Maybe there’s more to “driving” a train that I’m not aware of. To get the MARC train from Union Station in DC to Penn Station in Baltimore the crew goes up and down the same tracks until their shift is over. Not hard right?
Don’t get me wrong, I know there’s a lot that goes into it…. safety checks, technical issues, the lives of hundred of people in your hands. Then the trains occasionally break down and have mechanical problems… they are old… I get that. Once in a while we have and unruly passenger or a streaker on the train tracks (see my earlier post). I can understand those kind of instances causing us to be late. But today’s delay baffles the hell out of me.
It’s early Monday morning and all eyes are on the brand new electronic announcement board. People waiting to get to work. Folks traveling out of town and catching flights. Students going to college. All of us waiting for the illumination of our train track information.
Eventually the board lights up and signals our train is “delayed”. After twenty minutes they assign a gate and we board the train. After another twenty minutes they tell us we are waiting for the conductor and engineer who will be “taking the train out”. So, uh, question… WHERE ARE THEY? Don’t they just ride up and back on the same train tracks? The train doesn’t run 24 hours a day and I’m not on the first train out of the gate so it’s not like they were late for work. Where were they?
More questions… why have us board on the train, in the tunnel, with no cell reception if we aren’t going to pull off? Normally, when the train is this late (and it’s late a LOT), they get the folks catching a flight at Baltimore Washington International airport on an Amtrack train so they can make their flight. Not this morning. This morning the student flying home to see her Mom, the couple going on vacation, the Father taking his son to see Granny are all late and about to go on standby.
I love my job… truly I do… and I love the people I work with but this commute blows the big one. I will switch gears here and see the glass as half full, which will make my co-worker Ross very happy. It took yet another co-worker, Suzanne, to reminded me everything happens for a reason. So I’m thing… maybe there was an awful accident that I avoided by being late. Maybe the conductor and/or engineer where just in a horrible accident and need our patience and love based on what they just went through.
I’m going to try to carry the “everything happens for a reason” idea with me throughout my day. But I have to tell you… being two hours behind schedule is not the way you want to start the work week. I’m back to half full. Being in good health and of sound mind and body is a good way to start the work week. So, good Monday morning to you all! It’s on and poppin! Let’s get out here and make a difference… no matter how long it takes to get there. 
I’m listening to music looking at the beautiful changing leaves and happy for a new day!
MARC still blows… even with a positive attitude! 
