Between the tracks
The move doubled my commute time to the studio where I teach strength classes. What was a ten to fifteen minute drive before is now a twenty-two (new record time this morning!!!) to thirty minute drive. Which I am okay with! I just plan accordingly.
Except when I can’t.
Ha.
I didn’t think about the trains.
There are freight/commuter train tracks just east of the studio that have made MANY students late to class. And now me! I lived on the west side before and never had to deal with them. Oh man. Since the move I have been stopped by a train there quite a few times – and not by the fast moving commuter trains. Oh, no. These are the slow freight trains… the ones where you wonder if they’re even moving. Ha! I’ve text my boss a few times “I am stuck by a train! Can you start setting up x equipment for class?” (Luckily he can!) The bad thing is, the only underpass is several miles up the road and would add way too much time on the trip to drive to and use!
We also live between train tracks – a set less than half a mile to our west, and a set just over a mile to our east. I haven’t gotten stuck by those yet on the way to or from class, but I have when I’ve been trying to get home or get somewhere, during other times – in my car and while on the run! Last week, I was running during lunch break and had to make it back home for work and got stuck by a train. Oops! And there are no underpasses for these either. So, you wait!
And plan to leave places just a bit earlier… or have a back up plan!
We do hear the train a lot at our house, but it doesn’t bug us. An expected and consistent noise like that is not what bothers me (noise-wise!*).
*Ha! I do have a post drafted, also about my main job’s work commute that talks a lot about noise and a huge reason why we moved!
Themocracy
Oh man! Those trains can add a lod of time to your commute since they seem to go on and on forever!! I was wondering if the train noise bothered you- but you’re right that something expected and consistent would just become normal.
They do seem to be never ending (that one sure did during my run, ha!). I actually find the noise kind of soothing. Weird, right? But it’s the sound of it moving, not its horn 🙂
Oh, man, I remember that happening to me when I lived in Champaign. I wonder if there is a way to learn the train schedule. Do freight trains even have schedules?
Train noise doesn’t bother me, either. It’s kind of a white noise.
I wonder! I should look in to that! I am kind of doubtful, but it’s worth checking out!
Exactly!
I guess you guys live on the “wrong side of the tracks” now! Well, at least when it comes to going to your studio. I have a favorite running route that crosses the EL tracks at ground level. Luckily the trains gates are usually never down more than a couple of minutes. Would be frustrating if I had to wait any longer. 🙂
I always loved that crossing during Pint Night runs – it was the only way I could usually catch you guys 🙂
Exactly! Totally the wrong side. Ha! 🙂
Oh yeah! I need something fast moving like the EL! We do get Amtrak out here and that moves fast! 🙂
I don’t know how long I have to live up here in order to start planning for the train! Seems like I’m always getting stopped by one! Except (thankfully!!) when I come to the studio. The only hold-up there is all the church goers when there’s a Sunday class! Out of the way, I have some punching to do 🙂
We’re less than a mile from the tracks here, and I don’t really notice the noise. But Terry does, especially when the windows are open! I think all those years of city living (often near the El/Metra) conditioned me for noise.
Hmmm. Which way do you drive? Do you take Hart to Washington? Now I’m curious!
Watch out for Anne after the church of boxing!!!! 😀 😀 😀
Ahh, does it bug him a bit then?
That sucks. Same thing here too my house is actually boxed in by rail lines so some days it’s a real pain 😃
It can really mess you up! My friend who lives out here east of both sets by us was telling me she was stopped forever by the first set, then traveled a mile to be stopped again by the second set. GAH!
Whoah! And I’ve learned that train schedules are never predictable. I cross tracks to my early morning meeting spot, and I can be forced to stop on the way to meet Tami. BUT, I’ve also been stopped on the way home – not good, depending on Mark’s schedule. I’ve learned, too, rerouting rarely works.
By the way, mad dedication for driving 22-30 minutes to the gym. I used to do it at the big box gym, and it just seemed draining. But maybe it was the place and not the commute …
Just gotta wait, right? I usually put the car in park and play on my phone. Ha ha ha. Or jam out to a song!
Thanks 🙂 So far it’s working out, but we’ll see how it goes! 🙂
UGH, I used to get so annoyed by trains when we lived in Illinois because it was usually those slow freight ones. Now we have a commuter rail by us, and I used to get stopped by it all the time when I was running. I am still grumpy about it, even though it doesn’t stop me, because it’s SO loud when I’m walking.
I don’t have anything useful to add though in these comments, I guess I just complained about my not-bad situation. I’m glad you’re more rational than I am!