A deadhead Amtrak train on its way to Sunnyside Yard derailed in the East River tunnels about 12:30PM Sunday, May 8th and did enough damage to track, signals, catenary, and third rail that LIRR had to make special schedules and moves to accommodate commuter operations not just for Monday, May 9th but also through Wed. May 11th. I was aboard an NJT train bound for New York's Penn Station from Denville, NJ several weeks ago when Amtrak developed power problems and our train was diverted to Hoboken.
I'm not here to grouse about Amtrak and its problems but to applaud the LIRR, MNRR and NJT for having alternative plans in place to meet any problems that the ancient Corridor will throw at them: they are prepared. This past winter was horrific in rail operating terms, but all 4 met the challenges of snow and ice and the resulting delays because of well thought out and executed plans which alleviated a lot of headaches for both the railroads and the traveling public. There is no hesitancy, no wringing of hands, just a "this is what we do when this happens" and they do it. Inconvenient? Definitely. But decisive and effective, too. No waiting to figure out what can be done, it is done: cross honor tickets here and there; annul this train, combine these two, and extend that one; cooperate with other agencies and providers. I am impressed at how prepared these lines are to deal with virtually any misstep of man and nature and keep some semblance of service. Too often, however, I do not find the traveling public at hand to appreciate what these agencies have learned over the years and what they have learned to do.
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I was a reverse commuter on the Harlem line for many years and had business trips that took me to all other New York area commuter services, rarely using Amtrak when it was a higher priced but more comfortable alternative, the exceptions being when eating Antrak cafe food would save time. I can agree with you. I recall several times leaving the train at Williamsbridge station going home in the evening and showing my monthly to t he subway agent at Gun Hill Road station a few blocks away.
Preparation? How is this? In 1995 I did acoustics and sound system work for PATH. One night, about 2AM, I was in the middle of measurement program at World Trade Center Station. An alarm sounded. The Path employee who was my work partner told me exactly what to do, and then the same message came over the then somewhat substandard PA system and was intelligible. We existed the building with the few other employees and the few passengers that were in the station. We walked a few blocks away and waited until the PATH man receive a message that we could return and resume our work.
Apparently the drill was for exactly the same circumstances as occured on 01.09.11, and not one PATH employee or passenger was even injured. The same was true of the subway system! And even the Transit system's buses!
The dispatcher immediately notified the train crews and two trains inbound to WTC that had already entered the tunnel under the Hudson Riaver ran through the station without stopping and returned directly to New Jersey, and following trains were reversed at the nearest crossover to return to Journal Square. Anyone in the station, employees and passengers, followed exactly the routine that I had followed during the drill.
The PATH hero that day was the trainmaster at Exchange Place who having received information about what was going on and instructed the dispatchers to keep the trains moving through the tunnels but not allowing any to leave Exchange Place.
henry6 The PATH hero that day was the trainmaster at Exchange Place who having received information about what was going on and instructed the dispatchers to keep the trains moving through the tunnels but not allowing any to leave Exchange Place.
Found this description from the Newark Star Ledger on September 19th, 2001:
http://www.hudsoncity.net/tubes/quickthinkingsaves5000.html
There were some quick thinking and good reflexes among PATH people there.
Stein
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