Orangeline loveliness
Ah, the beloved Orange line of our most venerable DC metro system.
It did NOT have a good day.
First there was the derailment (2 hour delay, morning rush.)
Then there was the OTHER derailment.
Then, right about the time Washwords was heading home to see her honey and make italian sausage tortellini, there was the “single tracking” between two stops at the end of the orange line, VA country. Estimated time of delay: 2 hours. ish. Which is funny (not funny ha ha ) because that’s exactly what they were saying in the a.m. derailment. Ah, the first derailment.
Anywho, it was annoying. Fer shure. And it’s not that I’m one to go with the flow, take irratations in stride. No WashWords is not really known for her “eh, whatever, don’t worry, be happy.”
But still.
Here’s what happened when we our train was offloaded (why? unclear. I’m guessing all the jerky mcjerkingtons insisted on shoving and prying open the doors at every stop, despite the fact that there was plenty o room in the cars at the front and the back. but i digress…) So, we’re offloaded in Rosslyn round about quarter to seven. And mind you, DC uninitiated, Rosslyn is not East Outer Mongolia. It’s over the river, not dc, not “scary” to suburbanites, it’s on a major road — a road with … hotels! and taxis! and buses! and probably about ooh a mile, maybe 5 from where most of the orangeliners were going, me included.
Annoying? Oh yes. But…
I knew where I was, I knew several ways to get from Point Rosslyn to Point Home. I’m betting the other megas knew how to get to their Point Homes, Point Tortellinis, Point Bar.
And yet…
Here’s what I heard:
- what? what’s going on? get off? what??
- Where are we??? When is the next train coming? WHEN???
- and then, this: (in response to a Metro person informing everyone they needed to leave the train:
Oh yeah? Leave the train? Well, you’re about to have a riot here!!!!
A riot ma’am? Really? Really!?
No, a riot we were not gonna have. WashWords leaving the station, however – oh yes, that we had plenty of… I and the other normal members of society (yep, all four of us) walked out of rosslyn, up the escalators to waiting buses, taxis, honeys, friends (yep, omg, we had that modern tool of civilization – the CELL PHONE!) and were home. For me, less than 20 minutes after i shoulda been.
Annoying? Unblissful blissitude? Yep, absolutely but a aglagjkadgljkdfg riot? Oh no. No indeed.
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Chris O'Meally said,
Wrote on February 20, 2009 @ 12:17 am
Americans are so spoiled. I was in Paris over Christmas. Over the week I was there, trains had to be offloaded several times because of suspicious packages abandoned at a stop. No one thought anything of it. The subway is patrolled by armed guards carrying submachine guns. My friend, who lives in the middle East, said, “Ooh, that one had a cute smile.” I said, “I didn’t notice – I couldn’t see anything above the gun.”
Alex said,
Wrote on February 20, 2009 @ 12:55 pm
I heard about that two-hour delay. Somewhere else I was reading the complaint of a passenger who had to travel three stops and it took two hours. And I was thinking, three stops? Just get out of the station… worst case scenario, max 45 min walk above ground!
Alexs last post: Lessons in Entitlement on the 16th Street bus
Didi said,
Wrote on February 20, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
I missed the afternoon derailment/delay – was caught in the morning one though. We decided to stay in DC for dinner so left after the whole mess was cleaned up that evening.
I used to ride the blue/yellow line and sometimes the red before moving to the ‘burbs and now riding the orange line. I have to say, orange line people are some of the nastiest I’ve come across in the metro system. Not sure why – maybe because they’re forced to ride the most overcrowded line on metro? Maybe because there was a promise of 8 car trains that only seems to materialize on weekends or weekdays outside of rush hour – which makes no damn sense…Or maybe they’re just nasty people who were raised by wolves because come to think of it, we’ve also noticed that the ‘burbs are very much an every man for himself kind of place.
And, um, yeah – the concept of getting out and walking does not exist in the ‘burbs so don’t hold your breath waiting for them to get out and walk to wherever they need to go in Arlington. These are people who drive from one end of a shopping center to the other rather than walk. Just sayin’.
Washwords said,
Wrote on February 20, 2009 @ 8:47 pm
WW REPLIES Oh I have found my peeps! Yah, you know, I have to say suburbia isn’t sooo bad and I was nervous, rea(lly nervous about it. ‘Cause prior to moving here (for love- so it’s worth it!) I was the biggest orangeline hater around
@Didi:yes, don’t they seem just so much more…pushy… self-absorbed than even the worst redliners?
@Chris O’Meally: and yes Chris, sadly, we still can be those ugly Americans can’t we?
@Alex: funny that you were writing about entitlement issues on my old route while I was writing about pandemonium here in suburbia. makes me feel a little better. a little bit. but hey, I hear they’re (finally) doing an S bus express! Jealous. Enjoy it!
Glad you all found me – hope you’ll return and continue the conversation.
Senseye said,
Wrote on July 3, 2011 @ 7:29 am
Senseye