Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember that, but was just a kid and didn't ride the trains all that much.
I probably remember the token because of it's unique design ...
Posted on 09/15/2019 7:02:11 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Anyone remember using a half-penny?
My grandmother had one in her coin collection, but I never used one.
I think that may have been a bit before my time...}:^)
The complaints about electrical outlets are groundless. Nobody but tourists even bother using them. Any seasoned commuter is going to be prepared with fully charged devices (and have a book to read, just in case). Besides, you don't really want to plug an expensive device into an outlet on a moving train. Do you?
Expecting Wi-Fi on a commuter train is unreasonable. For most, that would simply mean extending an already long work day. I actually treasure my commuting time so I can catch up on non-work related reading without all the distractions a wi-fi connection would bring. Besides, as the train mostly parallels I-95, the cell service is more than strong enough to pull in emails, social media feeds, texts and websites that don't require video streaming. (LIRR would have a similar strong cell signal throughout the commute).
A lot of Freepers love to dump on commuter rail but to me its a godsend. Driving in and out of the city (from CT) is an experience I do not wish on my worst enemies and I have no idea why people do it willingly. I love my commute where I get three hours a workday to essentially tune the world out and get some serious reading done. I've read hundreds of books I otherwise would not have had the time for.
Plus, on the way home, you get to sip on a can of beer as you see the miles and miles of taillights all stopped cold on I-95.
The only thing I really dislike about my Metro North commute are those early mornings on the train platform in the middle of winter waiting for the train to come. Those are some c-c-c-o-l-d mornings, let me tell you. If Metro North could enclose those stations if only to keep the frigid winds out, it would be much better for me than Wi-Fi and electrical outlets.
It's worse than that. Nowadays, kids aren't even supposed to have to walk to the end of their driveways to catch the bus. Parents are literally bundling their kids into the family car and pulling to the end of the driveway to wait for the bus in an idling car. They actually wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before letting their precious ones out - usually in pajama bottoms and flip-flops even on a cold winter day.
Process is repeated that afternoon.
I see it for myself and for some reason, it just drives me crazy.
“...they were paid to sweep the floors after school! “
“I love my commute where I get three hours a workday to essentially tune the world out and get some serious reading done.”
Some working, lots of reading but some days I just wanted a nice nap! Never did for fear of awaking at the END OF THE LINE!
Yes, phone alarms, coworkers, conductors...I would not trust any of them. I could just hear it the next day, you were sleeping so soundly and needed your rest...I might be forced to fire some of my better workers!
I used to ride the Chicago L trains, years ago, before cell phones. I also would sometimes read a book and just relax on the way to work or the way home.
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t have a need to be plugged in or have access to WiFi at all times.
They don’t get paid, and I expect they don’t litter either.
Because the schools used a common bus pool, my day started/ finished sooner, I’d ride my bike over to help my pals.
A wide dust mop between the desks, push them over and do it again. IIRC fifteen cents per room per night.
Circa 1960.
A few dust bunnies sometimes bits of paper from a punch under the desk floor mount, before class was over they had to do a basic cleanup.
Ha! Even the VTA (Santa Clara County/San Jose, CA) has figured out how to supply wifi on buses and trains. And not only that it’s free.
“(and for people not familiar, back in the day, clutches were not synchronized, as they are today, and thus were much more difficult to operate)”
I’ve driven those old devils. One was a 49 International 2 ton truck. These old rigs were seriously under powered, to make up the difference they were geared accordingly. I had fun with this old girl, where the engine would turn so slow at idle and it was so low geared, that I could literally shove it into 1st gear without using the clutch.
The sister and brother act required no shifting, just getting it going in the field out to dad’s combine so he could dump the hopper, then drive it back to the road. So I’m guessing Sonny (my brother) would push on the clutch, Sis would put it into 1st, then Sonny would just pop the clutch. With those old geezers they’d just take off with out killing the engine or spinning any tires.
Yes, those trucks did not have synchronized transmissions, to shift required double clutching. A seasoned driver did not use the clutch at all between gears if he coordinated the gas pedal and shift lever operation properly. To this day I still shift manual transmissions without a clutch. Professional over the road rig drivers used to do the same.
The way we were raised as kids built character.
What you are describing is building snow flakes. Parents have no idea how they are hurting their own kids future, for no one will be taking care of their every need, assuming they ever leave home. I know of three cases of where parents spoon fed their kids into their 40’s. One is a drunk, the other two are dopers. None of them work, have a 401K or social security. All three are too stupid to figure out disability. They are so screwed.
May God help us if we need to call up the draft in a national emergency.
NICE! Thanks for the story!
We had the .9 penny to pay for gas
We moved from the city to Henrietta in ‘62
Went through a few big snows between then and when I joined the AF in ‘74.
Yep - had to get to the high ground to help avoid them Indian attacks...
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