Weekend Trains

I learned something today . . . never, ever, ever take a train to Brooklyn on the weekend. Everytime I try, there are unforseen and unpleasant adventures. As I was taking my normal express D train home I was surprised that it was making local stops. The announcer said that the N was running express so I transferred over thinking this would save me some time. On a normal weekday the N can take me most of the way home where I could then transfer back to the D. But as the N rolled into 36th street there was a very unpleasant announcement:

"This is the last stop for the N express train, the D train will be making all local N stops across the platform."

What??? Two trains, two different tracks what was happening here. So I poked my head into the D train to hear what the conductor was saying there . . . "This D train will be making all local stops on the N track."

I thought, oh, maybe another D will come that is running on the D track so I asked someone about it and the following conversation ensued:

Me: (to no one in particular) "Are there any D trains running today, then?"

Mr. Helpful: "This is the D train."

Me: (thinking I'm clarifying what I am looking for) "Yeah, but it is making N stops."

Mr. Helpful "Yes, but this is the D train."

Me: (noticing that he is not getting it) "I know that, but I am looking for a D train making D stops."

Mr Helpful: "This is the D train, but it is running on the N track."

Me: (growing frustrated, but still think there is hope of finding an answer) "I am aware of that. I would like to know if there are any D trains running on the D track. I'm guessing not."

Mr Helpful: "This is the D train."

Me: (finally realizing that he is just not going to get it) "Thanks for your help."

So, now after hearing repetitively that I was riding a D train following the N track and making N (not D) stops I realized that this D train was really an N incognito. Why the secrecy? Why the mystery? Why not just say - "No D trains outside of Manhattan"? Why send me confusing messages that give me hope of getting home without riding a bus? That's all I want to know.