Slow Trains To Astoria And The Bronx — You Don’t Say!
Don’t ever let them tell you that it doesn’t save time to board cars close to the stairwells because it does:
At 6:06 a.m. yesterday, 24 hours and 2 minutes after setting off on their quest to pass by all 468 subway stations, Dan Green and Donald Badaczewski pulled in to the end of the No. 6 line — a full hour faster than the record two other pals set in 1998.
“I feel satisfied, I feel tired, and I can’t think straight,” said a yawny Green, 26. “I just wanted to get the hell off of the train.”
First on the list of things to do was a bathroom break, followed closely by strong coffee.
After traveling all of the 230 miles covered by the train system in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens, the new subway champions were greeted by Badaczewski’s girlfriend, Chris Kelly, and a bevy of TV cameras.
“I know this sounds really weird, but I’m so proud of them,” said Kelly, 24, who was waiting with a hug, balloons, and a sign proclaiming victory.
She also bore gifts of burritos and water for the weary champions.
Early in the evening before, the duo was running about 40 minutes behind schedule after boarding slow trains to Astoria and the Bronx.
But a few lucky late-night transfers and unexpected shuttle service to Bay Ridge had them back on track by 4 a.m.
After a sprint up the stairs at the Lexington Ave./53rd St. station to catch an uptown 4, the last leg of the journey had arrived. The pair transferred to a 6 at 125th St. and cruised into Pelham Bay Park before the sun came up.
Former college roommates, Green and Badaczewski, 24, planned their trip so meticulously as to know which train cars were closest to station staircases.
. . .
They aren’t planning on submitting their time to the Guinness Book of World Records, which only tracks a record for a person visiting each station.
But Michael Falsetta of the East Village, who did a similar ride in 25 hours 11 minutes with his college buddy eight years ago, conceded defeat.
“Even Babe Ruth’s record fell eventually,” said Falsetta.
See also: Will Records Fall?, But What If You’re The Sick Passenger?
Posted: August 25th, 2006 | Filed under: Architecture & Infrastructure, Historical, Huzzah!, The Geek Out