I rode the train back and forth from Raritan to New York City twice. The conductors were kind and able, just like you want your conductor to be. They took my money, punched the right holes in my yellow ticket, and helped me with my connection time in Newark, because you have just a few minutes to get from one track to the other. I read a new long story by Denis Johnson called, well, "Train Dreams", and wrote in my journal, and drank my Diet Coke. It was a relief to get away from the apartment for awhile and stare out the window. Raritan is the beginning of the line, so I had the place pretty much to myself until people trickled on at Bound Brook, Finderne, Plainfield, Netherwood, Fanwood, Garwood, Roselle Park. The ride took 90 minutes, but I would've been okay if it'd been longer. It felt good to be on a track, contained, human cargo, for these few hours.