Incompetence on parade II: On the train

[muckefuck]

My train pulls into Howard this morning and I dash across the platform to see if the waiting train that I spotted on the approach is a Linden. It is, so I begin charging up the platform in order to board.

On the way, I hear the announcer repeating, "Skokie Swift waiting for you on the inside track." I'm not fooled. The Skokie train:

1. Is two cars long.
2. Is ribbed for her pleasure.
3. Has yellow signs saying "Skokie" on it.

This train is eight cars long, smooth as a sojutini, and has purple signs saying "Linden".

In any case, I reach the train and push past a confused Russian woman asking, "Is zis ze Skokie?" after telling her "No", and grab a seat. The announcer is still telling everyone there's a Skokie on the inside track.

Suddenly, the tune changes. He says, "I apologise, it's a Linden train." Fellow riders who, unlike me, trusted their ears and didn't even glance at the other train come jogging up and piling in, one breathless old man getting on just before the doors close.

(To his credit: The announcer came out of the booth, stuck his head in the car, apologised to us, and confirmed what train it was. Then he did the same to several people on the platform. Also, he's the only one there who ever announces the trains at all; the other employees are quite happy to bring in a Linden train, let those who are watching for it board, and send it on its way without any attempt to draw attention to this. Dicks.)

Comments

[snowy-owlet.livejournal.com]

Have you ever taken the Skokie Swift? I have this image in my head that it dumps one off in the middle of a vast parking lot surrounded by shopping centers.

[lhn.livejournal.com]

I haven't taken it, but I've driven by the Dempster station. It's nowhere near close enough to the shopping centers for that. I think you'd pretty much have to take a bus or otherwise switch to motorized transportation at the terminus, unless you happen to be going to the nearby deli or something.

[snowy-owlet.livejournal.com]

So it's just an el stop hanging around by itself?

[lhn.livejournal.com]

Near enough. I think there are a couple of small strip malls and freestanding businesses nearby, but nothing that would qualify as a destination as such. And once you get off Dempster, the surroundings are pretty much purely residential.

[gopower.livejournal.com]

I've wondered why the Skokie branch rates an adjective. Or is there a Swift Street in Skokie and the name pre-dates the color-coding of the rest of the El lines?

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

I think "Skokie" is the adjective. Haven't you ever noticed the little outline of a swift on the side?

[aadroma.livejournal.com]

Is ribbed for her pleasure.

o_O Quois??

I'm still amused by the fact that the line has TWO FREAKIN' STOPS, and that's it ...

[lilitaly.livejournal.com]

I spent my Birthday in Skokie. Worst. Birthday. Ever.

(Sorry, I really dig your comments and posts in linguaphiles, just thought I'd drop by)