i am not talking about the fast food chain, but those tunnels that have choo choo trains going in them, be it in New York's MTA or Chicago's LOOP, OR London's underground or France's Metro and many others around the world, Any interesting experiences you can recall below the ground over the years?
Funny this topic should be launched the day I get the original "Taking Of Pelham One Two Three" on Blu-Ray!
I did see a crime on the subway once. A woman passenger wearing a gold chain of some kind was sitting next to the door and as we were in the station, a guy walks to the door, then yanks it off her neck and steps out just as the doors close and the train pulled out. This was clearly a pro who knew how to time things right to the last second.
We took the subway when I was a kid -about 8 years old- when we were in NYC enroute to relocating to Tripoli, Libya. It was the only time I saw Yankee stadium.
We took the subway when I was a kid -about 8 years old- when we were in NYC enroute to relocating to Tripoli, Libya. It was the only time I saw Yankee stadium.
We took the subway when I was a kid -about 8 years old- when we were in NYC enroute to relocating to Tripoli, Libya. It was the only time I saw Yankee stadium.
You see Yankee Stadium every time I make a post!
I said it, in all truthfulness, as hommage to you!
Was at University in North London (nearest tube station - Oakwood or Cockfosters) and hence spent quite a lot of time on the tube for various reasons.....
Used to be quite a lot of beggars on the tube - would wander up and down each carriage asking all passengers for money, then go on to next carriage at the next stop....has been cracked down on in recent years (begging - by actually opening your mouth and asking for money - is illegal in the UK....holding a placard saying you're skint and homeless is ok though).
I remember one chap who got on - clearly a down-and-out and after money.....but this guy had gone to the effort of finding himself a dress suit (a bit shabby, but he made the effort), got on the carriage I was in and proceeded to perform some simple, but highly effective, sleight-of-hand card tricks and illusions. He wasn't great, but once more he had made the effort, and the kids loved it. So did I, I must admit. At the end of his brief routine he did ask for some spare change, but it was clear that many adults thought as I did - a lot of the money got folded before it went in his Top Hat (I told you he had made the effort).
To this day I wonder what became of him.
I bumped into a few celebs on the tube too - which concsidering the number of people who use that system is pretty cool....
I saw a man pushed in front of a tube train - not sure about other cities around the world but in London these things are going full pelt when they enter a station - luckily for everyone the train was able to perform some sort of emergency stop and avoided hitting the guy, while about a dozen people waiting for the tube jumped on the guy who had done the pushing and started kicking the shit out of him....the guy who got pushed was shaken and got taken off by an ambulance crew to get checked out....I gave my details as a witness but was never summonsed.
The scariest experience I had on the tube though - well - google "Arnos Grove" - doesn't seem much now in the grand scheme of things, but it scared the shit out of a lowly young student passing through....all of a sudden, the world was a little more real...
...and the scariest experience I nearly had - well, if I hadn't have been off work sick, I would have been attending a conference at the Friend's House opposite Euston Station on 7th July 2005...I had planned to meet my brother for breakfast, then would have been around Russell Square/Kings Cross stations on a Piccadilly Line Train at roughly 0850...to think what might have been...still makes me shiver even 6 years later.
Anytime you share a closed space with humanity, there's a story. Over the many years of riding the subways and Els of Philadelphia, I'm sure I have a million. I'll give it some thought.
This prompted me to work out that I’ve spent a total of about three years of my life travelling in the London Underground (also known as the Tube) mainly to and from work. I don’t begrudge the time because I don’t sit there like a zombie - the time in trains has enabled me to read the daily newspaper and hundreds of books over the years. During all that time I’ve never come across anything really dramatic. There’s the odd delay of course but I’ve never been stuck in a tunnel for more than about 20 minutes.
The London Underground was, of course, the first underground railway in 1863 but such railways are now nearly always generically referred to as Metro systems throughout the world, following the introduction of the Paris Metro in 1900. I must admit that all this London Underground travel has made me something of a Metro anorak because I like nothing better than to head for, and explore, the Metro systems whenever I’m in other countries. I think my favourite is the ever-reliable Paris Metro. The New York Subway is pretty awful for such a major city.
So far, I've been in the subways in the following cities
Brussels: not a big fan of this one, too crowded and old fashioned
Paris: reeks of urine... and I actually saw someone taking a leak on the other side of the tracks during rush hour! Also too many interconnecting halls and passages, what's the point of taking a subway when you have to walk most of the time?
Bilbao: was ok, hilarious english voice at the ticket machine
London: Very modern, no complaints. Had a lot of inspections and pass controll during my stay.
Rome: Hardly any waiting between trains, very swift and easy, I loved it.
Istanbul: OK (this one was built in 1875)
New York: sticky and greasy, but a fun experience.
I was a student in London and got to know the "tube" very well. I was always impressed with it. Sure, it could be crowded, and there was the occasional evacuation owing to a "suspect package" but for the most part I found it efficient and easy to figure out, and even relatively clean all things considered.
In contrast, my few experiences with New York's subway left a bad taste in my mouth. I found it far-more dingy and disgusting. I'll walk next time I'm in Manhattan.
.....The London Underground was, of course, the first underground railway in 1863 but such railways are now nearly always generically referred to as Metro systems throughout the world, following the introduction of the Paris Metro in 1900. I must admit that all this London Underground travel has made me something of a Metro anorak because I like nothing better than to head for, and explore, the Metro systems whenever I’m in other countries. I think my favourite is the ever-reliable Paris Metro. The New York Subway is pretty awful for such a major city.....
I'm with you, Doug Raynes. Despite its faults, the Paris Metro is my fave, too.
Incidentally, for another view of the London Underground---and the possibility that you might not ever reach your planned destination---you should all want to see the 1973 film starring Donald Pleasence and David Ladd, DEATH LINE (aka RAW MEAT in the US)!
I had a few interesting experiences in the kind of mini-subways that used to provide a walkway under roads. Underpasses as we called them.
As a teenager I and my friends used to play 'subway golf'. Two teams at either end would bounce golfballs towards each other. The opposing teams would try to catch each other's golfballs (without getting knocked out or hurt) and if you got them all you won.
As for railway undergrounds, nothing much except being propositioned by a prostitute outside Kings Cross in London. She had a fantastic body and I was tempted, but her face said 'crack whore' so I didn't.
