Gothamist: That Emergency Brake in the Train? Don't Use It

me

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 19:51:59 -0500

pull on my finger

Guy

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 15:02:45 -0500

Sometime last year some moron pulled the emergency brake when the train was halfway out of the station. Noone knew what was going on and then some guy in a black suit and coat walked briskly through the cars while the train was stopped. Everyone in the train thought he was some kind of government official until we realized he was the schmuck that pulled the brake. How do we know? Because he jumped out to the platform from inbetween the cars and retrieved his briefcase that he left on the platform. When he got back on everyone stared at him like he was satan molesting puppies.

Tomp

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 13:14:24 -0500

I agree that the MTA is about as brainless an organization you'lll find outside of DC, but getting on their case about this is a bit much. It really is a dumb idea to pull the emergency brake, and they're just saying so.

nick

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 03:02:50 -0500

hahah old people...so wacky....sigh...

threetoedsloth

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 22:20:31 -0500

I was on the train once when an old man fell down and was unconscious on the floor. A guy pulled the emergency brake and got seriously yelled at by the conductor.

Joclyn

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:51:39 -0500

Kids on the Q/B train pull the brake several times a week, usually right around the Prospect Park station.

honesty

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:27:24 -0500

i pulled the emergency brake once when i was a kid. maybe an early teen...er...a teen. it wasn't all that long ago.

Jen

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:43:54 -0500

Will no one else admit to being ridiculously tempted to pull the E brake?!

igor

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 18:19:51 -0500

pull this.

thfs

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 18:04:22 -0500

The emergency instructions/system on the subway are terrible. Why isn't there an emergency button that you can push to alert the conductor that doesn't immediately stop the train? If you see something, how are you supposed to say something?

Jason

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:10:49 -0500

The New Technology cars (R-142 and up) reportedly automatically disable the emergency brake after the train has travelled a certain number of feet outside of the station, to keep trains from getting trapped in tunnels by pranksters. Basically, just use it if you see that someone's trapped and being dragged by the train door.

re-re

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:06:23 -0500

Yes, but one of the quotes was in small print. Don't count sez Jen.

nick

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:57:21 -0500

im liking that jen has taken to commenting now. hey jen. you quoted the same sentence twice in the story. tighten up your game.

carpeicthus

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:48:30 -0500

When you think about it, it's surprising that we don't get cases of some jerk pulling the brake several times a day.

Tick Tock

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:48:02 -0500

So we're only supposed to pull the brake if the train is going at warp speed?

Jen

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:47:23 -0500

Hooked on phonics? S-O-C-K-S spells SOCKS!

Joe

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:43:36 -0500

I was on a train once when an older woman started reaching for the emergency brake when she realized the train was pulling out of her station. Two guys nearly tackled her before she could do so.

Michelle

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:39:49 -0500

Jen needs hooked on phonics.

Jen

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:39:43 -0500

Well, I know I rather one didn't pull the emergency brake. And if you're pulling one, it better be some damn emergency. But I think it should just be more clear near the emergency brake that it's really not a good idea - perhaps it's too confusing, though.

Ojibot

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:37:01 -0500

No doubt. Last week, my train (8:47 AM, Manhattan bount Q train) lurched dangerously to a halt when someone pulled the Emergency Brake. It tossed people all around and was kind of freaky. Then we sat there for a 1/2 an hour while the conductor headed to the back of the train with a flashlight and a tool belt. I guess he was resetting the brake - manually!

NY 4 Life

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:36:03 -0500

You've lived in NYC for how long and you still don't know when and when not to pull the emergency brake in the subway?