First Class Duck
@firstclassduck.bsky.social
an opinionated and jaded traveler
FWIW, I would argue that the majority of the people who want to live in or around Frederick are people who want SFH, so increasing density in core DC isn't going to quite help with that sector of the market as much.
December 23, 2025 at 4:28 AM
FWIW, I would argue that the majority of the people who want to live in or around Frederick are people who want SFH, so increasing density in core DC isn't going to quite help with that sector of the market as much.
Something, something, WMATA is slowly approaching LIRR lengths of third rail...
Unless somebody can convince me that the Red Line's tunnels can fit rolling stock with a pantograph on top...
Unless somebody can convince me that the Red Line's tunnels can fit rolling stock with a pantograph on top...
December 23, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Something, something, WMATA is slowly approaching LIRR lengths of third rail...
Unless somebody can convince me that the Red Line's tunnels can fit rolling stock with a pantograph on top...
Unless somebody can convince me that the Red Line's tunnels can fit rolling stock with a pantograph on top...
So I wouldn't be surprised if the Hudson Valley and even some of the Southern Tier of NY (see Binghampton) opts for EWR over JFK if pricing and schedule worked for their international travel.
Traffic to EWR can be bad, but getting to JFK is far worse as you get closer to the city.
Traffic to EWR can be bad, but getting to JFK is far worse as you get closer to the city.
December 22, 2025 at 11:00 PM
So I wouldn't be surprised if the Hudson Valley and even some of the Southern Tier of NY (see Binghampton) opts for EWR over JFK if pricing and schedule worked for their international travel.
Traffic to EWR can be bad, but getting to JFK is far worse as you get closer to the city.
Traffic to EWR can be bad, but getting to JFK is far worse as you get closer to the city.
*If you are anywhere in NY state besides Manhattan or Rockland/Orange counties*
FWIW, one of the weird quirks of Albany is that there are no flights from ALB to JFK or EWR which means you either connect in another city and backtrack, you drive to JFK/EWR, BOS, SWF (lol), or YUL, or you ride Amtrak.
FWIW, one of the weird quirks of Albany is that there are no flights from ALB to JFK or EWR which means you either connect in another city and backtrack, you drive to JFK/EWR, BOS, SWF (lol), or YUL, or you ride Amtrak.
December 22, 2025 at 10:54 PM
*If you are anywhere in NY state besides Manhattan or Rockland/Orange counties*
FWIW, one of the weird quirks of Albany is that there are no flights from ALB to JFK or EWR which means you either connect in another city and backtrack, you drive to JFK/EWR, BOS, SWF (lol), or YUL, or you ride Amtrak.
FWIW, one of the weird quirks of Albany is that there are no flights from ALB to JFK or EWR which means you either connect in another city and backtrack, you drive to JFK/EWR, BOS, SWF (lol), or YUL, or you ride Amtrak.
And it's rather pointless to use a UA codeshare on Lufthansa and friends or Air Canada from JFK or LGA when Delta & Delta UK or BA/AA have frequent flights at JFK. And hell, there's always JetBlue and Norse.
December 22, 2025 at 10:51 PM
And it's rather pointless to use a UA codeshare on Lufthansa and friends or Air Canada from JFK or LGA when Delta & Delta UK or BA/AA have frequent flights at JFK. And hell, there's always JetBlue and Norse.
Reposted by First Class Duck
it's wild how the entire conservative economic movement has completely collapsed when it comes to this level of tremendous state intervention in the economy
December 22, 2025 at 10:32 PM
it's wild how the entire conservative economic movement has completely collapsed when it comes to this level of tremendous state intervention in the economy
I've had friends that used that approach in the tolling systems around Seattle, and that avoided incurring the rental agency's billing system.
December 22, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I've had friends that used that approach in the tolling systems around Seattle, and that avoided incurring the rental agency's billing system.
I would simply work remotely with a US employer while skirting around tax reporting requirements.
December 22, 2025 at 1:52 PM
I would simply work remotely with a US employer while skirting around tax reporting requirements.
They’re losing the potential new members or additional new work for their existing members.
December 22, 2025 at 1:51 PM
They’re losing the potential new members or additional new work for their existing members.
In this case, it’s a former LIRR line, so the LIRR’s unions lose the work to whatever union ends up organizing the workers.
December 22, 2025 at 1:47 PM
In this case, it’s a former LIRR line, so the LIRR’s unions lose the work to whatever union ends up organizing the workers.
It’s akin to Metra giving up ROW to CTA. CTA’s union gains the employment opportunities while Metra’s union loses them.
December 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
It’s akin to Metra giving up ROW to CTA. CTA’s union gains the employment opportunities while Metra’s union loses them.
Sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, irregular heart beat…
Sometimes, you can be restricted to yard work and station switching. Other times, platform only.
Coincidentally, these are reasons that applicants miss out on the job. The can’t get clearance from their doctors in time or at all.
Sometimes, you can be restricted to yard work and station switching. Other times, platform only.
Coincidentally, these are reasons that applicants miss out on the job. The can’t get clearance from their doctors in time or at all.
December 22, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, irregular heart beat…
Sometimes, you can be restricted to yard work and station switching. Other times, platform only.
Coincidentally, these are reasons that applicants miss out on the job. The can’t get clearance from their doctors in time or at all.
Sometimes, you can be restricted to yard work and station switching. Other times, platform only.
Coincidentally, these are reasons that applicants miss out on the job. The can’t get clearance from their doctors in time or at all.
FWIW, since it’s old LIRR ROW, it’s technically a loss of jobs to SMART and BLE…
A few people were hoping for it be treated as a D division where a few weeks of training would suffice even with the light rail rolling stock.
A few people were hoping for it be treated as a D division where a few weeks of training would suffice even with the light rail rolling stock.
December 22, 2025 at 8:35 AM
FWIW, since it’s old LIRR ROW, it’s technically a loss of jobs to SMART and BLE…
A few people were hoping for it be treated as a D division where a few weeks of training would suffice even with the light rail rolling stock.
A few people were hoping for it be treated as a D division where a few weeks of training would suffice even with the light rail rolling stock.
Surprisingly, a decent number of the signals near the interlockings are still around in order to protect the switches.
December 22, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Surprisingly, a decent number of the signals near the interlockings are still around in order to protect the switches.
Train operators who are temporarily barred from operating a train. They’re either awaiting retraining after an injury, facing an investigation after an incident, or they have a health issue that needs to be settled with employee health services.
December 22, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Train operators who are temporarily barred from operating a train. They’re either awaiting retraining after an injury, facing an investigation after an incident, or they have a health issue that needs to be settled with employee health services.
Trade school or work experience requirements.
December 22, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Trade school or work experience requirements.
What’s $1M (100k per year for 10 years) per 500 employees and their insurance going to cost? :-)
December 22, 2025 at 4:44 AM
What’s $1M (100k per year for 10 years) per 500 employees and their insurance going to cost? :-)
BFF did the platform after an incident, and it can vary from a slow day where you’re helping happy tourists during a GO, and other times where you’re dodging people who want to spit at you because you woke them up and told them to leave the train.
The latter is what scares people away.
The latter is what scares people away.
December 22, 2025 at 4:43 AM
BFF did the platform after an incident, and it can vary from a slow day where you’re helping happy tourists during a GO, and other times where you’re dodging people who want to spit at you because you woke them up and told them to leave the train.
The latter is what scares people away.
The latter is what scares people away.
FWIW, there wouldn’t be that many of them.
If anything, the restricted train operators would fill those roles as the do now. Or they give the station agents track training, up their pay slightly for being drug testable, and they walk the platforms…
If anything, the restricted train operators would fill those roles as the do now. Or they give the station agents track training, up their pay slightly for being drug testable, and they walk the platforms…
December 22, 2025 at 4:40 AM
FWIW, there wouldn’t be that many of them.
If anything, the restricted train operators would fill those roles as the do now. Or they give the station agents track training, up their pay slightly for being drug testable, and they walk the platforms…
If anything, the restricted train operators would fill those roles as the do now. Or they give the station agents track training, up their pay slightly for being drug testable, and they walk the platforms…
IIRC, I think MBTA has their Green Line employees maintain their CDLs to drive shuttle buses. Is suspect Ottawa might be a similar case.
December 22, 2025 at 4:29 AM
IIRC, I think MBTA has their Green Line employees maintain their CDLs to drive shuttle buses. Is suspect Ottawa might be a similar case.
The other issue is that by the time you reach top pay the gap is much smaller compared with conductor to train operator, and you could have enough seniority to have a weekend day off.
December 22, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The other issue is that by the time you reach top pay the gap is much smaller compared with conductor to train operator, and you could have enough seniority to have a weekend day off.
To bus operators, RTO comes across as a difficult place with strict rules, stronger discipline, and less community among the workers.
December 22, 2025 at 12:05 AM
To bus operators, RTO comes across as a difficult place with strict rules, stronger discipline, and less community among the workers.
In RTO, the railroad is seen as a heavenly place where the union is strong, the wages are high, passengers less risky, and management far less harsh.
BFF was ultra pissed when he learned that PATH makes $50/hr. He was willing to eat LIRR pay being high but not PATH.
BFF was ultra pissed when he learned that PATH makes $50/hr. He was willing to eat LIRR pay being high but not PATH.
December 21, 2025 at 10:56 PM
In RTO, the railroad is seen as a heavenly place where the union is strong, the wages are high, passengers less risky, and management far less harsh.
BFF was ultra pissed when he learned that PATH makes $50/hr. He was willing to eat LIRR pay being high but not PATH.
BFF was ultra pissed when he learned that PATH makes $50/hr. He was willing to eat LIRR pay being high but not PATH.