Wheel Falls Off DC Metrorail Train!

Unsuck DC Metro ^ | December 20, 2011 | Unsuck DC Metro

[Timber Rattler]

For anyone in the DC area who relies on metrorail, a wheel fell off one of the trains on the Orange Line this morning and the entire system is snarled, with people still stuck on the train. Those who made it off are reporting that Metro still made them pay exit fare and somehow find their own alternative transportation.

[Timber Rattler]

The Orange and Blue Lines are FUBAR. Several riders report that a train lost a wheel. Nothing specific from Metro. Developing.

[JosephMama]

Oh the irony.

[pgkdan]

Geez...I used to ride the metro all the time back in the late 70’s when I was in college. I thought it was great back then. Now when I sometimes take the train to a Nats game it seems to me that they’re still using the very same trains I rode on 35 years ago!

[kevkrom]

So... the wheels are finally coming of of Metro literally as well as figuratively. I’m surprised it took this long.

[Timber Rattler]

That’s because they are!

[YHAOS]

"Those who made it off are reporting that Metro still made them pay exit fare and somehow find their own alternative transportation."

Of course. Metro's riders are subjects of the State . . . not customers.

[Army Air Corps]

Willie Green is deeply saddened.

[pgkdan]

LOL...I thought so!

[sodpoodle]

Are you out yet?

Rode Metro for a few years - never had any problems.

Finally switched to an Express Commuter (Dillon) bus from Silver Spring to DC. Cheaper, cleaner, no claustrophobia, plus passengers & driver were like family.

Good luck;)

[Timber Rattler]

"From a very reliable Metro source "A brake disk (200lbs) broke free. Hit train behind it. The disk more than likely broke free and damaged that train but then looks like it possibly did damage to the train behind. There are either 8 or 12 bolts that hold the disk on. The bolts must have sheared off. Possibly inferior bolts from low bid contractor."

"Metro press conference at 3:00 p.m."

[Timber Rattler]

Yeah, I’m lucky since I didn’t have to go downtown today. A bunch of my co-workers are screwed though.

[HamiltonJay]

Why wouldn’t they be? Rail Car’s life expectancy is 50+ years.. you refurb the inside from time to time and rebuild the few mechanical systems on them, but they are very simple and heavy duty, they are supposed to last for 50 or more years.

[Fast Moving Angel]

Chee, kind of a metaphor for the whole Obama administration ...

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

When I went to High School in NYC in the 1960’s, the old Metropolitan Avenue El had rolling stock from the 1890’s in service. It was the oldest rolling stock in the Western Hemisphere, even the Cubans had newer trains.

They were sparse, but except for the occasional engine fire in mid-August, they ran pretty well.

[sten]

sent this on to Rush. i figure he’d find this hilarious

[Doogle]

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“You picked a fine time to leave me Loose Wheel”

[ml/nj]

people still stuck on the train. Those who made it off are reporting that Metro still made them pay exit fare and somehow find their own alternative transportation.

Sound like this is something like what we could expect from a national health service.

ML/NJ

[Jack Hydrazine]

And the world economy.

[HamiltonJay]

I have no trouble believing that, 70 years for a rail car is not unheard of.

Pittsburgh Only relatively recently (last decade or so)
finally retired some of its old trolley cars, because the price of refurbing them finally got too high. But they were easily dated to the 40s and 50s is not older.