For those that don’t ride the Metra often, there was a big announcement in the earlier part of the year, saying that the cash-only ticket machines would be discontinued. With the Ventra mobile app (circa 2015), customers have taken to purchasing tickets via their devices over using these standalone machines.
It was interesting to watch the crowds gather, as folks all tried to figure out what to do. The problem just slowly got bigger, as more people entered. People looked around, trying to find information. And then finding none, they stopped in place, pulled out their phones, and started searching or texting.
Spotted another set of these marks again, on the way in to work this morning. Or rather, Liz spotted these – as I walked by completely oblivious.
I didn’t see any kids around, and given some of the water damage I spotted… my best guess is that this has been sitting for some time. Possibly left here the day before, on someone’s way home.
I spotted this the other day: two metal tracks, right in the middle of the floor. This is from the 56th street station, and I’ve passed it daily for many years now – and never really noticed it.
But instead of the sound of a tinny bell ringing, the alarm was more like the kind of thing you’d hear on the Enterprise when the warp core is about to go critical.
This morning, I happened to be one of the first people off my train. And I also happened to be the first person to get to the very top of the ramp. There… I saw a man on a gurney, surrounded by four or five medics. One medic was pumping the man’s chest.
I like this little stop between (official) stops. It makes me think of the world of Harry Potter, or the world of Neil Gaiman. These small moments that the rest of us, lost in our daily routines, might not notice.
I’ve walked by this particular door numerous times – twice a day, five times a week. I always figured this was some supply closet. But to my surprise, it was an actual (mini) office!
Spotted this while headed home last week: a couple sitting across from one another, and the woman holding a bouquet of flowers. I don’t recall 100% if I saw the guy hand those to her (I think I did). But I walked by, debated, and then turned around again so I could walk back and take this photo.
For some silly reason, I heard a narrator’s voice in my head saying things like “No one ever went to that train station, because the townspeople all knew it was haunted.”
Spotted this placard in the Metra car, as I was riding home. The Japanese-sounding name seemed a little out of place on a railcar, so it caught my attention.
From time to time, I’ll board the Metra and I’ll find myself on one of the older train cars. It’s like an instantaneous jump right back to the 1970’s.
Yesterday, I paused to read the sign. And took a photo. Because I wanted to share this story with all those other busy Chicagoans who, like me, may not have noticed it in their hurried walks through the station.
On arriving at Millennium Station this morning, I walked through the doors to see a huge crowd gathered. I was curious what was hapening, and went in for a closer look.