May 28, 2008
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Collisions
Ever since I started working in Cambridge again early this year, I’ve had to reorient myself to the MBTA and to its bus & subway services. It was hard to readjust at first, but over time I’ve gotten used to it again and now just relax during that 45min commute from Allston to Cambridge.
Usually I try to catch up on podcasts, music, talks, or book reading, but for some odd reason I decided to just watch the conductor of the C-line train I was on. I was sitting in one of the front aisle seats in the first car, so I had a clear view of what she was seeing in front of her. I realized that the tunnels are all lined with traffic lights. I’ve noticed the lights before, but I didn’t know that they literally speckle the inside of the tunnels like crazy.
Every time the light turned red, the conductor would come to a complete stop, and wait for it to turn either green or yellow. This was how it was for the entire commute to Park Street because the train in front of us was a little slower. When people were getting off at Park Street, another commuter commented to the conductor that it took a while just to get to the station. She remarked that the conductor in front of us was knew to the job and still hasn’t gotten used to driving the trains yet.
I think it was because of this conversation that sensitized me to the tragedy that occurred at 615pm on the D-line to Newton. I was just glued to Fox 25 news for the whole hour as more details emerged about the crash. Ultimately, I guess what really has caused me to feel this sorrow was realizing that a father that the news crew had interviewed at Newton-Wellesley hospital was in fact the father of the conductor of the 2nd train who passed away.
When the father was being interviewed, he wasn’t sure if his daughter was on that train or not. All he knew was that she usually works on the Green line and she usually passes that area around the time of the accident. He spent the whole night calling her phone, talking with friends & family, contacting T officials…
Please pray for the family and for the father as they go through this dark season. Pray that they would receive comfort in their grief and patience in their sorrow. It’s been a dark day in MA today.
Comments (2)
Yeah, I heard about it. Very sad….
I didn’t hear about it expect from you. But I will be praying. You bet.