what about the plastic animals?

2011 Hairball Update

Back in 2008 I promised an update on the hairball in the 72nd Street IRT subway station.  Here it is!  Or should I say "Hair it is!"?

The hair mass doesn't look all that different than it did in 2008 or 2005.  It hasn't rained in a week so the hair's extra frizzy at the moment.  A correspondent who uses the 72nd St. station much more than I reported that the hair mass was very disgusting this winter.

This is a must-see attraction on the "Schmutz of NYC" tour.  If anyone wants to see the hairball in person it is on the downtown-most set of stairs on the uptown platform.  No need to rush, unlike the quilt show, this work of art should be around for several more years.

Stay tuned for my next report in late 2013 or early 2014.

Service Changes

What is the MTA trying to communicate here?  This sign was at 110th Street today (Sunday).  There were similar signs last Saturday at 116th and 145th Streets.  The first problem is that the B train doesn't run on weekends as a matter of course.  How then, does a non-existent train go out of service early?  Also, how does shutting down the service "ensure that trains continue to operate safely"?

Bad Sign

You may have to be an experienced subway rider to appreciate the wrongness of this temporary sign at Columbus Circle.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Hook 'em Horns!

There's at least one Texas Longhorns fan in the city. 

The hole in the ground is the future Fulton St. Transit Center, an attempt to rationalize and connect the maze of subway stations in lower Manhattan.  The center was supposed to be completed last year.  The current estimate is for 2010.  The project is running at least 50% over budget and that includes all the design simplifications taken to reduce costs.

Hairball Update

It has been nearly three years so I thought it was time to check on the disgusting hairball in the 72nd St. subway station.  The mass of hair is still there.  It has become matted down a bit, but more or less looks as it did in 2005.  Assuming the MTA doesn't clean the stairs before then I'll have another update in 2011.

Way Below 168th Street

The 1 train platform at 168th Street.  Because it is deep underground this is one of the few platforms with an arched ceiling rather than posts.

Sorry for the image size.  Typepad introduced a new interface today and I haven't figured out how to make the image the correct size.  Figured it out.

Almost Empty N

Devoid of ideas this evening, so here's a nearly empty N train.

Subway Weeper

I believe these are called weepers.  I don't know why I know that.  They are passive vents that let humidity escape outside so that moisture doesn't collect on the station walls.  Yes, I don't have much to say today.

Is the 2 Running Express or Local?

Uhh...

The downtown express line track bed is being replaced near 59th St. so there's heavy equipment on the downtown line and lots of construction crap on the uptown express line.

Art or Malfunction?

Oooh, my first YouTube video.  The video screen at Bleecker St. was either malfunctioning, or a brilliant piece of abstract video art this afternoon.  The video looks especially good when looped over and over.  If I can figure out how to do that I'll put it up on YouTube as well.