Meet Darren Watkins, the Metra conductor who offers a fist bump to brighten your day

Meet Darren Watkins, Metra conductor who gives everyone fist bumps

CHICAGO (CBS) -- We often talk about our commutes as something we get stuck in – or something we wish we could just avoid altogether.

But regular riders on the Metra Milwaukee District North Line don't seem to mind the trip – and it's all because of the guy checking their tickets.

CBS 2's Noel Brennan introduced us Wednesday night to Darren Watkins – a conductor who makes even a long commute worthwhile.

If you drive to work, bumps on the road might make your rough commute worse. But Metra commuters are happy to exchange a bump – a fist bump, that is – from Watkins on the train.

CBS 2

No matter the day of the week, Watkins wishes you a happy one too.

Regulars on the Milwaukee District North Line all know Mr. Watkins by name – and they all know him by knuckles too.

"That's the fist bumps," Watkins said. "They love it, they require it, and I oblige."

Who gets fist bumps on Watkins' train?

"They all get fist bumps - every one of them," Watkins said. "It makes it more personal. It's not so dry."

"Every single person - whether he knows them or not," a loyal passenger said.

The fist bumps have been Watkins' routine as a conductor for 15 years – but he can't take credit for the idea himself.

"A little kid - he started the whole thing. He was on my train. He says: 'Fist bump! Fist bump!'" Watkins said. "So I gave him a fist bump and that's where it started - and it hasn't stopped since then.

Watkins is one of Metra's longest-serving employees. But he almost took a much different route.

"My background was corporate accounting," he said. "I had only planned on staying one or two years - and here I am 30 years later."

Watkins followed the right track.

"It's a very gratifying, gratifying experience," he said. "At this point in my career, I think everybody's a regular to me now."

And a commute on a Metra train with Watkins may be the only kind of commute where bumps make for a more comfortable ride.

CBS 2

"'Happy Tuesday, Happy Monday, Happy whatever the day is,' with a nice fist bump - and it just gets you going for sure," a regular commuter said.

Watkins is one of about 355 conductors who work for Metra. Thirty years into his career, he doesn't plan giving up the job - or the fist bump - anytime soon.

Web Extra: Meet another Metra conductor, Chuck Cravatta, who helps liven the commute for passengers on the Milwaukee District West Line. The longtime conductor is currently on leave from Metra.

Meet Chuck Cravatta: A Metra conductor and fourth-generation railroad man


Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.