CTA Tattler

And how much sense does "Use all doors!" make, anyway? I can use only one or maybe two. Is the crowd on the platform supposed to get organized and divide up among all the doors? By the time we do, the motorman would be yelling, "First available door!" anyway.

Then there's that one conductor on the blue line who hit's the announcement button at least 5-7 times per stop and in addition telling us to "step all the way in". I actually changed my work schedule to avoid him in the morning.

Funny, I was thinking of this same topic this morning as I got on the blue line train and got one of the few motormen who makes announcements at each stop. He just calls out the stops and reminds people to use all doors. I do have to admit that that line really doesn't make much sense. On the blue line it would make more sense to say: “If you have luggage kindly don’t block the doors or the aisle others are trying to get to work.” It would be nice if there were more of this type of positive personality expressed on the trains (to counteract all of the negative personality we encounter each day)

There was a motorman on the purple line in the morning who would do "Tuesday Trivia" and ask a random question and then on Wednesday or Thursday give the answer. I think he's driving the yellow line now though.

I'm surprised by how few motormen (motormen/women? motorpeople?!) make their own announcements. To me, the job would be so tedious that it would be a welcome diversion.. even if I were to do my own announcements only part of the time.

I frequently ride "the Blessed Train" - yeah, it's kinda nice, if a bit cheesey. My favorite pre-automation motorman would offer a quick guide to each stop: "Morse, home of the Heartland Cafe, Loyola Beach, transfer to the 92 to the Rogers Park Metra..." He still sneaks one in on occasion. Then there was the guy who obviously missed his calling - he was so smooth and so mellow, he should have been the overnight jazz announcer on WBEZ... He made up for the majority of the rest of them: "Blarglebarblesnargleullertongarble... get out the damn door!"

i also like it when there's some snafu/delay and they make an announcement that isn't the three beep recorded blah. even better is when they have some informaton. even BETTER than that is when they sort of sound sympathetic to the plight of the train rider or even a little irritated themselves because they, too, have no information on what the hell is going on.

I've noticed that the motor"people" who make the rudest "use all available doors" or "all aboard, doors are closing" announcements are the ones that are running late. Don't rush me just cause you're late talking to supervisors about BS.

There was a guy on the Brown line years ago who obviously transferred over from the Blue line, because he would call out Blue line stops.

I like getting the "Blessed Train" operator. I'm not religious in any way - but I dont think he's pushing religion on ppl. He's just telling ppl to have a good day in his own way. He never sounds angry or po'd. Its one of the few things that make me smile when I ride the El.

Theres another guy I get sometimes on the Red Line southbound in the morning - he's in full conductor gear and makes funny comments like "I just work here" and stuff like that. A sense of humor goes a long way when dealing w/the public.

The "Blessed Train" guy drives me so crazy that I've contemplated getting off and waiting for the next, evidently unblessed train. Instead, I just push my earphones in a little deeper and turn up the iPod volume. I only want to hear the train operators when I have to -- their job is not to be drive time radio "personalities."

Further, the invocation of religion is entirely inappropriate and has no place in a state-run business. I don't wish the guy ill; I just wish he'd shut up.

wow, i can't believe people think that using the word "blessed" is called proselytizing! geez, the guy is trying to lighten up people like "matt". i agree with james, hayley, and mcgirl. it's a good way to start the day. take it easy!

proselytize:
v. 1. To induce someone to convert to one's own religious faith.
2. To induce someone to join one's own political party or to espouse one's doctrine.
v. To convert (a person) from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another.

So have a blessed day! (Let me know if you've been induced or converted by that statement).

Yeah, I also don't see it as proselytizing -- he's not saying, "This is the Blessed Train -- remember that Jesus died for your sins!" or something like that.

There was one Blue line conductor who would say things like "This is Damen, North, and Milwaukee" -- kind of helpful since the stops were only named after one street (and they switch between N/S and E/W streets kind of at random).

Does anyone know what's up with the "Chicago and Franklin" stop on the Brown line all of a sudden? Why do that, but not specify "North and Sedgwick" or "Irving Park and Ravenswood" or whatever?

I assume they now specify "Chicago & Franklin" because there is a "Chicago & Grand" stop on the Red Line. Given that there are three "L" stops called Chicago and none of them are in the Loop, I would imagine that this gets confusing for non-locals.

I haven't taken the Blue Line out to O'Hare since they updated the recordings, nor the Red Line north of Addison, to confirm my assumption.

I do miss the "This is Grand" recording on the Red Line though.

I LOVE the blessed train guy. I no longer ride the red line though. Why are people taking is so seriously/getting offended? The word "blessing" does not have to be tied to religion and he certainly isn't trying to be religious or push religion on anyone. Seriously lighten up!

Anything but yelling into the mic. Nothing like driving everybody on the train, platform, on the sidewalks into a frenzy by a big mouth yelling into a mic.

I take "Use all doors" to mean "Use the nearest door; don't hold everyone up because you're just at the top of the stairs and you like to sit in the front car but you're next to the fifth" or even "If the people in front of you are moving too slowly, try another door." It's no big deal.

And yeah, words like "blessed" and the "God bless" that the running commentary motorman uses are things I don't need to hear. There are great secular ways of wishing everyone a good day.

deepkid, there ARE secular words of wishing everyone a good day. Words like "don't be a moron."

Lighten up a little.

I'm an atheist and a big believer in separating government and religion when it really matters....but I don't see any problem at all with saying "Have a Blessed Day." As others have pointed out, it's not explicitly religious -- he's just trying to be friendly and give some personality to his otherwise repetitive job. If he said "Have a holy, God-granted day," that would probably start to cross the line. If I were a train operator, I know I'd be making some cracks here and there and finding my own ways to add some levity/care.

I think the train operators are way better than the bus drivers. I have had lots of mean bus drivers and have never encountered anything close to animation/kindness from them.

As a side note (and I'm fairly new to the CTA having just moved here a month ago....so this may not be interesting to most of you), I rode in the last seat of the back car of the Blue Line today and was able to listen in on the radio chatter from the CTA employee who was riding in the back compartment. I was hearing CTA folks talk about where different trains were and where things were held up, etc. It was kind of fun listening to that instead of my iPod, especially since the car was close to empty and fairly quiet. I didn't realize there were ever CTA staff riding the back of the train. That's not usual, right?

Hey Brian, welcome to Chicago and the CTA and CTA Tattler.

You're right, it is not that common for CTA staff to ride in those driver compartments. But it's also not that UNcommon. I hope this makes sense.

It happens, but I don't see it that often.

To Wow, I didn't make the comment you're referring to. Mine is actually above it. :)

Since somebody told me to "have a blessed day", I think I'm obligated to convert now :)

Isn't this running along the same lines as the "Merry Christmas" debate this past December???

you are right... the bus drivers are a lot worse...

maybe because they have to deal with the public on a daily basis? who knows.

but there are some good bus drivers... there's the god bus..
http://smussyolay.blogspot.com/2005/02/god-bus.html

and the happy bus...
http://smussyolay.blogspot.com/2005/06/happy-bus.html

yay.

There's a velvet-voiced conductor on the Orange Line who, as the train approaches the Loop, gives the time, thanks everyone for riding the CTA and "invites everyone back" for their return ride home later that afternoon.

I think it's great!

Wow. I read this post yesterday, and this morning I end up on the blessed train! Cool.

Here is the way it was done not too long ago...

Smoking littering and radioplaying is NOT permitted about the train....
The next stop is Washington and Dearborn..change here for the NorthSouth Subbbbwayyyyyyytrains...Howard Northbound, JamRyan southbound(forget the colors). Also change for The Daley Center, Marshall Fields, ICG Metra Electic Trains, the Chicago Theater....the time is xx:yyy ....watch your purses wallets and chains while leaving the train, this is Washington and Dearborn. "Northbound Ohare A Train. Let the passengers off first please. Northbound Ohare A....all aboard"

What's wrong with the blessed train, the Love Train, or the Happy Bus? Subway trains need your love and support too.

Ever notice that atheists have a problem with the concept of Love? I would rather wish someone a blessed day and help to create an environment of safety in the subways vs. people feeling paranoid by violin cases without a violin or groups of young thugs who think they don't owe a fare for their space on the train.

I know who you're talking about, jocelyn. One time I was fortunate enough to be riding on his train for my "return trip home" and at Midway, he announces where the elevators are for people traveling with luggage. What a nice guy!

Oh, my mistake, that wasn't jocelyn's post, it was BillK's.

My favorite announcement of all time was at the Blue Line Medical Center stop: "If you got a pain, get off the train."

I love the conductor who makes the commentary at every stop.
I occasionally get him on my morning commute and sometimes in the evening.

His voice is so mello it is not obnoxious.
Other conductors should take a seminar led by this guy.

If he is evening conductor he makes a point to shake a few folk's hands as they pass the front window (at granville station)