June 13, 2008
Massive Power Outage, Metro Fire
If you're reading this right now, you're one of the lucky people in D.C. with electricity right now. A power outage at a Pepco substation on 10th Street NW has cut electricity to about 10,000 customers in the middle of the city, and at several Metro stations near downtown. Power is currently out at the Duport Circle, Shaw, Farragut North, Farragut West and McPherson Square stations. Trains are still moving at those stations, but the lack of electricity means that only emergency lights are on there, plus fare card machines, elevators and escalators are not working.
But that's not all! The Red line is experiencing major delays this morning since crews were checking a report of smoke on the tracks at Metro Center. A minor fire was reported around 7:40 a.m. -- that situation has since been resolved, but trains in both directions were sharing a single track between Judiciary Square and Farragut North, so everything on the Red line is backed up and a mess.
WTOP says it will be a minimum of an hour before the Pepco outage is resolved.
Please, please don't say that I cursed us all.
Photo by {ryan}
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Trains are still moving at those stations, but the lack of electricity means that only emergency lights are on there, plus fare card machines, elevators and escalators are not working.
Okay. I'll bite. Is the AIR CONDITIONING working at those stations? And if not, do they mind if I come down there with some melted butter and white truffle oil to baste the commuters in their own juices? Because a Metro station with no AC beats a convection oven any summer day.
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I tried getting on at Farragut North and couldn't. I was told it was because of a fire at Metro Center. There was no power at the station. This was at about 8:20(?).
Fortunately, I was able to get a cab with some random people who happened to be going to the same place. Better yet- they expensed the cab ride, so I didn't have to pay!
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Has anybody checked with Arkham Asylum? Are the lights flashing purple instead of yellow? Because this sounds to me like the work of the Joker.
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I'm sorry, but you have cursed us all; however, this can't be the work of just one news story. For some reason the Metro gods have been angered and they have decide to smit us with delays, derailments, fires, and power outages. I know not what will appease them, but I'm sure there will be a great weeping and gnashing of teeth before this is complete.
We now must find the reason for the deities' displeasure and right it. Anyone have any ideas?
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Things seems to be getting better now. But if one more enormous person tries to shove themselves onto an already overpacked train with the excuse that their's plenty of room, I am going to use my paralyzing ninja chop on them and push them out. That is if I can get their bulk out.
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The power failure is actually my fault. Just yesterday I was teasing my suburban coworkers frequent power losses. "In the 8 years I've lived in DC, I've never lost power! Even during that hurricane a few years back!" And the next day look whats happens...
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It is an absolute laugh riot watching pedestrians and motorists trying to navigate the stoplight-less streets downtown. You see, as a god awful bike rider, I am used to ignoring all of the posted laws governing my behavior. You law abiders are going to be in SO much trouble when the Paultards take power.
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I would say this is just due to it being Friday the 13th. But then I realized that EVERY day seems to be Friday the 13th for Metro...
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update from the rhode island ave. corridor:
all of the lights are out from at least 1st down to logan circle, with the exception of 7th street. there were traffic cops directing things at 3rd and rhode island and florida and rhode island.
everywhere else, no one was following the "no lights = 4-way stop" rule. it just goes to verify all the talk yesterday that people around here don't have a damn clue how to drive. that includes you bikers i saw who didn't stop at any intersection and nearly got yourself killed.
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@SpeakSoftlyCarryABigStick: The resignation of Senator Coburn!
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IMGoph: I believe that's: "nearly got yourself kilt!"
Oh, what I wouldn't give for a kilt right now.
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First comment.
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everywhere else, no one was following the "no lights = 4-way stop" rule.
Woah! Hold the phone, Mabel! There's a rule that says this? I thought "no lights = Everyone out of my way, I'm on an important phone call, my battery is running low, and my Escalade is running on fumes! So don't honk at me for blocking the intersection and being beautiful. You're just jealous. Oh, I would look so cute in that top! Hey! I said stop honking!"
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The power station is also cursed.
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Awesome. This will be my excuse for not showing up to work until 11 today.
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Deferred maintenance party at my house!
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I opened the Washington Post website and burst into hysterical laughter as I saw their "commuter alert." I drove into work today, because of plans later on, but I felt I was justified in telling my co-worker, "At least it's the Red Line this time."
What would be an appropriate sacrifice to the Metro gods? Fingers caught in closing doors? Pushing over people who stand to the left on the escalators?
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Farragut West looked like a madhouse as I sat on my Orange Line train--people shouting screaming and tripping all over each other because of the power outage.
Does anybody else wonder why in the world does the capital city of the United States has one of the worst subway systems in the world? I think I should move to a third world country because likely I think the trains would be more reliable.
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But it comes with a free frogurt.
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isn't it terrific that we don't invest heavily in our infrastructure? thank goodness stuff that was built years ago will last forever.
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The frogurt is also cursed
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MoCo had a nice little trick during the last power outage from storms where they set up stop signs at intersections with the traffic lights out. I'd never seen that before and it was so nice! People were actually stopping! Granted there are some illiterate morons who don't understand what a big red sign with the word STOP on it means, but they were definitely the exception. Obviously they couldn't do that downtown with this level of outages but I'm hoping to see more of it in the future. Is that asking too much?
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It took me about 15 minutes extra on my Red Line commute from Cleveland Park to Union "No photos!" Station. The stations between Dupont and Metro Center were eerily dark. Was great fun watching very nervous tourists getting off and not knowing if this would lead to their imminent deaths. There was also an odd burning smell throughout Metro this morning. I assumed it was John Catoe offering sacrifices to the gods to appease them.
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@whitman22
The toppings contain potassium benzoate.
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This city is going to hell in a hand basket...
Aside from cursing us yesterday, or the possibility this is the result of al-qaeda or other 'extremists' (see: C.H.U.D.s. Gremlins), this is another example of how American infrastructure is seriously falling by the wayside.
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Paging Baltimore Metro... Paging Baltimore Metro ...
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I guess I must have missed all the good stuff. Was only mildly delayed getting into Farragut North. Station lights and fare gates weren't working. Which means several hundred (thousand?) people won't be able to get back into the stations when they head home since the card still thinks you haven't entered the system. So that means the station managers should have fun tonight.
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i've sampled some of those license plates running amock d'town. whoa indeed it is those crazed devil Maryland drivers. Can we blame this mess on the Grahmster?
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The only thing that will take this curse off is a Black Mass. We could borrow the altar at the Masonic "Library" on 16th Street. Now, all we need is a defrocked priest (I volunteer), some communion wafers (Triscuits will do in a pinch), some candles made of slain baby fat (does Bed, Bath & Beyond still carry those?), and a virgin. For anyone attending Mousetrap tomorrow at Black Cat, applications will be available at the front desk.
Plan B: cranking up Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" and rocking the double viking.
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Second the motion for worst Metro to Baltimore
...anyone opposed?
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You know, I was about to say that the free fare this morning was the only good thing about this whole mess. Thanks for ruining my utopia.
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Just another reason why the Metro should do a long-term lease of system to a bunch of rich persian gulf sheiks....or to the Germans. Why bother paying taxes to keep your society working when so many other people are willing to do it for you????
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Metro totally needs to bring emergency backup signage. Perhaps some generator-powered projectors that would flash on the walls of the tunnel: "Attention tourists. The crumbling infrastructure, melting train tracks, and eerie blackness that surround you are the result of eight years of drowning the government in the bathtub. Please go home and think about it."
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Maybe they could replace that Speed Racer ad in the tunnel between Metro Center and Gallery Place. Of course, that would require the train being able to move at full speed.
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Dupont Circle is now CLOSED!
http://www.wmata.com/about/MET_NEWS/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2134
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Damn. I had to work in Maryland.
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That's bad.
Can I go now?
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Can't we just sell Metro to one of these guys? Oh, the guy who owns IKEA's worth a cool $33 billion. He could replace all those rock-hard seats with sleek, comfy, cheap benches that fold out into futons. Ball pits and $4 Swedish meatballs at every station!
Then again, everybody hates the Pöpli kids. Even I do. I hate them SO MUCH.
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"Dupont Circle Metrorail station closed at 9:25 a.m. today due to a Pepco power outage downtown that could not provide electricity to the station’s lengthy escalators. Dupont Circle’s longest escalators, at Connecticut Avenue and Q Streets, NW, are 188 feet long.
While trains can serve the Red Line station, the escalators are extremely long, and customers were experiencing difficulty exiting, so officials closed the station for safety reasons. Trains will pass through Dupont Circle and not stop there. "
What a joke. They close an entire station in the middle of the city because people can't climb a large flight of stairs? That makes a lot of sense. Unless of course all the fat people were dying of heart attacks half-way up the escalator. That might make for a dangerous situation.
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PRIVATIZE! PRIVATIZE! This is America afterall!
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I like to congratulate Metro for dealing with all their problems completely “in the box”.
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@somegirl: i nominate for comment of the week!
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Nice one, Ghetto Bus.
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Power is back in most, if not all, of downtown.
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As a white wing fundamentalcase lunatic, let me be the first to say that this is all God's punishment for America tolerating abortion and homosexuality.
Also, those American Apparel booty shorts ads are cause a massive power surge...IN MY PANTS.
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I mean, GhettoBurbs. More people should have bus-related handles.
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"Does anybody else wonder why in the world does the capital city of the United States has one of the worst subway systems in the world?"
Granted that American public transportation systems tend to be sub-par, but the general lack of feces, shattered glass, widespread criminal activity, and tall piles of unidentifiable garbage puts Metro ahead of many other subway systems. You should count your lucky starts, in other words, that we even HAVE Metro, which is more than you can say for over half of the ten largest cities in the US.
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@MonkeyErotica -- I totally forgot about God's punishment for homosexuality. Don't forget that it's Pride Week....clearly God does not want people to take mass transit to homosexual events, and would instead prefer everyone drive a fabulous personal vehicle that shows off the wealth and glamour of the gay community. A curse on all public accomodations for teh gayz!!!
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somewhere, grover norquist is smiling.
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Sommer,
I'm sorry I said you'd curse(d) us all. Clearly one person cannot be blamed for THE MOTHERFUCKING APOCALYPSE, but just to be safe, I think we should all go outside, turn around three times and spit.