People of the MTA

The Characters of Today's MTA.

In looking at nearly every Transit related website out there, one certainly encounters a tremendous amount of vehicle photos. Still others are in depth enough to offer transit sounds and route histories, and some even have video caps (sorry, we don't, and we probably won't!).
But one thing I've failed to see in all my observations of the many transit fan-sites is a page dedicated to the people who make today's transit possible, and it was recently suggested to add a page to this site that did just that! This is not simply limited to the people who work in the transit field - just as much, if not more so, the patrons of any system also shape its personality a great deal.

So, with many thanks to Greg Spencer for the suggestion, comes my look at the many personalities, both good and bad, that compose today's MTA operation, from behind the wheel, to behind the back door. Some names may have been changed "to protect the innocent," (mostly me, to avoid going to court behind this!), but rest assured that every thing in this page is true to the best of my knowledge. Please keep in mind that this page is no generalization of MTA personalities, just a look at some particular standouts. Also, be advised that some of the depictions are not the most politically correct, as some humor is found in people who obviously have some issues about them.

Otherwise, for those of you who regularly are aboard MTA services, see how many people you've seen or encountered! And if you know of someone interesting who I've omitted, by all means, CONTACT ME!

EMPLOYEES:
(in no particular order)

"B.J." - You'll never forget a ride on "B.J.'s" Light Rail train. He makes all announcements in a rather quick and extremely dull sounding monotone. Still, once you catch on, you can understand every word he says in his robotic sounding "ThistrainmakesallstopstoGlenBurnie Pleasewatchalldoorsdoorswillbeclosing NextstationstopwillbeWestport."
"Banks" - A ride on "Banks" bus is often like a comedy routine filled with one-liners. He's notorious for picking with patrons in a comical, but good natured demeanor. A route 23 rider boarded his bus one day trying to get to an Essex Apartment Complex. He asked Banks, "Do you go past 'Tall Trees?'" To this, Banks replied "Yeah, I go by a whole bunch of tall trees!" On another occasion, Banks pulled up a loaded bus to Fayette and Howard. One man, who contemplated waiting for the next bus, inquired "How long is the bus behind you?" Banks' answer was "Forty Feet - Same as this one is!"
"Carter" - The Metro division has its own comedian in the form of "Carter," who worked on the bus side until just a few years ago. Among his best routines was that of the clueless Operator. When a passenger would board asking for a very well known destination, Carter would feign to have never heard of it. Example: "Can you let me know when we get to Bon Secours?" Carter: "Bon Secours, Where's That? Kansas? Never Heard of it!" His delivery was done in such deadpan perfection that the passenger would usually stand there with a gaping jaw not knowing what to say next. Then, Carter would crack up in hysterics, and suddenly the rider would show a great deal of relief on their face.
"James" - Still another entertainer of a different sort is "James," a LRT Operator who can perform some of the most incredible card tricks you'll ever see. Though he got the chance to wow his lucky passengers more often when he drove all-night buses, he still carries a deck of cards with him at all times. Don't ever doubt James' abilities to somehow know exactly which card of the 52 card deck you picked out the pile, as he'll show it to you far more often than not.
"The Twins" - You may ride on one of the twins' Light Rail vehicles all the time, and never know it. In fact, before coming to the MTA, I rode with one of the twins regularly, and worked there for some months before I realized it. While it may not seem all that unique to have twins working at the MTA, it does create some confusion. As I said, I used to ride with one of the twins regularly on the #61, and he was among my favorite Operators, being extremely congenial. One day, I boarded the bus and saw whom I certainly assumed to be my familiar Operator. I greeted him quite familiarly, only to get a polite but unusually distant greeting in return. Perplexed, I thought he was just having a bad day, and left it alone. Just a couple weeks later, I boarded a bus again, to see the same face, and sheepishly greet him, only to have him reply "Hey Buddy! Where You Been?! Haven't Seen you in a While!" Naturally, this confused the mess out of me for years, until a couple of months after I came to Bush Street, and the mystery was solved. Both twins now work at Light Rail.
"Big G." - MTA's master of "hot-doggery" is Big G. He is the only person I've ever seen actually get take a curve in a bus ON THREE WHEELS (Not in Service 8733 at Southwestern HS, he came around the left curve into the loop sharply, and the front left wheel stopped spinning for about 3 seconds, rising just off the pavement!). He can push a bus for all it's worth, and in spite of his reputation for extreme speed, he is not known to be accident prone! In spite of this, I can remember him relieving me on the #20 once, and having the entire bus let out a loud, disgusted groan when they saw who was about to get them across town. Some even opted to exit and wait for the next one!
"Chalky" - To look at Chalky driving the bus about town, you'd think he was 8 1/2 feet tall, but it's just an illusion of his own making, to give anyone who may cause him trouble second thoughts about trying anything. He says very little as he peers out from his shades, though in the right company, he's a nice fellow, and is most likely MTA's hardest working employee, not turning down any overtime opportunities.
"Thom" - Thom is by most counts a model employee at the MTA. Reportedly, he hasn't missed a day of work in over 20 years, and he does a good job of keep to his schedule while working the #15 line from Kirk Avenue. However, Thom has one particular quirk about him, in that he very rarely parts his lips. You will almost never see Thom speak, to passengers or to co-workers as well, and he's not one to be seen waving to fellow Operators in passing either.
"Mumbles" - A very pleasant fellow, Mumbles doesn't shy away from talking to passengers at all, though few can comprehend just what it is that he's saying, aside from the usual "rightorwrong?!?" that usually follows his comments. With a gravely voice and a Cheshire cat smile, he'll keep you smiling, while you work hard to try to discern just what it is that this Northwest Division operator is saying!
"Matilda" - This Bush Street Operator has an opinion on everything, and will speak with self-righteous authority on everything, with a slow country drawl, and long winded verses. When you get Matilda talking, you're not likely to get her to stop. In spite of this, the 25 year veteran is an accomplished Operator, and does a remarkable job of keeping her coach on time.
"Clever Devices Man" - While I do pride myself on being quite consistent with regards to calling out stops, I have to admit that my depth and consistency is nothing compared to this Kirk Avenue Operator. For example, when I come towards Cathedral and Mulberry, I'll call out "Mulberry Street - Pratt Library." Clever Devices Man will rather call out "Next Stop, Cathedral and Mulberry, for Downtown, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Our Daily Bread, and the Archdiocese of Central Maryland!" He puts the Clever Devices programming to utter shame. I can recall crossing Kirk Avenue on a Sunday morning and seeing him operate an EMPTY #36 line bus Northbound, all the while calling in-depth stop information out to the seats.
Celebrity "Look-a-Likes" at the MTA. When they're not being famous, the following "celebrities" are operating MTA's vehicles. Have you seen them? Starr Jones (Bush), Randy Quaid (Eastern), Danny Glover (Kirk), R. Kelly (Bush), Kwiesi Mfume (Kirk), The Bear in the Big Blue House (Eastern), and Frankie Beverly (Kirk). Meanwhile, a couple of Northwest Operators have celebrity names, though they bear no resemblance to their famous namesakes - Gary Cooper and Hugh Grant.

FORMER EMPLOYEES
(Both Retired and Dismissed)

"George" - He worked at the MTA/BTC for 47 years before finally retiring in late 1998. His later years were spent in the Mobility Department, where he was among the favorites of passengers and coworkers alike. After leaving, he went to Yellow Transportation to work in their up and coming Paratransit Division, but had to resign later due to failing eyesight. Despite a good attendance record while at MTA, George would pass away within a year. Had he been able to continue working, he'd probably be alive today.
"Scotty" - Though nothing about his operation on the streets was remarkable, Scotty had one odd habit that would irk the majority of his fellow men at Bush Street. Looking to pinch pennies, Scotty would often be found coming out of the restrooms carrying a handle bag containing numerous rolls of toilet paper. The Operator answering a nature call would then enter the lavatory to find the stalls free of any paper whatsoever. Scotty appears to have resigned later on.
"Scotty" - Another Scotty who had a tendency to take things was this dreadlocked Operator. He was among the most despised Operators among disabled riders, routinely confiscating expired ID Cards from those attempting to use them, collecting a sizable stash in his days here at MTA. Despite a rather arrogant personality, Scotty was a good worker, working loads of Overtime at every available opportunity. He'd have a tendency to "show up" at Divisions where he expected manpower to be short, despite lacking an official assignment there. Scotty's love of money was his downfall though, as he was framed for "moonlighting" at WMATA while out at MTA on Workmen's Comp.
"Dave" - It's hard to figure out just how to classify Dave. Though he was never an actual employee at MTA, he made his biggest mark posing as an operating MTA Operator on AT LEAST 2 occasions, and would fool other MTA employees into thinking he was an Operator, with a well thought out scenario in which he worked a mid-day out of Northwest on the M16 line, thus making it seem justified that you never crossed him on the line (I fell for it!). About 1992, he came into the Northwest Division, and pulled out a bus on the #28 bus line, operating for several hours before he was caught. Persevering, he later made arrangements with a not-so-thrilled-to-be-an-MTA Operator to operate her run on the #20 line (I happened to cross paths with him that day, and fool that I was, began chatting "Hey, they sent you down to Bush Today!"). He completed the entire first part. However, the gig was up when it came time to bring the bus to the relief, who already knew of him and his antics. He hurriedly left the bus, and would later be picked up by MTA Police. He's back out there, but I'm hoping his days as a phony Operator are over.
"D.J." - Unlike Dave, D.J. really was an Operator, but not for very long. His impatience for turning full time, and his penny annie schemes for money got him in trouble. While at Bush Street, he'd reportedly steal donuts from the AM Starter selling them, without paying. He also reportedly padded detentions, and placed phony slips on the vending machines, alleging to have lost his money in them, and requesting a refund. After transferring to Northwest, he finally overdid himself. Working a school tripper in which the kids paid with Cash, he put a bag on the dash, and told the kids that the farebox was broken, and to put their money in the bag. Little did he know that one of the students had their Father who worked Downtown at MTA. She told her dad of this experience, and a call was put in to the Division to see if said bag was turned in. Naturally, it wasn't, and D.J. was out of a job as a result of his greed.

PASSENGERS:
(arranged by their most common route of travel)

"Mr. Hill" - Among the absolute nicest passengers I've ever carried is Mr. Hill. A war Veteran, Mr. Hill always exemplified a true spirit of kindness and courtesy as he made his rounds on the #2 bus from Irvington. As of late, Mr. Hill now uses a wheelchair, but still embodies a uniquely positive spirit that one rarely sees these days. In boarding the bus, he'll greet the entire bus, and gets a good response from the riders in return.
"Body Bag Lady" - Certainly one of the more interesting personalities to ride the bus is this lady, who frequents the #3 in addition to other MTA lines. With her jumpy Don Kingesque hairdo, she religiously carts around a folding shopping cart containing a humongous duffel bag, of which I've heard quite a few riders joking that there's a body inside. Despite the massive weight of her parcels, she'll refuse to let ANYONE help her. Once on the bus, she'll typically rest the cart behind the back door, and stand by it while reading verses from a book aloud. When she displays her pass to the Operator, she always will stand behind the line and hold it out at full arms length, while looking skyward in an opposite direction.
"Billy Wing Ding" - Few regular riders of the south end of the #11 DON'T know Wing Ding. He's a true bi-polar poster child, one part Sickeningly Sweet, the other impatient and evil, all rolled up into a package that looks just like Dom DeLuise, just lacking the facial hair. He often carries about a newspaper bag or suitcase, as he goes to area churches in search of food. When in a good mood, he'll greet you with his cookie cutter sayings, and will often try to talk to younger women riding the bus. When hungry, hot, or impatient, he gets quite nasty, his face getting red, and sitting there staring at the floor shouting things like "C'man Let's Go! Burn It!", "I'm in a Hurry!", or "It's Hot! DAMN Hot!" Riding with Wing Ding is often like a game of Russian Roulette, as you never know what you're in for.
"Herbie" - The North end of the #11 has it's own character as well, who is liable to be seen anywhere in the system. Though of better intentions than Wing Ding, Herbie appears to be rather lonely, and gets to be a bit sensitive as a result. One day, I pleasantly remarked "Hey, You Get Around!" and he replied "I'm Sorry if I bother you - I don't bother you! If you like, I won't catch your bus again!" He has a few female Operators he's taken to, and will ride with them on occasion, and he'll greet every female boarding the bus, and sometimes creep them out saying "You're so pretty! Let me just look at you!" He means well though, so I can't diss him, but I do tend to cringe when I see him waiting on the corner for my bus.
"Chris Farley" and "Pop" - This duo are almost always seen together, and can pop up anywhere. The last time I saw them was on the #14. Chris bears a strong resemblance to the comedian, while Pop looks something like the guy who played Shirley's Pop on Laverne and Shirley. Each has their own oddity. Chris reeks of spoiled food and will light the entire bus up, while Pop is often seen befuddled and dazed, stumbling about. One time, I let Chris and Pop off the bus, only to have Pop's pants drop all the way to his ankles as he got off the bus. On occasion, they will be accompanied by some friends, most memorable is a guy who wears a pair of 1920's/1960's looking big rimmed glasses.
"Chuckey" - You won't find many drivers out there who enjoy carting Chuckey around. His favorite haunts are the #19 and #27 bus lines, as well as the Light Rail. A self-proclaimed Transit fan, Chuckey will blather on in a quite irritating, fast, effeminate voice for an entire ride about the wrecking of ACF Brill #2588 countless decades ago on West Saratoga Street. When approaching transfer points, he'll shout out the street, as if he were the Operator. And from what I've heard, he has a particular dislike for myself, and will babble about that as well to Bush Street Operators. Not like I really care.
"Jimmy" - Though most regularly seen on the East End of the #20 where he apparently lives, Jimmy is liable to turn up anywhere. He's a avid drinker who can be EXTREMELY annoying. He has a dark complexion and a widows peak. He always pays up, making it harder to get him tossed off. He'll greet each and every person boarding the bus, and has a tendency to claim that he's just spent the morning with the Lord Jesus. I've only once seen anyone on board the bus actually carry on a conversation with Jimmy, everyone else is just particularly irked by him. Among his most comical if perplexing routines is to greet any Black man wearing a tie with "a'Salaam Alakum (sp?)", assuming he's a Muslim following Minister Louis Farrakhan. On occasion, Jimmy will belt out that he's "the intelligent Drunk, speaking 7 languages!"
"Preacher Man" - An extremely pleasant fellow, Preacher Man always boards the bus with a brief sermon that isn't very intelligible due to his habit of running his words together with his gravely voice. Often seen boarding the Cathedral Street lines at Mulberry Street, he also frequents the #36 regularly. One time, I tried to make sense of what he was saying, only to hear it as "Christ the Savior salted the Chicken, Everyone have a Blessed Day!" I don't think that's what he was saying though.
"Record Man" - A definite child of the 1960's, Record Man avidly collects old records, and even sells a few. With a jovial face and attitude, he may announce to the entire bus "If anyone has any old records they don't want, I buy them!" Usually, he can be seen carrying around a large green tote bag filled to the brim with old LPs.

"Running Man" - I've never seen the Jogging man catch the bus, and I have my doubts that he ever has. Why? Because he spends literally hours of each day jogging all throughout the entire Baltimore area. A brown complected man with thinly braided natural hair, Running man is liable to be seen anywhere in town jogging along the roadside. Though most often seen on Southwest corridors, the jogging man, in his jogging shorts and running shoes, may turn up anywhere from Parkville to Dundalk as well.

Where are they Now?
Standout Passengers I haven't seen in a while

"The Lady with the Hair" - A regular of the #10 and #27 lines, the Lady with the Hair was one rider you'd never forget. She was never a pain to deal with, and she didn't smell, but she was easily remembered for her thatch of red hair that went down to her waist. The eerie thing was that this hair was embedded in a mass of what could best be described as "lava," some sort of maroon-mauve substance that looked hard, yet foamy. In time, she would wear a long scarf to cover most of it, but you could still tell it was there, and you'd still ponder curiously, "What is that stuff?!?" Rumor has it that the Lady with the Hair passed away a couple years ago, as she's not been seen lately.
"Mr. Pissybritches" - An unfortunately fitting name which a coworker of mine gave this one time regular on the #10 and #27 lines. Mr. P. would waddle up on the bus, with his posterior extended, then stare all about the bus through a pair of thick bi-focals. As the name implies, Mr. P. would make a bus stink quite quickly.
"Jesus" - For a time back in 1996, this personality would "bless" the #23 line with his presence, claiming among all things, to be the Lord Jesus Christ. In reality, this was reportedly "Dave," who graduated from Chesapeake High in Eastern Baltimore County. Jesus had a way of riding back and forth all day on the line, irritating most of the people he encountered. Only one man I ever saw was time enough for him. When Dave came up to him to tell him he was the Messiah, the man replied "How can you be?!? I am Jesus!" One day, Jesus got off on a particular rant on my bus, and I finally called for the Police. When he refused to vacate the bus, the Police had to use tear gas on him, and it had little effect on him. After that incident, he was only seen for a short time afterwards. It was rumored that he was being kept at the Carter Center. In any event, this was one rider I don't miss.
"Neecey" - Once a regular on the #29 line, it's been a while since I've seen Neecey. A known addict in the "program," Neecey was also known to "turn tricks" for a living (and had no qualms to admitting it - she once boarded my bus enroute from Cherry Hill to Randallstown saying she was heading out to "earn money" to buy some cookie dough for her daughter's class bake sale!). This is where the saddest part unfolds. Neecey was often accompanied by her young daughter, a beautiful, bright, and inquisitive child who very likely got some unfortunate lessons and observations in the ugly side of life very early. A few of the regular Operators in "the Hill" would give her school clothes for her child, though, and it does appear that the girl now lives with her Father, where one can only hope that she can overcome.
"James Brown" - OW! GOOD GAWD! Definitely a rider you'd never forget. J.B. usually didn't bother anyone, but rather he looked like he just stepped out of 1974. With a pronounced Afro (wig?) and usually a maroon suit and small leatherette business pouch, James would turn up any where at any time. You'd find him walking the streets of Pigtown at 430 in the morning, at Pennsy and Fulton at 6am, or trotting past Camden Yards during an evening game. James, known to be the father of a Former Operator of the same real name, would often turn up on the buses at night, and would be fast asleep when it was time to pull off, often requiring Police assistance to wake him up and get him off. J.B. passed on a few years ago, but one still expects to see his ghost trodding the streets of Baltimore in their travels.
"Peter Billingsley" - If you've ever seen "A Christmas Story," you no doubt know who Peter Billingsley is. A couple years ago, a flush faced kid who somewhat resembled him could be spotted all about some of the busiest bus stops sitting on the ground, writing observations on a loose sheet of notebook paper as each bus pulled into the stop. I never knew what he was writing, nor did I ever talk to him on the occasions he would catch my bus, but I gather he was some sort of bus enthusiast. It's been about 3 years since I've seen him about.
"Supervisor Trumaine" - While Peter Billingsley was never a bother, for operators of the #91 line, Supervisor Trumaine WAS. When about 15 years old, he would "monitor" bus stops on the line, perpetrating that he was a Street Supervisor, with clip board in hand and an MTA jacket. A few Operators reportedly fell for his schtick, but eventually, Radio calls were made to instruct Operators not to give this young man any information, and eventually, he found other ways to entertain himself.

SOME OTHER QUICKIE INTERACTIONS
OF MY OWN
26 CAR TO SPARROWS POINT: One Saturday back in 1998, while working the Eastbound #10 line, I pulled to the corner of Eastern and Haven to have an elderly lady ask me "Does this CAR go to Turner's Station?" Never mind that the #26 car had not been running for 40 years!
TWISTED HUMOR: Garnering an idea from the previous experience, I spent one trip on April Fools Day on the #10 line calling out the transfer points of 50 years ago. For example, "CONKLING STREET - 34". "EAST AVENUE - F BUS." No one on the bus paid me any mind, making me wonder how often they hear me when I call out the right points.
REVERSE LOGIC: On occasion, I'll get a rider who will expect the Operator to know every departure time of every line at every stop in the city. For example, you pull up to a stop to have a passenger ask "What time does the #35 come?" Not knowing specifically, I'll reply "I Don't know," to which they'll reply "YOU WORK FOR THE MTA DON'T YOU? - YOU SHOULD KNOW!" I've learned to think quick in this situation, asking them in return, "Where do you work for a living?" following their reply with an very obscure question in return. For example, if they say "I work at Burger King.", I'll say "Exactly how much does a carton of burger wrappers cost?" Puzzled, they'll usually stand there slack jawed, at which point, I'll add "YOU WORK AT BURGER KING DON'T YOU? - YOU SHOULD KNOW!"
LAST IRVINGTON RELIEF - I have the odd honor of being the last Operator to be relieved at Frederick and Collins, aka Irvington Division of old, even though the relief point was abolished nearly 8 years before I was born! Though an active relief point until streetcars bowed out in 1963, Irvington closed, and the relief point changed to Eutaw Street Downtown for Bush Operators. One Saturday, I approached this relief point to find no relief Operator in sight. After a wait of several minutes, Radio Supervision finally gave me clearance to proceed Westbound. When I reached Collins Avenue, there was my relief standing at the transit stop. He said he got held up in traffic, and asked if he could take the bus from me there, and his family in the car would take me wherever I needed to go. Not wanting the man to get a miss, I obliged, only minutes later realizing the distinction that I had just achieved.
SENT BY GOD? - One afternoon on the #20, I picked up a load of young "hoppers" Westbound at Howard Street. The load raucous way in which they boarded the bus seemed to indicate that they were not about to behave. However, unbeknownst to me, a group of men I'd picked up at Saint Paul Street belonged to a Church Choir. Within a few blocks, they began to sing hymns, very very well I might add. My aversion to the youths was suddenly forgotten, and instantly the whole atmosphere on the bus became quite calm and serene. They alighted at Pulaski Street, but I remember feeling a high for hours afterwards.
PUTTING IT IN PERSPECTIVE - Among my biggest Passenger pet peeves are those who are particularly slow in boarding the coach, as I work hard to keep a bus on a tough schedule. The most irksome sight is to have someone beauregard their way to the front of a boarding crowd only to get up on the bus, and start "Silver Mining," blocking those behind them as they slowly pull out nickel and dime from their pockets in an attempt to raise the fare. My most diplomatic way of trying to handle this so far has been to say "Excuse me, I'm trying to keep YOUR Bus on schedule!" It's firm, logical, and not overly rude or arrogant.

CRAZY 8's - Perhaps the worst day to inspect day passes is on any date ending in the number 8, as some have a way of crafting old passes, so that a pass from FEB 13 now reads FEB 18. 0's and 6's also magically become 8's with proper care, while the 1's sometimes resurface as rough 4's. Sometimes, you catch these - sometimes you don't, and other times you don't care. However, my three worst examples of pass forgery were most insulting. In one, a man boarding at Baltimore and Carey on the 22nd of the month had a pass in which he cut out a Times Roman number 22 from a printout of some sort, and pasted it over the existing 14. Since the smooth rounded typestyle looked NOTHING like the jagged dotty typeface of the thermal printer, it stood out like a sore thumb. Still another act of desperation saw two boarding passengers take their passes from the 17th, and attempt to create an "8" using a reverse swoosh leading from the head of the 7 across the stem, and looping to meet the trunk - IN BLUE BALL POINT PEN! NOT! Finally, another gentleman boarding at Dundalk Loop almost got away with a well done forgery. I was all ready to let him go, when I said my usual "Thank You" - In haste and guilt, he apparently didn't pay attention to my "clearing" him, and stopped abruptly "It is the 5th, Isn't It?!?" Shaking myself to pay closer attention, I then realized that it was the 4th! He had done a good forgery, but it was for TOMORROW, and he gave himself away!