Freight or Foul

When I started this blog, I rode the Penn Line train from Aberdeen, Maryland to Washington, D.C.  About a year ago, I began riding the Brunswick Line from Germantown, Maryland to Washington, D.C.  The difference between the two lines is remarkable.  The Penn Line is operated by Amtrak, which is known as a passenger line.  The Brunswick Line, on the other hand, is operated by freight hauler CSX, and that's the way it treats its passengers.  In fact, just recently the Brunswick Line changed its schedule and rumor has it the change was made in order to accommodate the CSX freight trains.  Interestingly, though, I've noticed that since the change most Brunswick Line trains have been running behind schedule.  Yes, it has been hot and heat delays can be blamed, but it was hot and there were heat delays before the schedule was changed.  Moreover, many of the new delays are in the morning when temperatures are at the coolest.  Now anytime the schedule changes there are always some rough patches at the beginning.  Yet, it's been two weeks since the schedule changed and there hasn't been much improvement in the timing.  But I have noticed that there is now only standing room on the trains and more people seemed crammed in each car than before.  So I guess CSX is going with its strengths as a freight hauler.  I just wish I wasn't part of the load.

I'm Back

After more than a nine-month break, I decided to get back to blogging.  After all I'm still commuting, so why not?  My commute still provides great fodder for stories, but rather than write them down, I simply just watched them unfold.  No more though.  It's time to start recording some of the ones that strike me as the most interesting.  Take the woman who told me of her recent purchase of a Clydesdale horse.  No she wasn't going to commute with it, but she did ride it every weekend.  I didn't know you could ride a Clydesdale.  I thought they were bred to pull beer wagons.  Then there is the woman who reminds me of the man from the Dos Equis advertisements.  But she's far from interesting.  Rather, I've dubbed her "the most miserable woman in the world".  Although I've never actually talked to her, her wrath is legendary on the train.  She shakes her head in disapproval at anyone who laughs too loudly, tries to sit next to her, or just looks at her wrong.  Every time I see her I take pity on her because she always seems so unhappy and has such a sour expression, which is how she earned her moniker.  It could all be a ruse though, and she could just be acting the part of a miserable person so she will get her own beer commercial.  And if she's successful, I guess I will have to introduce her to my fellow rider's Clydesdale so she will be able to have her own beer wagon pulled.