by F40CFan
Trains on the Milwaukee West Line were about 20 minutes late this morning due to "signal" and I think it was "waiting for equipment" problems. They mentioned the signal at B35. It seems kind of early in the season for "signal" problems.
What amazes me is the inconsistency of train operations.
I arrived for train 2220 which is scheduled to depart Wood Dale at 7:47. As I'm walking though the parking lot toward the platform, 2216 goes blowing through at track speed. Then 2218 shows up (no way I'm sitting on a local listening to Mr. Satellite every two seconds). Finally 2220 shows up about 20-25 minutes late.
First, we have to crawl through Grand Ave. in Elmwood Park, then we catch up to 2218 at Galewood. 2220 which is an express, stops short of Galewood while they load, then we sit while an outbound (2207 I think) occupies the station.
Finally, after 5 minutes we get underway. We were actually allowed to pass 2218 between Hanson Park and Craigin.
What I don't get is why we still have to crawl in Elmwood Park, but trains can operate at track speed over "one of the worst intersections in Illinois" in Wood Dale.
Also, we can't go through a station when another train is occupying it, but the express can blow through town at the time a train that is scheduled to stop normally arrives, scaring the heck out of some of the people on the platform. They did announce that the next train through would be an express, 2 minutes AFTER it went by.
Next time they want to have a safety blitz, they ought to put plain clothes officers on the platform and start handing out warnings and tickets to those who cross the tracks unsafely. Then maybe they can run this thing like a railroad.
What amazes me is the inconsistency of train operations.
I arrived for train 2220 which is scheduled to depart Wood Dale at 7:47. As I'm walking though the parking lot toward the platform, 2216 goes blowing through at track speed. Then 2218 shows up (no way I'm sitting on a local listening to Mr. Satellite every two seconds). Finally 2220 shows up about 20-25 minutes late.
First, we have to crawl through Grand Ave. in Elmwood Park, then we catch up to 2218 at Galewood. 2220 which is an express, stops short of Galewood while they load, then we sit while an outbound (2207 I think) occupies the station.
Finally, after 5 minutes we get underway. We were actually allowed to pass 2218 between Hanson Park and Craigin.
What I don't get is why we still have to crawl in Elmwood Park, but trains can operate at track speed over "one of the worst intersections in Illinois" in Wood Dale.
Also, we can't go through a station when another train is occupying it, but the express can blow through town at the time a train that is scheduled to stop normally arrives, scaring the heck out of some of the people on the platform. They did announce that the next train through would be an express, 2 minutes AFTER it went by.
Next time they want to have a safety blitz, they ought to put plain clothes officers on the platform and start handing out warnings and tickets to those who cross the tracks unsafely. Then maybe they can run this thing like a railroad.
"No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously."