Nite time LRT photos

Still figuring out what to do about the gallery. There are a lot of great photos. (Sorry for the insane load time. I may resave these down to a smaller size.)

For those of you just joining us, the twin cities now have a light rail line, about 8 miles, that will soon run from the Mall of America and international airport in Bloomington, up into Minneapolis, along to the Metrodome and Target Center, with a good deal of city between. This is the north end of the line or Warehouse District station, which is about 8 miles long now:

These pics are from Saturday night. This is approaching the Warehouse district station. I took this open-shutter shot over the shoulder (thru the cab window) of the driver.

This was earlier on Saturday. Metro Transit cleverly put free buses at each station so that more people could jump around and see the other stations. I jumped on this bus to skip ahead from Fort Snelling, where I would have been stuck for two or three trains, to the VA Medical Center one stop ahead, where I hopped on without delay. I couldn't believe that people were parked in the line at the Warehouse District station for hours, as it stretched two blocks.

These kids were riding with me on an articulated (bendy double size) bus that was travelling alongside the Hiawatha line between Fort Snelling and the VA.

I call this one a development metaphor. The Metrodome is out of frame to the right and the Mississippi riverfront developments like the new Guthrie and condos are going up quickly.

Minneapolis City Hall at Government Plaza, photo taken from the Hennepin County Government Center.

Right after I got off at the warehouse district. The drivers liked talking to people. I am reflected:

Eager new riders. There were so many small children that I wonder if some will actually remember the LRT as their first memory...