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Starbucks Snafus, Train Track Traumas and Rain-induced Riots. (LONG)

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  • Starbucks Snafus, Train Track Traumas and Rain-induced Riots. (LONG)

    Oh, what a Monday!! Can I just call in dead and start over tomorrow...?



    Starbucks Snafus
    So, I'm a little bummed out today. It's the 2 year anniversary for me and the BF and he's out of town working, so I'm quite down. I couldn't really get moving this morning, so I figured I'd stop at the local, well known name coffee shop for a chai tea pick-me-up.

    that was mistake #1...

    I pull into the parking lot and it is PACKED. I swear, Monday Mornings at Starbucks are like a smaller version of Black Friday, EVERYONE must be there for the sweet, nourishing caffeine! I'm in line for the drive thru, I really don't have a choice at this point, because there are no parking spots. I prefer to go inside, though, because the baristas are sweet at this location and I like to say hi, how are you? and drop something in the tip cup all the time. So, my plan is to bypass the drive thru line, and park along the back wall of the building next door to the Starbucks. There's also an entrance/exit that way, which will take me to a backstreet I can follow in straight to work. Bonus! So, I'm waiting for my opportunity, while keeping an eye out for an open parking spot, just in case.

    While waiting, this HUGE black SUV comes pulling in the back entrance, and turns, as if to make its way around the drive through line. It's huge though, so has to throw into reverse. Well, the drive thru line moves forward...and the SUV SLAMS on the gas and cuts between two cars to nose her way into the line. The car behind her slams on the brakes to avoid slamming into the side of the SUV. The car behind that slams on the brakes and veers right. I'm behind the second car, and have to slam on my brakes and veer left, to avoid collision.

    Then, the woman in the SUV reverses again, because she can't make the turn, and continues the pattern: Reverse, then hurry up and leap forward so no one can get past her in the drive thru lane. I finally manage to pull around the cars, and park along the back wall, and make my way inside.

    Joke is on her. I got her plate number, and description. As I was walking into the shop, she was arguing at the speaker box over macchiatos and how they do TOO come in more flavors than just caramel, but yeah, not at this place, not unless you specifically request a drink made custom for you.

    After I pay for MY drink, I explain to one of the baristas what happened, (I know about 4 of them by name, 3 of whom we're working today) I also casually mentioned she was in the next car to pull up to the window. I left the info with the barista, who had called her manager over by that point, and I saw him to go the drive thru window, to explain to the woman they have her plate number and description and if she EVER tried to pull shenanigans like that again, the police would be called, so she could have the PD explain to her the concept of hazardous driving and the tickets that accompany that. I admit it, I snickered.


    Train Track Trauma
    I finally exit the Starbucks parking lot and start driving into work. The road I take happens to have train tracks...JOY. Not usually a big deal. I hear the clanging indicating the railroad crossings are lit and the arms are down, so I'm going to have to wait.

    Ok, I can do that. I come to a halt.

    And apparently, the train has, as well. It's not moving. At ALL. So I wait.

    And wait.

    And wait.

    AND WAIT....

    Finally, after about 15 min, I call my boss and tell him I might be a tiiiiiny bit late today and why.

    I end up turning the car off, because by this point, I'm penned in by other vehicles to the right of me, in front of me and behind me. to the left of me is a parking lot for a building that's fenced in everywhere. I figure I'm going to be there a while.

    Five minutes after calling the boss, I see a couple police cars come barreling up and park near the tracks. Six or seven minutes after that, a couple of pickup trucks come barreling past with repair equipment, heavy machinery in the back. They stop near the tracks and about four or five guys in bright safety vests start climbing all over the train.

    Ok then. Still waiting. By this point, several vehicles have started pulling out, cutting through the gas station parking lot next door and turning down the side street that runs parallel to the tracks, hoping to find a reprieve and a way past the train. I can't see where it ends in either direction, so I don't know what they're hoping for. I can't move, either, I'm still stuck.

    Well, one of these vehicles was a minivan, zipped around me, going the wrong way down the left side of the street before making a hard right to get around me. Minivan apparently didn't get too far, because it came full circle, right back behind me, but by this point, it had started drizzling rain (because that makes EVERYTHING better!) so the brakes I guess weren't working all that great.

    Minivan comes barreling up behind me, the slams on the brakes, I can hear the squeal. I swear I can smell the rubber, and at that point, I had started the car up again and threw it into drive and inched forward. That inched saved my back bumper. As it is, I could see the color of the driver's eyes. That made me a LITTLE nervous, but not as nervous as what happened next.

    Remember the fenced in parking lot to the left? There was a semi truck there, and the engine roared to life. I'm thinking "Oh, this is gonna be FUN". One would thing the driver would just go straight, since the parking lot abuts right up against the warning arms for the train tracks. Since they're down, clearance for turns - especially WIDE turns - is pretty nonexistent.

    The semi truck tries to make a right turn anyways. Instead of swinging out into the train armbar, though, the driver tried this really weird maneuver that I'm not sure I can explain. First the driver pulled the truck part out of the lot, and swung left, then tried to swing right in a wide arc. That put the trailer and a weird angle, and the rig itself came face to face with me. As in, if the driver hadn't braked, I'd have been smooshed. I'm staring wide eyed at the driver of the rig, who is staring wide eyed back at me, with a puzzled look. I swear I could hear him thinking "Hey, how'd she get there?"

    So, he tries to reverse, but the trailer isnt' cooperating. It scraped against the warning bar on the train tracks. That was an interesting, teeth clenching squealing noise. Really. One of the guys from earlier that was on the train hopped off to direct the truck driver into backing up correctly. He finally settled for going straight down a side road, and THEN turning right on a clear road, I suppose.

    By this point, I'd had enough, and I'd been there for over a half hour already. Time to try and move out of the cage of cars I was in.



    Rain-induced Riots
    I finally found an opening, signalled and got the hell out of the way of the traffic snarl near the tracks. Now, there's a road that runs parallel to the tracks, which in turn runs parallel to the I-10 freeway. I get on that road and start following it down, intent on just finding where the train ended, and then doubling back to get to work.

    That's what I intended on, anyway.

    I finally got to a road where the warning bars aren't down, the train has ended and I can finally, FINALLY try and get to work. But then the rain REALLY started coming down and visibility dropped like a hammer.

    I managed to get the wipers going (note to self: Need new blades, soon...) and started navigating my way through the back streets to get back near the I-10 access road. I turn left, cross the tracks and huzzah!! I'm on the other side of the train, yay!! I only had to go a mile west and out of my way, back in the direction of home, but hey, I made it!

    I pull up to a red light, and proceed to wait, with my turn signal indicating my intent to go left. All is right with the world, I may actually get to work soon. (yay?)

    Here comes this black SUV roaring up the road behind me and in the right lane. The light is still red. They're still going. Why aren't they braking.

    FFfffffffuuuuuuuuuuu---

    SUV blows through the red light, and barrels down the street towards the next light. Now, by this point my light has changed and I've got to go a block or two until I can turn left, so I speed up cautiously because the idiot SUV driver has finally figured out "oops, speed limit and that light was red, hyuk!", or so I'm assuming. Well, I'm getting up to speed, about to turn left and SUV driver decides GOTTA GO LEFT!! and last second yanks the wheel to turn left across two lanes, right in front of me. I brake hard, yank on the wheel to go right and hopefully avoid a mangled car/Lupo hybrid while trying not to scream "I HOPE YOU CHOKE ON YOUR MACCHIATO, BITCH!!!" (Note: I doubt it was the same driver, but it was a black SUV and I've had such marvelous luck with those today, really...)

    By the time I correct myself, I'm halfway through the light in the wrong lane, so I go forward to find a place to make a U-Turn and get back in the direction I need to go. By this point my heart is racing, I'm really surprised I haven't messed myself and I just want to go home and say "Eff you world, I'm restarting this level TOMORROW, and coming back with more XP and a new weapon. Preferably a chainsaw."

    But I don't. Instead I finally make it to the I-10 access road, and travel in the direction I need to go in, and get to the street I have to turn on.

    The lights are down. They're flashing red, indicating one of the busiest intersections in town is now a 4 way stop. During morning rush hour. YIPPEE!!!!!

    I'm waiting my turn. Like I should be. The car 3 behind me doesn't like that and starts honking like mad. I'm about to turn right when said car comes zipping out of line, floors it and passes me, cutting off the other cars perpendicular to me. I have to wait to take my turn, so they can correct themselves. It was the turn of the car to the left of me to go, who had to veer sharply to the right to avoid smoosh, then had to overcorrect to the left, which caused the car to my right to have to pull forward and take a turn prematurely to avoid smoosh by the car to the left.

    Meanwhile, glancing to my left? The train is still there. Stopped. Now there are more guys running up and down the tracks and a cop car parked on this side of the tracks. Fun times.

    I finally made it into work. An hour late.



    HAPPY MONDAY!!!


  • #2
    ALL THAT on ONE Monday?! OMG, you poor thing ... what a horrible way to start off the week! (sends over chocolate chip cookies by the truckload -- hope you like chocolate chip cookies ... )

    I love train tracks; they used to mark the edge of the city -- maybe half a century ago -- but the city has long since expanded waaay past them, so yeah, they can be fun at times. On the route I take to school (the scenic route) there are two tracks within two blocks of each other. One day I was driving home when I realized BOTH tracks were occupied ... thank goodness I always have a book or two in the car!

    Some of your deranged drivers sound like the ones in My Hometown, especially the idjits with the ginormous vehicles.They depend on everybody else being too intimidated by Their Mightiness to quibble when they decide to take over the road (or the parking lot).

    Hope the rest of your week goes better!

    Comment


    • #3
      (Note: I doubt it was the same driver, but it was a black SUV and I've had such marvelous luck with those today, really...)
      I was about to ask if that was the same driver too.

      o my what a sucky morning though. i'm surprised these people didn't kill anyone

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      • #4
        Gawd. Just eeek

        Comment


        • #5
          Holy crap! You need booze!
          PWNADE(TM) - Serve up a glass today! | PWNZER - An act of pwnage so awesome, it's like the victim got hit by a tank.

          There are only Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse because I choose to walk!

          Comment


          • #6
            "Eff you world, I'm restarting this level TOMORROW, and coming back with more XP and a new weapon. Preferably a chainsaw."

            Dr Pepper hurts when it's forced through your sinus.

            Also hugs and hot tea for Lupo.
            https://purplefish-quilting.square.site/

            Comment


            • #7
              I hate to say it but I've been one of those people in the repair truck with the safety vests crawling all over the train. We actually prefer to have them get as close to a crossing as they can, it makes it easier to get us and the tools and parts to them. However, we usually have people in radio communication with us at the crossing, lifting the arms and waving cars thru until we can get the train moving again.

              I'm sorry you had a such a bad drive today and to the people or person in the SUV, don't drive a vehicle that you have no idea how to.

              Comment


              • #8
                Quoth TawnyMyst View Post
                I hate to say it but I've been one of those people in the repair truck with the safety vests crawling all over the train. We actually prefer to have them get as close to a crossing as they can, it makes it easier to get us and the tools and parts to them. However, we usually have people in radio communication with us at the crossing, lifting the arms and waving cars thru until we can get the train moving again.

                I'm sorry you had a such a bad drive today and to the people or person in the SUV, don't drive a vehicle that you have no idea how to.


                Oh, NOTHING against the repair crews at all, they were courteous, got as close to the train and did their job quickly and efficiently. This was a REALLY long train, though, and it was blocking the RR Crossing, to the point cars couldn't get through even if the arms were manually raised. It was quite a sight, I think I've even got an image, I took a pic.



                That was all the way down in both directions. Lovely, really...

                *MOD EDIT - Picture resized out of courtesy to those with smaller screens. Please click on image to see actual size.
                Last edited by Ree; 02-14-2013, 03:46 PM. Reason: Resizing image

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                • #9
                  Gotta love freight trains.
                  The best professors are mad scientists! -Zoom

                  Now queen of USSR-Land...

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    There, there. *patpatpat*
                    I don't go in for ancient wisdom
                    I don't believe just 'cause ideas are tenacious
                    It means that they're worthy - Tim Minchin, "White Wine in the Sun"

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Okay, probably an emergency problem them, of we plan for them to stop, we get them to come to a stop clear of the crossing, I imagine there was some swearing going on there.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        There are several possible and likely problems that could have caused the train to stop:

                        1) Burst or disconnected brake line. These hoses hang down a bit, so they do sometimes get knocked against minor obstructions on the track, or crossings. When that happens, the brakes come on HARD for safety, and can't be released until the hose is reconnected or replaced. However, most train crews carry a couple of spares with them, so they just need to find the leak and fit it, which doesn't usually require teams of yellowjackets swarming all over it.

                        2) Derailment. This often results in a disconnected brake line, which is typically the first thing the crew knows about it. Generally requires heavy equipment such as cranes to put right, which might take hours or days to arrive. Sometimes they use hydraulic jacks instead, if the derailed vehicle is still upright and in line - these are small enough to transport using ordinary vehicles.

                        3) Hot axle box. This generally means that the lubrication has gone or the bearing has seized - if left untreated, can result in more serious mechanical failure followed by a derailment. Usually these are detected by special track equipment, which instructs the crew to stop at sidings provided for the purpose nearby. However an acute case might be detected at some other location, because the box has started smoking, in which case the train will be instructed to stop ASAP. In the linked video the problem had already been spotted and reported to the signalman, and the signal visible shows Caution as a result, the following signal happening to be at a station...

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          It could have also been that a signal failed. If a block signal does go out, it's supposed to be treated as if it was displaying its most restrictive indication--Stop. The train may have to wait until the engineer gets the OK to proceed. Doesn't mean that it's any less annoying though.

                          For example, traffic was constantly being held up just outside my grandmother's town. Norfolk Southern ran lots of heavy coal drags in both directions. I spent lots of time sitting at the crossing there. It was Conrail, Monongahela/Penn Central....and 3-foot narrow gauge before that. Single track through town meant that there were sometimes delays. Loaded trains weren't too bad--they'd get out of the way in a few minutes. Empties...were another story. They had to slowly enter the balloon track (meaning that the train would make a huge circle loading itself, before coming back the way it came) under the mine's loading machine, and could easily tie up traffic. If the coal wasn't scheduled to be sent right away, the train would back up (fouling the highway crossing again), before pulling forward into the yard.

                          Within the past couple of years though, all of that is gone. NS embarked on a huge "relocation" project. That is, most of the surrounding neighborhood was torn out, and the highway raised up over the tracks. That had been in the works for decades. With traffic on the rise, it was only a matter of time before there was an accident or house fire on the other side...and rescue crews not being able to get there in time.

                          But, if you *really* want to have fun, head down to the Waterfront in Homestead. There are *multiple* main lines (both NS and CSX) through there. It's not uncommon to be held up by as many as 6 trains around dinnertime
                          Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines. --Enzo Ferrari

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                          • #14
                            It could have also been that a signal failed. If a block signal does go out, it's supposed to be treated as if it was displaying its most restrictive indication--Stop. The train may have to wait until the engineer gets the OK to proceed. Doesn't mean that it's any less annoying though.
                            If that was the case, there wouldn't have been railwaymen swarming all over the train. They'd have been at the signal instead.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Quoth lupo pazzesco View Post
                              Remember the fenced in parking lot to the left? There was a semi truck there, and the engine roared to life. I'm thinking "Oh, this is gonna be FUN". One would thing the driver would just go straight, since the parking lot abuts right up against the warning arms for the train tracks. Since they're down, clearance for turns - especially WIDE turns - is pretty nonexistent.

                              The semi truck tries to make a right turn anyways. Instead of swinging out into the train armbar, though, the driver tried this really weird maneuver that I'm not sure I can explain. First the driver pulled the truck part out of the lot, and swung left, then tried to swing right in a wide arc. That put the trailer and a weird angle, and the rig itself came face to face with me.

                              So, he tries to reverse, but the trailer isnt' cooperating. It scraped against the warning bar on the train tracks. That was an interesting, teeth clenching squealing noise. Really. One of the guys from earlier that was on the train hopped off to direct the truck driver into backing up correctly. He finally settled for going straight down a side road, and THEN turning right on a clear road, I suppose.
                              That maneuver has a few names, "buttonhook" is the one I learned. It's a way of gaining increased clearance on a tight right turn, but in this case it wasn't enough clearance. That driver will have a bad day explaining his actions to the safety director - definitely a preventable accident (hitting the crossing gate), since he could have avoided the crowded conditions by taking the alternate route he finally took.

                              Quoth Pixilated View Post
                              Some of your deranged drivers sound like the ones in My Hometown, especially the idjits with the ginormous vehicles.They depend on everybody else being too intimidated by Their Mightiness to quibble when they decide to take over the road (or the parking lot).
                              Of course, they sometimes get stuck in the "I've got 3 tons of steel to protect my family, so GTF out of my way!" attitude to the point trying to push other vehicles around is a reflex - and the WORST possible way of dealing with someone who (when running bobtail) can see their 3 tons and raise them 7. Of course, that someone isn't running bobtail - they've got a loaded 53 foot dry van, so they can see the 3 tons and raise them 37.

                              Quoth protege View Post
                              It could have also been that a signal failed. If a block signal does go out, it's supposed to be treated as if it was displaying its most restrictive indication--Stop. The train may have to wait until the engineer gets the OK to proceed. Doesn't mean that it's any less annoying though.
                              But if the signal had failed, the engineer could get the OK to proceed over the radio (call in to say that they're at a signal showing black, and have stopped, dispatcher checks the status board, sees what should be there, and tells them to proceed), in addition to the repair crew going to the signal instead of the train.
                              Any fool can piss on the floor. It takes a talented SC to shit on the ceiling.

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