Times S?uare Shu??le

Having a small commute every morning (since I'm working outside the home...jeeerrrrrks), I have begun to take note of the question wrapped up in the enigma stuffed into the smelly sock that is The Times Square Shuttle. There are a few things about that I find fascinating. And I thought I would share this with you.

For you who don't know, the Times Square Shuttle (S), is a train with one single purpose, to shuttle (hence the name) commuters between the east and west side of the city from Grand Central Station to Times Square. There are no other stops.

First point of curiosity, There are 3 trains, but 4 tracks. The shuttle has three separate trains that on three separate tracks, but they are numbered 1, 3, 4. What happened to 2? There's no evidence of it. No signs that allude to it...nothing. It simply doesn't exist. Perhaps it's a 9 3/4 type thing of Potter fame? Prolly not.

Second. The tracks run from point A to point B and back again. I've been at the front watching the track. There are no turn offs. So, how'd they get the trains down there? I first assumed that they might have built them down there, like how they get equipment into mine shafts. So, it just dawned on me, and I will confirm this tomorrow, but to access track 4, you cross over a bunch of strange metal plates...I bet those come off revealing tracks to the 1/2/3/9 line.

Third, and this is more a piece of fascination. There is no indicator from 10 feet and further that the doors are going to close, but it's amazing to see the people start out slow, and as they get closer, speed up. It's like the train is some sort of electro-human-magnet and the closer they get, the more attractive they get. I fall victim to this all the time. It sucks when you run to catch a train that's not going anywhere.

That's why I check my watch when I get on...so it seems like I'm in a wicked rush.

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