FirstNight Report

First, I want to wish you a Happy New Year, and welcome everyone to 2010. Now, back for a moment to 2009, for a report of my little adventure on the MBTA tonight, for a trip to the fireworks. So, going in a little before six was fine, with not very much in the way of crowds on the Orange Line, though there was a small crowd on the NoSta Green Line platform. While waiting for a GL train, an OL train passed through the station on the outbound (northbound) out of service. I can see positioning it for inbound service, but it could have run in service with not a great decrease in speed. Odd. Anyway, I took a Breda to Government Center, and then proceeded to the fireworks and festivities. Heading back home around 8:30 ish, having passed through the free faregates, I managed to miss a Lechmere train. This makes me officially the luckiest person writing on this blog. Having missed said Lechmere, I was of course forced to wait for another train bypassing GC. Soon enough came a screech, similar to that of the trains heading out en route to Park Street, however this particular curve screech was different, a bit higher pitched, and quite unusual. The source soon revealed itself as a Type 7-Breda combo led by 3705 pulled in on the Brattle Loop, signed for Government Center, though it soon changed to Lechmere, with the (T) employees telling everyone on the platform looking for eastbound service to take that train. I was expecting service on the Brattle Loop today(yesterday), as that is typical on New Years Eve due to the heavy ridership and logistical issues, and I was glad to get to ride it. However, it still irritates me that though they are capable of using the Loop once a year, they do not take logic's next step and use it ALL THE TIME, as MBTA logic prohibits any action designed to improve customer service. Duh. Anyway, the day, and year, were well finished by a trip on the Loop, though an attempt to take a train on the other half was unsuccessful, as none were headed only to GC. Anyway, a good trip on half the Brattle Loop, and a Happy New Year, hopefully 2010 is the one where the MBTA decides that use of the loop is a GOOD IDEA. See you in 2010!

And so it goes, another year riding forever 'neath the streets of boston.