My new ride is...

[The_Black_Knight]

...a train. Starting a couple of weeks ago, I've been taking the train to work. I started doing this when I found out that my job offers a shuttle from the train station to my office building.

So now, instead of driving 25 miles each way to work, I drive 3 miles to the train station, take the train, and get picked up by a van that drives me another 2 miles to my office. Instead of just sitting in traffic, I get to read on the way to work. I'll also save money on gas, insurance, and wear and tear on the car.

[rickself]

Good job BK! We don't need no stinkin oil!

[Mynock]

Sweet! What kind of options does it have?

[rickself]

Bet it has cup holders!

[The_Black_Knight]

Bet it has cup holders!No, but it does seat over 100 with plenty of leg room...

Sweet! What kind of options does it have?It's got air conditioning, nice big windows, and cruise control (well, at least I don't have to drive the thing). It also has conductors that open the doors for you.

[morea]

nice!

[reuber1]

Saving money rocks.

[The_Black_Knight]

Saving money rocks.Altogether, I might only be saving a couple of hundred a year, but yeah, you're right. Saving money (even a little) does rock.

[Logo-Mechanix]

Hey Black Knogh,t that train station looks real familiar.

[The_Black_Knight]

Hey Black Knogh,t that train station looks real familiar.That one's Morristown. I get off at the Madison stop.

[Gromit801]

Before I was a Graphics Designer, guess what I used to do? I was a locomotive engineer from Roseville, CA to Sparks NV. I know trains.... be afraid, be very afraid..... LOL.

[Mynock]

Hey Black Knogh,t that train station looks real familiar.You been drinkin' Logo?

[vtwin_gary]

so what does a train ride like this cost these days?

[The_Black_Knight]

so what does a train ride like this cost these days?For my trip, a monthly pass is $151. This is just a little more than I spend on gas if I drive myself to work with current gas prices.

[jimking]

Does it save time or does it take longer to get to work?

[jimking]

Before I was a Graphics Designer, guess what I used to do? I was a locomotive engineer from Roseville, CA to Sparks NV. I know trains.... be afraid, be very afraid..... LOL.
What made you switch? My guess would be the love of art. Do you have regrets?

[The_Black_Knight]

Does it save time or does it take longer to get to work?It takes longer, but I can read or (when I go back to school in the fall) do homework, which are things I usually try not to do while I'm driving. ;) It's like getting an extra hour and a half of reading time each day. Plus, it's much less stressful, which makes it worth the extra time.

[Gromit801]

What made you switch? My guess would be the love of art. Do you have regrets?

The job was good. You're on call 24/7. I could be going to work or coming home at 2am. You have an hour and a half to report from the time you're called.

The divorce rate among engineers and conductors is about 80%, of which I was part of that.

You have no home or social life.

Union Pacific is a crappy company to work for.

in exchange for all that, and a wrecked sleep cycle, you could make $5800 a month or more.

ZERO regrets.

[jimking]

I don't blame you! I like my sleep. Years back I used to work the 3rd shift and I became a nasty SOB. Never could get used to it. My wife did hang in there. She's a saint. :)

[reuber1]

3rd shifts are tough. My dad has been doing it for about a year now, while mom works retail hours (insane hours) and I work M-F.

[Gromit801]

Getting an actual shift was paradise! But that worked only if we were working as Hostlers in the yard. No such thing as a shift on the mainline.

[jimking]

I understand. The fact that I could not handle the night shift let alone having no set hours would have drove me insane!

[Logo-Mechanix]

You been drinkin' Logo?

Thats funny, I wish I had been but I think thr reason was I was getting ready to split and was in a hurry.

[Logo-Mechanix]

That one's Morristown. I get off at the Madison stop.

I have been on that train many times, and taken other trains from that station. My wife used to work for Pfizer right down the street from that station, if she still did she could take the train from right near our house in Landing.

[The_Black_Knight]

I have been on that train many times, and taken other trains from that station. My wife used to work for Pfizer right down the street from that station, if she still did she could take the train from right near our house in Landing.Yup. The train makes a stop at Morris Plains, and a shuttle from Pfizer picks them up.

I actually pick up the train from Netcong; it's not much further from my house than Landing, and the parking is much better. The monthly cost is the same if I take the train from Netcong or Landing anyway.