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PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Jersey Mike on Sat May 22 14:37:47 2010

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Unlike like some people I know who can go to the same grade crossing day after day to photograph the same old stuff and then send out e-mails about them, I tend to burn out on those locations I frequent and so you won't usually catch me posting many pictures from Baltimore Penn Station or 30th St as the novelty wore off years ago.

However recently I was in a position to ride the MARC Camden line in order to get to a Nationals vs Phillies game and since the old Geeps may be hitting the used locomotive lot in the not too distant future I thought it a good time to refresh my collection. My trip involved riding MARC from Camden to Dorsey then catching a ride to Greenbent where my friend and I would them park and take the Metro into DC.

You can see the entire set of photos at:



It's not as large as some of my more recent epics, but you should still check it out.

So, diving right in when I got to Camden station I found waiting for me MARC
GP39H-2 #75 and GP40WH-2 #61 fulling two of the three tracks there.



All are MK rebuilds that replaced older F units around 1990. The GP-39's used to be GP40s and the GP40WH's were cobbled together from GP-40s and parts left over from old SD45s. There is not a lot of service from Camden station, only about 4-5 trains in each peak period in each direction and trains don't spend much time laying over in Camden station outside of those periods so if you want to catch trains at Camden you have to go around the times they are scheduled to leave/arrive.



My train was going to be hauled by the GP39, which with its V12 engine is only rated for 2300hp instead of the 3000 of a GP40.



Fortunately it has a seperate HEP engine which probably makes the amount of power available for traction comparable to a GP/F40 without one.



After de-training at Dorsey I was able to get a picture of westbound CPL signal at DORSEY interlocking displaying a Clear signals.



Half the fun of the old Geeps is their distinctive sound so I opted for a video of the train departing the station and knocking down the Clear signal.



Here is a zoomed view of #75 traveling through the interlocking.



The sun peeked out allowing me a nicer shot of the CPLs alone.



An aggravating trip down I-95 and the Beltway later I arrived at Greenbelt station where I took a quick hop by the MARC platform in time to see GP39H-2 #74 arriving with an eastbound Camden Line train.



Here is #74 from behind posing with a B&O CPL dwarf signal displaying Medium Clear.



Closeup of the CPL dwarf. I love that CPL green, no other signal uses it. Reminds me a little of the Penn Central green.



Of course I took a video of it departing.



Here is Can K-Car #7762 passing through the switch back onto the main track. Greenbelt has high level platforms and like the NJT stations on the Lehigh Line steps must be taken to allow wide clearance freight loads to pass. Here pocket tracks were used instead of gauntlet tracks.



Later on an unrelated trip to Fort McHenry I stopped by the CSX Locust Point yard where MARC has a maintenance facility. Most people don't know it is there and the yard is surrounded on all sides by nasty fencing, but I used some mounds of construction debris to get some zoom shots in. Here we see the facility with a variety of geeps within.



Also lurking around as new MP36 #12, which had been recently delivered and was undergoing testing prior to service. I really hate the paint scheme on the new Meeps compared to the red nose GP40WH-2's. It's so understated compared to almost every other MP36 operator.





Coupled to a train and looking a little worse for wear was GP40WH-2 #57.



I know they aren't fixed guideway vehicles, but in Baltimore harbor there are a number of Ro-Ro ships belonging to the Military Sealift Command that can be activated on short notice to transport DoD asserts world wide. On the far right is the SS John W. Brown, one of only two surviving WW2 Liberty Ships. It serves as some sort of floating museum and occasionally makes ocean going cruises.



Well that's it for this installment. Tune in next time where I go back to my standard fare with an in depth tour of several interlockings in the Pittsburgh area.

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Newkirk Images on Sat May 22 15:04:26 2010, in response to PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Jersey Mike on Sat May 22 14:37:47 2010.

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What nickname would best fit MP-36 #12, porcupine ?

Bill Newkirk

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(936123)

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Fulton Frank on Sat May 22 15:25:57 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Newkirk Images on Sat May 22 15:04:26 2010.

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It IS cool looking. I agree with Mike, needs creative work on the paint scheme.

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(936128)

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Jersey Mike on Sat May 22 15:32:51 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Newkirk Images on Sat May 22 15:04:26 2010.

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I've decided to call them Meeps.

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(936164)

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by arnine on Sat May 22 17:27:21 2010, in response to PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Jersey Mike on Sat May 22 14:37:47 2010.

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Cool Pics

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(936186)

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by 9 local on Sat May 22 18:42:44 2010, in response to PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Jersey Mike on Sat May 22 14:37:47 2010.

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You should see what VRE's MP36s are gonna look like. I'll tell this, they're not using the lines of the locomotive to their advantage at all.

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(936243)

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Newkirk Images on Sat May 22 21:06:54 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Jersey Mike on Sat May 22 15:32:51 2010.

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I've decided to call them Meeps.

I think may have been trademarked !



Bill Newkirk



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(936679)

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Jersey Mike on Mon May 24 10:44:11 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by 9 local on Sat May 22 18:42:44 2010.

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Link?

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(936705)

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Hank Eisenstein on Mon May 24 11:45:03 2010, in response to PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Jersey Mike on Sat May 22 14:37:47 2010.

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I just have to ask, why not take MARC all the way to DC for Metro?

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Jersey Mike on Mon May 24 16:23:55 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Hank Eisenstein on Mon May 24 11:45:03 2010.

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MARC was not reliable for getting home after the game because they cut the 11:30 PM train out of WAS. The game also went to extra innings so we would have missed that train as well (or had to leave early).

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Train Man Paul : Metro-North's Best Conductor FOR ALL 3 LINES!!! on Mon May 24 18:36:00 2010, in response to PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Jersey Mike on Sat May 22 14:37:47 2010.

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Sweet pics, man!! :-)

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Train Man Paul : Metro-North's Best Conductor FOR ALL 3 LINES!!! on Mon May 24 18:39:15 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Newkirk Images on Sat May 22 15:04:26 2010.

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Though it has been used on Metra's F40PHM-2s (retired), I'd say "Winnebago"!!

Or Landmaster (named for the fictional large, multi-terrain vehicle from the 1977 sci-fi flick, "Damnation Alley")

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....Winnebago seems more fitting!!

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by ebtmikado on Mon May 24 20:40:54 2010, in response to PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Jersey Mike on Sat May 22 14:37:47 2010.

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Good stuff. I've never fanned the MARC operations. Those B&O signals are fascinating.

Lee



squeak

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(936871)

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by 9 local on Mon May 24 20:50:56 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Jersey Mike on Mon May 24 10:44:11 2010.

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I'll do you one better.


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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Mon May 24 20:56:50 2010, in response to PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Jersey Mike on Sat May 22 14:37:47 2010.

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Excellent stuff.

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(936874)

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Train Man Paul : Metro-North's Best Conductor FOR ALL 3 LINES!!! on Mon May 24 20:57:37 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by ebtmikado on Mon May 24 20:40:54 2010.

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If you wanna see similar signals, you needn't go no further than the Staten Island Railway, who employs a similar signal type.

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Mon May 24 20:58:51 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Jersey Mike on Sat May 22 15:32:51 2010.

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Works for me.

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Mon May 24 21:01:02 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Train Man Paul : Metro-North's Best Conductor FOR ALL 3 LINES!!! on Mon May 24 20:57:37 2010.

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That's cuz the SIR was once B&O property (although I don't exactly know why, it was a bit outside their main service area).

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Train Man Paul : Metro-North's Best Conductor FOR ALL 3 LINES!!! on Mon May 24 21:02:05 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Mon May 24 21:01:02 2010.

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Yes indeed

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Spider-Pig on Mon May 24 21:26:35 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Mon May 24 21:01:02 2010.

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The B&O had trackage rights (and IINM majority ownership) in the Reading and CNJ and wanted the SIR as their gateway to NY. Back when every railroad from points south ended in NJ, it didn't seem as weird. But a trip from Communipaw to Manhattan is much shorter and quicker than from St. George.

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by AEM-7AC #901 on Mon May 24 21:29:48 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by 9 local on Mon May 24 20:50:56 2010.

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I'll do you one better.

It's missing pantographs, the second cab, and the MITRAC DR 3000 traction motors. :-)

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Re: PHOTOS: Fun with MARC

Posted by Olog-hai on Mon May 24 21:30:29 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Newkirk Images on Sat May 22 21:06:54 2010.

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Bah. I want the cartoon version to be shown eating the real-life version's favorite food.



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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Mon May 24 21:33:18 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Spider-Pig on Mon May 24 21:26:35 2010.

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That seems like an awfully asinine way to get into NYC, via Staten Island.

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Re: PHOTOS: Fun with MARC

Posted by Olog-hai on Mon May 24 21:34:46 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by AEM-7AC #901 on Mon May 24 21:29:48 2010.

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VRE has no overhead wires. They're too worried about changing over to Keolis than putting wires on a railroad they don't own . . .

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Spider-Pig on Mon May 24 21:35:27 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Mon May 24 21:33:18 2010.

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Daniel Tompkins, the sixth Vice President of the United States, developed the Richmond Turnpike, now called Victory Blvd as the "fastest route to Philadelphia"

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Re: PHOTOS: Fun with MARC

Posted by Olog-hai on Mon May 24 21:36:10 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by 9 local on Sat May 22 18:42:44 2010.

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MP36 is devoid of "lines". Nothing can make it look good . . .

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Re: PHOTOS: Fun with MARC

Posted by Olog-hai on Mon May 24 21:39:33 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Mon May 24 21:33:18 2010.

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The PRR once considered building their route to midtown Manhattan via Staten Island and Brooklyn, branching off the current main line at Rahway. Penn Station would have been a stub-end terminal if they went through with that.

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(936899)

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by 9 local on Mon May 24 21:42:44 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by AEM-7AC #901 on Mon May 24 21:29:48 2010.

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Try to convince RRs that already are under wires to get electrics. Like MARC and the T.

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(936935)

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Re: PHOTOS: Fun with MARC

Posted by Olog-hai on Tue May 25 00:36:54 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by 9 local on Mon May 24 21:42:44 2010.

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Try to convince RRs that already are under wires to get electrics. Like MARC and the T

MARC has electric locomotives.



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Re: PHOTOS: Fun with MARC

Posted by 9 local on Tue May 25 02:07:07 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Fun with MARC, posted by Olog-hai on Tue May 25 00:36:54 2010.

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Not enough for full Penn Line service, tho.

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Hank Eisenstein on Tue May 25 13:23:08 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Jersey Mike on Mon May 24 16:23:55 2010.

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And that's the problem with relying on Mass Transit.

I guess they don't run game specials...

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Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC

Posted by Olog-hai on Tue May 25 16:39:54 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Hank Eisenstein on Tue May 25 13:23:08 2010.

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that's the problem with relying on Mass Transit

No, it's a unique problem with MARC.

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Re: PHOTOS: Fun with MARC

Posted by Olog-hai on Tue May 25 16:43:30 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Fun with MARC, posted by 9 local on Tue May 25 02:07:07 2010.

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If they aren't running enough trains off-peak on the Penn Line, it makes no sense to keep it all electric, does it? NJT always diesel-substituted out of Hoboken prior to the Kearny Connection too, when necessary. Maybe you're hoping for the days when MARC had the Arrow IIs on the Penn Line . . . ? because those days are gone.

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Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC

Posted by Mirai Zikasu on Fri May 28 05:03:55 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC, posted by Olog-hai on Tue May 25 16:39:54 2010.

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Seriously. MARC's schedule is shit and highly inconvenient for anything except a nine-to-five Washington-bound commute. I live in downtown D.C. and love day trips to Baltimore...but there's no weekend service whatsoever because the state of Maryland is too stupid in managing its transportation funding to start it up, and Amtrak is at least double the price of a ticket on MARC unless planning weeks in advance. I'd like to go see the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra or a stage production every now and then...which is impossible to do since the last MARC train leaves Baltimore Penn Station at 9:15 P.M. I'd love to go to Baltimore after work and meet up with friends for a nice dinner or find a nice club/lounge...but that's also nigh impossible with the ridiculously prohibitive curfew on the Penn Line meaning either I shell out the extra cash for Amtrak or ask a friend for a ride back to the Metro.

The Camden Line--while wonderfully convenient for anything in the Inner Harbor--is virtually useless due to the skeletal schedule. I've been able to use it all of one time to attend a three-day convention at the BCC over a summer weekend (and--of course--had to take Amtrak back because of no weekend service when I returned home on Sunday).

Now, I understand that the state of Maryland is running a $2 billion deficit due to an unsustainable budget filled with lovely projects such as adding about 100 extra lanes to I-95 around White Marsh and failed attempts at generating tax revenue by millionaire and death taxes. I also understand that Baltimore is a money-draining mess of a city with high crime and mediocre development. However, there's the novel idea that "maybe" if Baltimore were to become more easily accessible for tourism and business though actually promoting/utilizing its rail infrastructure, then perhaps both Baltimore and the state of Maryland might be able to benefit revenue-wise from the increased traffic in the city. Then again, what good is economic development and improved transit? Perhaps I speak heresy by suggesting that the state of Maryland should care about transit and be a bit more proactive with its commuter rail system than just spending a few million dollars on studies about how the state wants said commuter rail system to look in twenty years?

Or, perhaps I ramble too much at weird hours of the morning?

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Scrabbleship on Fri May 28 09:53:28 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Hank Eisenstein on Tue May 25 13:23:08 2010.

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The Game Specials (which were Camden Line up/bus back or RT bus to Greenbelt on weekends) were killed when the FTA had their little "private sector must have their chance for special service" hissy fit back in '08. Very bad move and shameful the new administration hasn't rolled it back.

I so know who I'm voting for in 2012 since Obama won't roll it back.

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Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC

Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Fri May 28 12:25:30 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC, posted by Mirai Zikasu on Fri May 28 05:03:55 2010.

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All of this costs money. Where you gonna get it?

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Re: PHOTOS: Gettin' funky with MARC

Posted by Olog-hai on Fri May 28 13:45:26 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Scrabbleship on Fri May 28 09:53:28 2010.

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That's a broad claim. Where's the evidence?

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Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC

Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Fri May 28 13:53:00 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Scrabbleship on Fri May 28 09:53:28 2010.

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Yes, we all know railroad specials to baseball games is the decisive issue facing all Americans in the next election.

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Re: PHOTOS: Funky MARCkerbean

Posted by Olog-hai on Fri May 28 13:59:50 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: FUN WITH MARC, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Fri May 28 13:53:00 2010.

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For cuckoo-bird, it apparently is. Him and his "glorious freedoms" up in Canada where they send you to jail for "hate speech" . . .

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Re: PHOTOS: Gettin' funky with MARC

Posted by Dan Lawrence on Sun May 30 16:43:10 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Gettin' funky with MARC, posted by Olog-hai on Fri May 28 13:45:26 2010.

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The true problem with MARC Camden line is CSX! They killed the return train and refused to allow extra service to DC if the game ran into extra innings.

A long time friend of mine worked for the FTA and got to help negotiate the last MTA/CSX contract for the Camden and Brunswick lines. He said later when I ran into him on a northbound 19 line bus one evening that he'd rather have been given a root canal with no anesthesia than deal with CSX. CSX is well know for its "no passenger trains on our tracks" attitude.

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Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC

Posted by Mirai Zikasu on Mon May 31 08:13:16 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Fri May 28 12:25:30 2010.

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Yeah, that's a problem. Maryland is broke, overspending far beyond its means, and completely incompetent at increasing tax revenue since the only thing the State Assembly there can think is "when we're out of money, just keep taxing the rich." (After all, Maryland's millionaire tax resulted in one-third of the state's millionaires "disappearing" from tax collection.)

I admit that I've only perused through some documents on projects being paid for by the state of Maryland, but my thought is that Maryland just needs to revamp its spending priorities. The state plans on spending $20 million this year alone for "cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay." Considering that $100 million has already been thrown away in trying to maintain it (with few if any results), I would dedicate that money to transit spending. Then, when the stimulus handout nonsense was going on last year, Virginia took advantage of $70 million to work out constructing a third track along the Fredericksburg Line for VRE service which Maryland got $70 million...for studies. (Whoopie.)

In short, rather than search for new money which would send the state farther into debt, I'd want to scan the state budget and figure out where to divert more resources to transportation funding. Considering how MARC is experiencing record ridership with standing-room-only trains, yet service has recently been cut, and the MARC 2030 Expansion Plan--millions more thrown away in a study without actually increasing service--has been abandoned, something is wrong with spending priorities in the state of Maryland.

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Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC

Posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Mon May 31 08:17:39 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC, posted by Mirai Zikasu on Mon May 31 08:13:16 2010.

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Ever think about using the Green Line/B30/Light Rail combo to get up to Baltimore on the weekend? OK, perhaps not as convenient as MARC would be, but there won't be weekend service on the Penn Line anytime soon.

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Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC

Posted by Scrabbleship on Mon May 31 13:54:52 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC, posted by Mirai Zikasu on Mon May 31 08:13:16 2010.

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Taxing the rich? I work a job that could be called "lower middle class" and take away my health insurance deduction and such I'm paying quite a bit in tax. Of course, I am in Montgomery County and they have scams such as the "piggyback tax" and other stuff.

It makes forfeiting congressional representation and moving to DC appealing.

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Re: PHOTOS: Funky MARCkerbean

Posted by Scrabbleship on Mon May 31 13:56:20 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Funky MARCkerbean, posted by Olog-hai on Fri May 28 13:59:50 2010.

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Unlike us who ban people from countries based on things done 50 years ago and take the right to drink away from voting individuals, all while locking people in jail for life, taking millions from taxpayers?

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Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC

Posted by Mirai Zikasu on Tue Jun 1 00:35:36 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Funk with MARC, posted by WMATAGMOAGH on Mon May 31 08:17:39 2010.

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I looked into it once as I was interested in going to Timonium for the model railroad show last summer. However, I haven't attempted it as the travel time (with perfect connections) would be about two hours from Downtown D.C. to Downtown Baltimore and 2.5 hours if I continued on to Timonium. Plus, the trip is nearly as expensive as a WAS-BAL MARC ticket (and will be more expensive once the WMATA fare hikes go into effect). On top of that, while the Green Line/B30/Light Rail combo is a transit route into Baltimore on the weekend, the hours of operation of the B30 and Light Rail as well as the travel time are still so prohibitive that one has to leave the city by 9:45PM to not get stranded at BWI. It is a transit route into Baltimore, but it's not particularly practical due to the multiple transfers, long travel time, and limited hours.

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Re: PHOTOS: Funky MARCkerbean

Posted by Olog-hai on Tue Jun 1 01:24:34 2010, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Funky MARCkerbean, posted by Scrabbleship on Mon May 31 13:56:20 2010.

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Unlike us who ban people from countries based on things done 50 years ago

Would you rather that they got their just desserts? You should look up just how bad these people were (and most likely still are). But then again, you probably believe that Nelson Mandela is a "freedom fighter" instead of the terrorist, communist and murderer that he actually is.

and take the right to drink away from voting individuals

"Right" to drink . . . ? Is that in the Bill of Rights? Is that like a "right" to drive . . . ? You can drink at any age in this country (but Canada has consumption ages in different provinces, whoops!); what age you buy the stuff is a different matter, and believe it or not, it still varies by state. You should complain about lefties like MADD over that.

all while locking people in jail for life, taking millions from taxpayers?

You're right about that. The death penalty has to come roaring back.

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