The DC Transit Line People Can't Ride

[@brycebundens6866]

Man I wish America would quit monkeying around with these gadgetbahns

[@Thom-TRA]

I don’t know, I’d go ape for one of these

[@arhansarkar8134]

As someone who uses the o-line to get to work everyday, im happy you covered our little line!

[@Thom-TRA]

How have you found the reliability to be?

[@landon176]

Hey, this would be considered as a great April fools video

[@ltaproductions7989]

So... It's a commuter ropeway?

[@itze25]

*lol*

[@jonathanbott87]

It's the ape-rope-riate way to travel

[@firiel2366]

​@@jonathanbott87 boooooooo

[@STEAMerBear]

Yeah. But there’s an arm-length requirement. The guy won’t let you on if your arm span is less than Red’s.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

There is some actual transit history at the National Zoo: At the bird house in the zoo, there is a granite eagle statue, and this eagle is one of the 22 eagles that stood on the original NY Penn Station! Specifically one of the fourteen eagles carved for the roof! The zoo got their hands on a Penn Station eagle because when the original Penn Station was being demolished, Secretary of Smithsonian S. Dillon Ridley and the board negotiated and received it as a gift from the Chairman of the board of the PRR! The eagle temporarily traveled to Montreal for the Expo 67 in Montreal, where it appeared in the US Pavilion. Upon it return, the eagle was placed in front of the Bird House. The original Penn Station eagles have made it to different places across the Northeast, from the Market Street Bridge outside 30th Street Station to Hicksville LIRR, the Skylands botanical garden in Ringwood, NJ, and the Valley Forge Military Academy. As you mentioned, Orangutan is derived from the Malay words orang, meaning "person", and hutan, meaning "forest"! Orangutans have an arm span of about 2.2 m (over 7 ft) from fingertip to fingertip. Considering their standing height is around 1.5 m, this is an impressive reach, especially when their arms are one and a half times longer than their legs and stretch to their ankles when standing as you mentioned! Orangutans mainly eat fruits, such as mangoes, lychees and figs, but they also feed on young leaves, flowers, insects, and even small mammals. Fruit makes up around 60% of an orangutan's diet, but when it’s scarcer they also eat things, like soil and tree bark. Durian is a favorite fruit of orangutans, a fruit that's best known for its stench! When they don't use their strength, Orangutans can use tools like sticks to get termites, ants or bees out of trees. They've also been observed making a glove out of leaves when handling prickly fruits or thorny branches.

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m sure the durian does wonders to their breath…

[@georgekarnezis4311]

an elevated line that is somehow still a grade crossing. amazing happy April fools

[@Thom-TRA]

American transit be like

[@zyxwut321]

Great April Fool's content! Just the sort I like to see, harmless, fun, cute and creative. Good job, Thom! :)

[@Thom-TRA]

And a teeny bit educational I hope!

[@alk61695]

Do they need a Smart Trip Card to ride the O Line? I hope they give them a special fare.

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s fare-free

[@alk61695]

@@Thom-TRA Ah that is good they get to ride for free.

[@SleepTrain456]

@@Thom-TRA, that's good, since I don't know many apes with a card!

[@PhilLesh69]

This is legally sanctioned gate jumping.

[@ARUSApacecarHAMPTON]

@@Thom-TRA nothing is free in Washington, they are fare jumping.

[@zsrhusain]

Thanks Thom for covering this, love all of your content!

[@landon176]

It’s Thom

[@robertschaefer3223]

We should start a petition to get them to let Thom ride the O line.

[@Thom-TRA]

Yes, I know I need a haircut!

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

That panda rolling down the hill was definitely having the time of its life! According to a study by University of California, Davis and the California State University, Long Beach, they have concluded why pandas are black and white! Their analysis found that the white fur covering the majority of the animal's body is adapted for camouflage against a snowy background, whilst its dark shoulders and legs provide crypsis in shade. The team concluded that panda coloration is ultimately driven by panda ecology as in because they eat such a poor diet that they never manage to store enough body fat to allow them to hibernate, pandas must constantly prowl for food. Since they are always seeking their next meal, pandas are never able to molt their fur quickly enough, so it matches their background. Thus, they evolved a compromise pattern and coloration of black-and-white fur. Here are some facts about the meerkats and naked mole-rats you saw as well: Meerkats are found in southern Africa. Meerkats are gregarious and have at least ten distinctive vocalizations. Females tend to be more vocal than males. Vocalizations include murmurs, threatening growls and spits, scolding clucks, and a defensive alarm bark. The naked mole-rat is native to the Horn of Africa and is the only member of the Heterocephalidae family. Naked mole-rats are eusocial, meaning they live in large colonies in which only one female breeds and the majority of workers (both males and females) spend their entire lives working for the colony. This is an unusual characteristic for mammals. Colony size averages 70 individuals, but colonies of up to 295 have been observed.

[@Thom-TRA]

Wow, they really are the mammal version of ants!

[@history_leisure]

Its interesting to see that some zoo's do have interesting systems connecting a larger enclosure system or providing a 360 experience for guests. Philadelphia, my home zoo, is a good example of this

[@penquinned]

Yeah. There’s a small zoo called the Saginaw Children’s Zoo that has a special bridge that the monkeys take to go inside for the winter. Sorta similar to the O-Line but different. It also has a zoo train with a level crossing and a tower where kids can act like conductors.

[@rollertoaster812]

So it's just like the capitol subway except elevated? Are Senators allowed to use it?

[@Thom-TRA]

Senators are people and it’s the transit line people can’t ride. This is exclusively for the Elite Orangutan Corps.

[@rollertoaster812]

@@Thom-TRA Wait, senators are people? 😆 J/K

[@rollertoaster812]

@Thom-TRA Elite Orangutan Corps! 😆! All joking aside, good job on making a fun video on a very unique sort of "transit system". Low-tech danglebahn! Very amusing, yet factual. And I really loved your video on the Capitol Subway.

[@francescoboselli6033]

​@@rollertoaster812 Well definitely they are not Orango, so no On-line for them 😂

[@MosheKatz]

The "keeper on duty to stop traffic on the yellow section" is new since the last time I've been there (admittedly, at least 10 years ago). They used to let people stand right underneath, even when the orangutans were crossing. I asked a keeper about this at the time, and was told "we see no reason to prevent people from standing underneath them." I wonder what has changed...

[@sidewinder666666]

I suspect some Karen standing underneath got shit on by one of the Orangutans and tried to sue.

[@jimg5669]

I suspect that's likely, or pissed on. 😆 Sadly I didn't notice this in late '07 (did see the large rope setup at the actual habitat) but I spent the most time further west (IIRC) where the GLTs (Golden Lion Tamarinds) have a large unenclosed patch of trees to freely roam about. Complete with several Igloo cooler dens up in the trees. Comfy enough that they don't leave. 😄

[@Cupertinorail]

I've been bamboozled, a zoo line as youtube video. This is monkey business I can afford to tolerate

[@ClassyWhale]

O-Line? But this isnt Ottawa!

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

That's clearly politicians going to work at Parliament Hill, what are you talking about 😂

[@SleepTrain456]

That's what I was thinking! I don't see any light rail cars here!

[@SleepTrain456]

@@AverytheCubanAmerican, good one! I guess that Parliament Hill, instead of having a parliament of owls, now has a troop of orangutans!

[@carolbarno5557]

That one made my day! Thanks so much.

[@Thom-TRA]

You’re welcome!

[@mewosh_]

Are the glass tunnels in aquariums a subway then?

[@Thom-TRA]

There is an aquarium in Texas where a little “train” runs through the tunnels

[@gluecksdrache2054]

That's pretty cool!

[@Penguins2900]

This is awesome!!! I’m a long-time subscriber and also a zookeeper and this made my day!!!

[@Thom-TRA]

Nice! What animals do you take care of?

[@Penguins2900]

@@Thom-TRA I’m a Comissary keeper, so I help make all the diets for every animal at the zoo, plus I cut bamboo and other plants for the animals as well!

[@Thom-TRA]

@@Penguins2900 that’s awesome!

[@michaelb9629]

That’s still cool! It can be known as a transit line for orangutans even though they have to hold on and walk through it. It’s still really cool to see alright!

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s certainly transit in one sense of the word!

[@michaelb9629]

@@Thom-TRA Heck yeah it is!

[@ChrisH-1952]

O my! You certainly know how to spin a line. Excellent, Thom 🤣

[@Thom-TRA]

Haha, glad it worked!

[@mattiemathis9549]

Great joke and great information about the Smithsonian being free. Fun fact: I was temporarily stationed in the DC area before I retired. During my time there, I needed to re qualify with my side arm. There’s a firing range underneath the Smithsonian museum. ☮️

[@chriscubingclips]

Thanks for including "Doors Opening". Also, I had heard that it's smarter to get off at Cleveland Park station when going TO the Zoo as it's a downhill walk. Then use Woodley Park/Zoo on the way home to continue the downhill journey. Thanks for making an April Fools video that still is informative and fun! Have a great day!

[@Thom-TRA]

True, though the walk uphill isn’t that bad. The inclines are worse in the zoo!

[@ck4426]

I just absolutely found this video to be delightful in every way!!! I was so surprised and had no idea about the O-line!!! it is truly one of the most unique transit lines in the world, and thank you for sharing it with all of us!!!!!!!😭😃😭

[@Thom-TRA]

I guess you’ll have to come to DC and ride it someday 😂

[@PhilLesh69]

Now do the tiny railroads at Burke lake park and the other one up in Montgomery county off tuckerman lane or seven locks. They re for kids, of course. And if you're into historical rail transport, there used to be a trolley from Georgetown to Glen Echo where there is a carousel. You can still find remains of the rail line and some of the bridges along Clara Barton parkway and MacArthur boulevard. And there's a street in Georgetown that still has trolley rails laid in the cobblestones.

[@Foxy_AR]

Tbh I thought this was a legit transit line at first 😂 Pretty creative april fools joke you did here!

[@Thom-TRA]

Glad I fooled somebody!

[@nashorn9745]

great April fool's video

[@AcmeRacing]

I don't think that the crossings are closed purely for _safety_ reasons. It's one thing if a bird poops on you, but if a great ape (like an orangutan, chimp or human) poops on you it's MUCH worse.

[@Thom-TRA]

That is a safety issue though

[@imark7777777]

This is why I like April 1 I didn't even know about that that's neat. Some thing for me to look for when I go eventually.

[@bobsykes]

That's wild! Thanks for showing us. And I thought this was going to be yet another April Fools joke.

[@Thom-TRA]

I mean it kind of was!

[@LojikSupreme]

That's awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@kjrehberg]

You're very lucky to see more than one orangutan on the ropeway!! It's a fun visit.

[@Thom-TRA]

It was a whole family trip!

[@BoBandits]

Scooters come with unique risks, and new injuries. but I wish there was bird or similar here in Toronto. I understand helmets would help a bit, but wrist guards may be essential to reduce injuries.

[@Thom-TRA]

lol what?

[@BoBandits]

@@Thom-TRA I definitely wrote that for a different video about last-mile transit options....🦝

[@Thom-TRA]

@@BoBandits oh haha! I agree with you though!

[@AllonKirtchik]

Now I’m imagining orangutans riding scooters around the city

[@Thom-TRA]

@@AllonKirtchik me too

[@rael5469]

I rode the Metro once. I was waiting for a train and the escalator has a little flat spot next to it so I sat down. Oh my gosh, a transit cop walked up to me wagging his finger. "Uh.....we don't sit in the Metro. That's not allowed. You'll have to stand up."

[@sammymarrco47]

Very creative Thom 😂

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you thank you

[@Trainsaregreat365]

i find this really unusual and interesting thom im also finaly watching your videos again

[@Thom-TRA]

Glad to hear you have time for watching videos again

[@mattbosley3531]

One small correction, orangutans all come from the islands of Indonesia and Malaysia today. Historically they ranged much farther throughout Asia.

[@Thom-TRA]

Any Malaysian island is also an Indonesian island so that’s not really a correction as much as it is pedantry

[@S-CB-SL-Animations]

The O Line 😂😂😂

[@PURPLEBUTTERFLY1010]

April fools

[@peterelvery]

Must be the only crossing in the US where the trains don't blow their horns

[@Cupertinorail]

Does anyone know what kind of animal is at 1:33? Thom are you good with animals?

[@Thom-TRA]

They’re a type of horseshoe crab I think

[@roberthansen2008]

Well I guess you could say that different species have to have their rapid transit. That's their rapid transit system.

[@jdillon8360]

Charming and funny. Thanks

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m glad!

[@rikkichunn8856]

What a delightful April Fool's Day video!!!!! 🦧🦧🦧🦧🦧

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s gonna be hard to beat!

[@rikkichunn8856]

@@Thom-TRA While I love trains (of all types) this is easily the most enchanting video you have done so far. Love it!!!

[@ShenandoahShelty]

I was caught by the wording of your title. DC Transit. That was the name of the DC bus and trolley system 60 years ago.

[@UncommonElevators]

I never knew that thing had a name, and I’ve been seeing it since I was a kid

[@jasonjohnson1690]

That’s awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[@Thom-TRA]

You’re welcome!

[@dave11686]

Happy April Fools Thom

[@SkysTrains]

ottawa has one of these! it runs between ottawa and gatineau. its for people though. great video

[@Thom-TRA]

Lol

[@gingercat7925]

Every man is in search of the evasive o-line.

[@Papershields001]

Oh I’d recognize that mystical red tree wizard anywhere

[@SleepTrain456]

I wasn't sure what to expect with the title, but now, I know what kind of "public transit" is offered for orangutans at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC! Thanks for the video! I hope you had a happy April Fool's Day!

[@Thom-TRA]

I did! Spent it in a beautiful cottage on the Chesapeake Bay.

[@SleepTrain456]

@@Thom-TRA, I'm glad you enjoyed the day!

[@TransitAndTeslas]

So do the orangutans have to use their SmarTrip? How much is the fare for them? Do they get some sort of reduced fare at least?

[@Thom-TRA]

See an earlier comment for a response to the same joke

[@MattMcIrvin]

Well, I recognized it instantly from the thumbnail...

[@Thom-TRA]

Nothing gets past you!

[@teecefamilykent]

Brilliant video sir! What's ya email address for swapping transport smartcards?

[@Thom-TRA]

That would be [e-mail]

[@teecefamilykent]

Sent you an email.

[@nickywheels]

It's nice to know these creatures don't have to cross stroads to get where they want to go.

[@Thom-TRA]

They have it better than us

[@bobjersey]

BLESS YOU for not pronouncing their name like it rhymed with "bangs." 👍

[@ferg1680]

What a tie in 👍🏻Lol.....what if next year you do a Streets and sidewalks tie in ....could be mind exploding stuff !🤯🧠💨

[@PaulCashman]

Best April Fool's content I've seen today!

[@Thom-TRA]

Now that’s an honor!

[@SuperChicken666]

I haven't ridden the DC Metro for a few years but when did the voice (Doors opening..etc) develop such an attitude?

[@Thom-TRA]

Um, if you saw how oblivious a lot of the riders are today you’d understand.

[@RodneyBrowning]

39 seconds in and, as a Maryland native who spent his life growing up around DC, no. I have never taken the O-Line. Only the monkeys can. :) But I have taken the subway under the Capital, that was fun!

[@Thom-TRA]

I love the Capitol subway!

[@RodneyBrowning]

@@Thom-TRA It was *definitely* the highlight of my life!

[@bryanCJC2105]

When I heard the announcement saying "this is a Red Line train to Shady..." I thought it was going to say "Shady Pines".

[@Thom-TRA]

I know a guy who told me that when he moved to the area he was specifically looking for somewhere that was not “shady,” then he ended up moving to Shady Grove.

[@bryanCJC2105]

@@Thom-TRA "Shady Pines" was the old folks home on the 80s show Golden Girls. I forget, you weren't alive back then.

[@mmrw]

The best part about this video is that it is technically all true

[@Thom-TRA]

No lies detected

[@dragonpullman23]

Kyle is Redd's father. I've never seen him cross the O-Line before.

[@Thom-TRA]

Drivers Ed I guess

[@dragonpullman23]

@@Thom-TRA What time of day did you go there to see the orangutans crossing the O-Line. I don't get to see them cross very often.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@dragonpullman23 in the morning

[@davinp]

Orangutans are more endangered than Panda bears

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s sad

[@johnchastain5657]

Hmm, kinda slow, but good headway, dedicated ROW, and demand-driven frequency. I rate it tops.

[@Thom-TRA]

Already I can hear the KZbinrs say “it should have been an automated metro!!”

[@johnchastain5657]

@@Thom-TRA Fish gotta fly, birds gotta swim, 'tangs gotta climb.

[@PiplupJames]

Happy April Fools, Thom

[@botaohenryfeng9587]

When did you shoot this?

[@Thom-TRA]

Last Friday

[@botaohenryfeng9587]

@@Thom-TRA I was there on the 30th of march. Good zoo, though

[@jasongunther1929]

Awesome April fools material here! I thought you were going to talk about the congressional subway but instead we got a line for orangutans to cross!

[@Thom-TRA]

Have you seen my video about the congressional subway? It’s my most-viewed video ever.

[@jasongunther1929]

@@Thom-TRA just watched it!

[@kirillboyko9208]

In my current state, I think I can rival Kyle’s hairdoo

[@Thom-TRA]

Hahaha

[@zacharycleary3692]

This is very interesting and quite clever for the zoo to build a transit system that allows animals such as orangutans to cross. Anyways Happy April Fools Day and take care

[@capwkidd]

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has something like this…

[@kacamac]

and here I thought this one was going to be about politicians. I guess i wasn't too far off tho

[@Thom-TRA]

You’ll discover as you meet more DC residents that we’ve heard every imaginable joke about politicians, laughed a few times, and then quickly got tired of the lack of originality.

[@MartyFox]

WMATA should mark Woodley Park as a transfer station to the Orang Line

[@Thom-TRA]

I had to read this comment twice to get it

[@chickhenkein_FAK...]

bro i was there in the clip of 4910 and 32!!! i made a video of it!! did you steal it from me?

[@SizzleMoonSong]

The yellow zone if for "Golden Showers"

[@Thom-TRA]

And other projectiles...

[@SizzleMoonSong]

@@Thom-TRA 💩

[@SizzleMoonSong]

DC Think Tanks are vital to the socio -political economic stability of the nation, let's not forget, & simply getting to/from work can be just as important.

[@MrMatteNWk]

That's a different orangutan in D.C.

[@officialmcdeath]

Best gadgetbahn \m/

[@AllonKirtchik]

There should be a band named The Orangutan Gadgetbahn

[@456newportlines]

Zipline subway😅

[@dexteralexander2437]

Oh look! A Monday TRA video! Wait…what’s the date?

[@Thom-TRA]

Mark your calendars

[@ARUSApacecarHAMPTON]

Surprised they haven’t put congestion tolling in place. Cost 4 Bananas 🍌 each way.

[@Thom-TRA]

MTA - Monkey Transit Authority

[@ARUSApacecarHAMPTON]

@@Thom-TRA 🍌🍌🍌

[@rbrouns9569]

I can only say: cool!

[@Oliver-kv2mm]

Have you seen Kyle? He's about this tall.

[@Thom-TRA]

50 feet

[@Thommygun-qv7um]

Now I want so see a video about the streetcars. Or have you done it allready and I missed it? That would be kinda embarrassing....

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s in the work, don’t worry

[@sir_dragonfly7287]

There's something similar at the Indianapolis zoo

[@Thom-TRA]

A lot of zoos have something like this!

[@edwardjones4870]

When I first saw DC Transit I thought back to the bus line that served DC prior to Metrobus.

[@LifeOnCoach]

😲 🍅 I forgot it was April Fools. 😂 ✌🏾

[@Thom-TRA]

A dangerous day to forget

[@deaventuraconkikomas4281]

😂cool... Liked it

[@philrabe910]

I bet you know people with hair like that who are named Kyle! lol

[@garyfrancis6193]

I guess the pandas’ visas expired.

[@chrislauterbach8856]

Fun video

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you

[@chickhenkein_FAK...]

of course this was a april fools video!

[@HyperDaveUK]

Love this Zoo!

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s great!

[@d0ggospottings]

This is great

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you

[@douglaskerr6813]

Oh great something else to crap on us

[@EGregorio78]

Good one 😂

[@ducknorris233]

Anyone as a kid think it was “Orangatang”?

[@Thom-TRA]

An honest mistake

[@ducknorris233]

@@Thom-TRA does roll off the tongue better than Orangutan.

[@jeeper360]

It's Smokey Bear, not Smokey the Bear.

[@Thom-TRA]

If you ever needed a sign to maybe do something with your life, this might be it lol.

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

Wait... "Move to the center of the..." Not "please move to the center of the..."? How rude!

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s not a polite request. Freaking MOVE to the center of the car! Especially tourists

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

@@Thom-TRA first of all, it should be. Second, that is an extremely rude answer from you. You just lost a follower and a viewer. Bye.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@TheAllMightyGodofCod you just won the award for thinnest skin on the internet. Congrats, that’s quite the accomplishment!

[@lovedfriend2020]

OK cute April fools joke :)

[@bgw33]

👍🎯

[@towcat]

Thiiss iss a reed lline trraain to... Nah, still not a fan of the new announcements on the new trains