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Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train

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SeanKHotay
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
"Trains are appealing because there's nothing like the power of a big diesel locomotive or the ability to drink heavily while traveling..."

As someone who's (with his friends) emptied out the bar cart more than once on the Amtrak NYC-Montreal run, I can say that Matt Hardigree "gets it".
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damnelantra™
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
no honorable mention for caracas?
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Cognitive Friction
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
I would also add #3B - the red line station in Wrigleyville right after a bad Cubs loss.

Hundreds of sun-stroked, angry, half-drunk people crushed onto a narrow wooden platform with nothing protecting you from being shoved onto the electrified tracks.

Survive that and your reward is being crushed into an EL car and immersed in the smells of Old Style & salty BO.
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Bentoboxx, My Tank is full of it
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
Shibayu Sh-Sh-Shibayu Shibayu Sh-Sh-Shibayu ROLL CALL!
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domino
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
re #1:

+ Watch video

"this building was really jumping at one point."

talk to an older detroiter about this place if you can. drive by and run around inside if you're ever in the area (using the buddy system of course).

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domino
07/02/09

@domino: sorry boys and girls:

"this building was really jumping at one time."
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alowishus wants to run a Saab Sonett III at LeMons
07/02/09

@domino: That's a fascinating piece. I wish the pacing was a little SLOWER, though. I only fell asleep twice.
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domino
07/02/09

@alowishus: want a refund? i'll get right on that.
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CptSevere
07/03/09

@domino: Man, that was great. A historic document, really. Never been to Detroit, but I love old buildings, and old train stations fascinate me. I'm guessing that since this was shot in '87, the building is a ruin by now. Me, I wish the film had been paced slower, I would love to get a feel for this place in its 20th century glory. Imagine getting a haircut and a shave in the barber shop. This is the bee's knees.
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domino
07/03/09

@CptSevere: i think the "slow pacing" of the film captures one of the most striking features of the ruins of detroit: the stillness. unlike the abandoned skyscrapers of downtown detroit that are surrounded by the activity of the city, the michigan central station and many other ruins have an eerie stillness that is a great contrast to the masses of people who used to occupy the area. it's very surreal.
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Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig)
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
Rome Ostiense kinda blows. London's large stations are individually fine, but the logistics of getting between them is a pain in the ass, since all lines in that country apparently run via London (into one station, out of another). I also remember Amsterdam being pretty bad. No wait, it was f*cking awesome.

I think I've been on a train in the US twice (apart from novelty/historical/sightseeing/zoo trains).
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.357
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
Riding on a train, drinking Havana Club... I remember my last ride. It was from Vancouver to Edmonton.
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negative-ground
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
I miss the posts about cars.
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Ray Wert
07/02/09

@negative-ground: I miss the comments from negative-ground. Wait, no I don't. Banned!
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Triborough
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
The ones that don't have service anymore shouldn't really count.

And Penn Station isn't that bad if you know the layout.
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Ray Wert
07/02/09

@Triborough: OK, so seriously, who knows the layout of that place? Raise your hand. Let's see 'em.
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John Krewson
07/02/09

@Ray Wert: Sorry to Judas you, Ray, but I have it down. It ain't logical but it ain't so bad.
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mechimike
07/02/09

@Ray Wert: I don't even think Amtrak knows the whole layout of that place. Then again, they mortgaged it back in the 80's to pay for hookers and blow for their board, didn't they?
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kussler
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
Where's the Cambridge's Lechmere Station ?
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beercheck
07/02/09

@kussler: Hmmmm... Toughie.

Cambridge?
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DonLuc
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
I want to play a 1st-Person Shooter game through a map of #1. I would LOVE to go trespassing in it, too.
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whats_in_a_name
07/02/09

@DonLuc: There really isn't much to see, construction was never finished so from the third floor up to the 15th* its just big empty spaces with no interior walls.

*I think its 15 stories total, but its been awhile since History of Detroit Architecture so I may be off by a floor or two.
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sicknick
07/02/09

@whats_in_a_name: You're right, except for the 3rd floor part. There's room up to about 7 or 8. Maybe 5, but definately past 3. 3 is only where you go out on the roof of the front part. There's also a full room vault/safe with the door intact on one of the last floors before construction stopped. I hid from cops in there for about 45 minutes the first time I went inside.
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whats_in_a_name
07/02/09

@sicknick: For being one of the last classes I took in undergrad i'm suprised I got as much right as I did.

One thing I remember for sure from that particular lecture though was how much cooler ther Penobscot Building would've been if it had been built as originally invisioned. It was in the early stages of design during on of the many periods when Detriot was planning a subway system. In the original sketches the main entrance off of Griswold street was onto a balcony looking down into the concouurse level of a subway station.
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Flathead Smith
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
This is proof enough to me that passenger trains suck.
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John Krewson
07/02/09

@Flathead Smith: Not at all, if they're done right. But when they do, they're some of the worst transportation in the world.
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SirNotAppearing
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
I hear King's Cross at 9 3/4 is a real sonofabitch.
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Boosted Lego Wagon
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
Oh, I can think of a few worse train stations... mind you, we're not supposed to mention boncentration bamps....
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Ray Wert
07/02/09

In reply to Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train
Close!
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