLoopNY.com tells the story of a local man carting the more-than-a-century-old … Continue reading →

Posted in Mamaroneck, New Haven Line | Tagged | 1 Comment

TRAINJOTTING CLASSIC: Ralph Houk, A Train Ride, and the Death of the Athlete-Reporter Relationship

Posted on July 22, 2010 by TJ

Former Yankee catcher/coach/manager Ralph Houk passed away yesterday at 90. A fateful train ride involving Houk forever changed the face of the modern sports page. From September 2008: There once was a time when sportswriter and athlete sat shoulder to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ralph Houk | Leave a comment

Men Without “Hats”

Posted on July 21, 2010 by TJ

I hit the garage yesterday morning to climb on my bike, cutting it close, as usual, for the 8:16. I’d dodged a pair of bullets the day before–the giant storm that struck seconds after I arrived at Hawthorne station in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bike to Work | Leave a comment

Stormy Monday

Posted on July 19, 2010 by TJ

I got the paper around 8 a.m. and it seemed OK outside. I looked outside when I got out of the shower around 8:20, and it was dark. Little G had thought it would be fun to watch me shower, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Hawthorne, North White Plains, Rain Storm | 1 Comment

An Open Letter To:

Posted on July 15, 2010 by TJ

The middle-aged couple strolling hand-in-hand down the ramp to Track 108 yesterday. It was 5:45 and the 5:46 was itching to head to points north. The ramp was jammed, trains on both Track 107 and 108 receiving passengers. At the … Continue reading →

Posted in Grand Central, Open Letter | Tagged | Leave a comment

High Line Sparks Other Cities

Posted on July 15, 2010 by TJ

Just over a year ago, a gorgeous and peculiar park space on an old rail line opened in the heart of Manhattan. Of course, we are talking about the High Line. Coinciding with its opening was some three weeks straight … Continue reading →

Posted in Ezekiel Marcus, High Line | Leave a comment

Chappaqua, Pleasantville Get Their Close-Ups

Posted on July 14, 2010 by TJ

The delightful commuter blog IRideTheHarlemLine has a fun little visit to Chappaqua station, with some eye-catching photos from IRTHL’s Emily, including some trippy fish-eye lens pics. She writes: When I started visiting stations I will admit that there were quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Chappaqua, Iron Horse Grill, Pleasantville | Tagged , , | Leave a comment