Pop Pop Pop

Pop is all over South Station

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Not good start for the new schedule

The new schedule is off to a bad start. The 799 was canceled and the new 717 only came in to the station to board at 4:23. We should have boarded about 4:10 to leave at 4:20.

So much for changing the schedule to "ease congestion".

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chainlink fence

there is a new protective fence in place along the train tracks approaching the replacement bridge on the Dorchester Branch.

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Fake paint flow

The more I looked at the picture, the more I think it is fake.

Look at the drops of paint. Does paint really flow just like that? Not any paint I have used. If you really put all those nanos in a line and spilled paint on them, I don't think it would flow just like that.

What do you think?

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Train derailed at South Station

I was too slow to take a picture as the Franklin train left South Station today. We were late leaving due to track problem that fully revealed itself as a derailment on a switch close to the platforms between Track 1 and 2. The coaches were upright and tilted slightly as they straddled the track, wheels off the track itself.

We go over those switches multiple times a day. Just in the past couple of months now this is our second derailment at South Station.

Is this a mechanical failure or human error?

Will the MBTA let us know?

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Newspaper recycle bins appear at South Station

newspaper recycle bins

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These were not on the platform this morning as thousands of commuters came through with their newspapers but it looks like they will be there for tomorrow morning.

How long will the plastic bag last?

Which newspaper will jam the slot?

What will happen to the papers that come to the now jammed slot?

Ticketing Changes - gone away?

As reported earlier this week, the MBTA/MBCR implemented some ticketing changes at South Station by checking that you had ticket before you boarded the train.

I wondered how long that would last?

The queue for the Amtrak departures creates a navigation maze for the commuter rail folks. And heaven forbid they dispatch a commuter trail on the platform adjacent to an Amtrak Acela or Regional being boarded in the slow long line fashion. The few times this did occur, there is no chance for anyone to stop the 500 plus folks marching to their commuter train.

So how did the proverbial management THEY think it was going to work? Smooth and charming?

Fortunately, I guess we won't need to know as it apparently did not last long. I saw it in effect Tuesday but not since.

Ticketing changes for MBTA

As I boarded the train at South Station last night to come home, there was a line up of conductors and security personnel to check that I had a ticket or pass before boarding the train.

Given the presence of the extra security, I thought there must have been a new alert targeting the Franklin line.

It turns out this is a new campaign by the MBTA/MBCR. More details are available at Universal Hub here.

South Station - New info signs

South Station - New info signs, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Coincidence?

The new signs fond previously were over the intervening days in various stages of installation until finally last Thursday they were actually running test patterns. I was running for the train and was without my camera last week.

Yesterday there were tests being conducted. It sounds like the announcements will be automated and timed to deliver the text on the sign as the trains are called.

Today, I catch up to Amy Palko's request for a time capsule picture, low and behold the signs were operational. My camera was ready this time.

Coincidence? No, destiny!

Good for poetry

My Franklin Line sherku have inspired a bunch of commuter-rail station limericks.

I am searching for my rhyming dictionary so I can play along!

South Station Dominoes

Since it was a weekend, I missed the occasion. Were you around to see the dominoes?

Check out the written recap here

And the video recaps here:



Enjoy!

Jewel - Stronger Woman

There is a new Jewel video for her single "Stronger Woman"





I remember seeing her at South Station last year up close and singing well.

South Station - new sign boards arriving

South Station - new sign boards arriving, originally uploaded by shersteve.

The picture doesn't do this justice, too much shrink wrap still on the device.

No, it is not the obelisk from 2001 Space Odyssey.

It appears to be a new sign that will be positioned each track to announce the train that will depart from there. These shrink wrapped blocks appeared on several tracks this evening as I was leaving.

Someday we'll be able to get rid of the two hard to read TV monitors. Hurrah!

South Station - Great Sign

South Station - Great Sign, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Yes, this sign is posted by the same group (MBTA) that has admitted to changing the schedule without notification.

No surprise here.

Of course, since it says "this week" and did really first appear this week (week beginning 3/3/08), let's see how long it really takes them.

Merry Christmas

1 - This Christmas enjoy the holiday trains from South Station:



2 - follow this link to a great Christmas story (be patient for the first commercial, the story is worth waiting for)

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4003490&affil=wpvi

3 - and to recognize our countrymen and women serving in the military:



Merry Christmas to one and all!


PS - thanks to Joan at Songs of Experience for the link to ABC News

South Station - Clock runs on time!

South Station - Clock runs on time!, originally uploaded by shersteve.

While this clock runs on time, I found out as Friday night progressed that I had indeed made it out of Boston while the getting was good.

Apparently there was a switch failure at South Station after my 4:30 train left for Franklin. The 4:50 train to Norwood Central was canceled. No word on T-Alerts as to what happened to the 5:10 but the 5:40 ran 40 minutes late, the 6:15 was running 20-25 minutes late, then about 7:30 the announcement was that all trains were running 15 minutes late.

South Station - Model trains

South Station - Model trains, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Got a chance to take some photos of the finished work at South Station.

Top left, the power cable that started it all.
The remainder show scenes in the winter setting with the train making its rounds.

While waiting for the commuter rail to be announced, this is worth spending some time watching. One women brought a chair over so her son could stand up and peek over the barrier. The gleam in his eye watching the trains and scenery was priceless.

South Station - Making Progess 2

South Station - Making Progess 2, originally uploaded by shersteve.

A little tinfoil hides the milk cartons.

A little cotton creates the snow look.

Soon these trains will be running on time in South Station.

Which is more than can be said of the MBTA trains that also arrive there.

South Station - Making Progress 1

South Station - Making Progress 1, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Who has netted milk cartons?

Just building the foundation for the model train display!

South Station - getting ready for the trains

South Station - getting ready for the trains, originally uploaded by shersteve.

A cable dangling from the ceiling, coiled into a bucket, blocked off with movable barriers appeared in South Station yesterday. Some folks did not know what to make of this odd combination. For those who have been around for some time, they realized that this means the trains are coming.

No, those always are coming. The model train set that appears for the holidays will soon be set up. This delivers the power for the model trains to run.