I had a most lovely SEPTA experience this evening which has prompted me to restart this forgotten, but not forsaken blog. Please allow me to share a story...
We were headed to our friends' house in Havertown for a Christmas party. I had some nice housewarming gifts in my bag along with a box of delicious canelé which my friend Gil makes and sells at farmers markets around town. Met my wife at Market East and we made our way to 69th St Station to switch to the 104 trolley.
We get there with just a few minutes to spare for the 8.10p trolley, or so we thought... We stood there, under Berth 6 as the sign indicated, waiting for the trolley to pull up. There were other people milling about seemingly waiting for trolleys as well. 8.10p comes and goes and we're waiting.
A guy in a SEPTA uniform (smoking a cigarette outside of the booth), at the end of the platform, yells out "104 trolley leaving!" I look around to see a bus leave the station. On the back, the numbers 104 lit up in yellow-green LEDs.
I was confused. I turned to my wife, who was looking at the LED sign which was now saying "104 trolley | 9.10p," and she looked back at me. I said, "I think that bus was our trolley."
Cursing ensued and I checked my new, shiny toy, my Galaxy Nexus, to see how far we were from our friends house. Two miles down the road. It was about 30° and very windy.
I walked over to the SEPTA worker and asked, "was that the 104 trolley that just left?" He tapped his cigarette and replied, "yeah, the trolleys turn over to buses after 7p and leave from over there," as he pointed past the platform to the bus depot. "The next one leaves at 9.10p," he added as if he was being somehow helpful n suggesting we sit in the cold for the next hour.
I stood there for a moment soaking in this lovely piece of customer service. Then I walked away and started to look for a cab to finish our journey. No cold, dark walk through the exurbs for us.
The $1 transfer turned inti a $10 cab ride. Fuck me. No, fuck you, SEPTA. You've failed me once again.
We got a ride back to Philly.
Send in your comments/rants/stories/photos/videos! Rants everything else.
If you're looking for the 104 trolley, I think you're about 40 years too late--trolleys haven't run up West Chester Pike since the '70s.
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be less of a "SEPTA" fail and more of a personal failure.
Ummm....there is no 104 trolley. It's been a bus route for about the last 30 to 40-odd years. Did you possibly mean the 102? Or 101?
ReplyDeleteglad you're back. i love this blog.
ReplyDeleteSo this trolley, defunct since the 70s, still has it's signage on the trolley track? DOUBLE FAIL.
ReplyDelete