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A train operator did indeed allow a boy into the cab at the front of a Lexington Avenue 4 express train on Sunday, NYC Transit has confirmed. The 8 or 9 year old boy was apparently a relative of the conductor, who along with the motorwoman has been suspended without pay, pending further investigation. It's still unclear whether the unidentified motorman actually let the boy drive the train, but the witness who prompted the investigation claims he heard her saying, "It's green, speed up...Yellow, slow down." Speaking to the Daily News, a co-worker described the motorwoman, who's been on the job since 1993, as "cautious and attentive... I don't think the kid was driving the train. I think at most she was just showing him [how to drive]." Oh, that's all! But what if this kid had seen the new Taking of Pelham 123 and decided to pull a Travolta? (Or even a Luis Guzman?) Transit officials are taking this one very seriously, and the motorwoman could very well be fired because letting unauthorized visitors into the cab, regardless of age, is against the rules. And letting them drive the train is kinda frowned upon, too.
MTA Motorwoman, Conductor Suspended For Letting Kid In Cab
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No N/W trains between Queensboro and Ditmars as of 8:15.
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I don't get the outrage over this. She let a kid see how a train is conducted - it sounds like a fun experience and now it's being blown up into a stupid ordeal. The MTA should spend their time worrying about important things such as shitty train service and fare hikes instead of a show and tell.
Well that's just it.. it's very easy for the MTA to act like this is a big deal and look like they're doing something about it. It's much more difficult for them to fix the service and fare issues.
Well, I am pretty pissed about this. I mean, what if the kid goes "hey mom (aunt, whatever), what does this button do?" and slams the e-brake or something?
Or, and the more likely scenario, the operator is distracted by the kid and fails to see an obstruction on the track or a red signal?
"what does this button do?" and slams the e-brake or something?"
That would be a serious concern, if there actually were such a button. Or really anything similar.
"A few years back an Aeroflot pilot let his 15 year old son take control of the plane which he promptly crashed killing everybody on board."
Right, what if the kid hits a button and disengages the autopilot's control of the ailerons?
I'm 31 now, and when I was a kid I remember explicitly being able to visit the Airplanes cockpit, and the engineers cab of the LIRR, and not only wasn't it a big deal, it was welcome! Has society changed that much in a little over 20 years that something as harmless as making a kid happy by taking them to work is a hell worthy trespass? I think this whole personal safety thing is starting to jump a very large shark.
28 yrs old and ditto. i remember stepping into the door of the cockpit of the delta flight to florida when i went to disney world when i was like 6 or so and then getting a little "wings" pin. I also remember getting a proper meal on that flight, which you can forget about now.
Also, maybe a year later, my birthday present was a daylong tour of the NYC subways by my father. I was obsessed with subways and just riding a bunch of different lines was a huge treat. The motorman on the D or F train let me stand in the doorway of his booth and explained some of the controls to me. Thrill of a lifetime for me, and he'd probably be fired for it now (even though i didn't touch any controls).
Did your dog Scraps make it?
Had you even been to a turkish prison?
They should make an interactive exhibit at the transit museum so people can get the feel of driving a subway train. It wouldn't be too difficult to do. Look out the window, start, speed up, slow down, stop, repeat. Bounce along on a springy platform and get paid lots of money and retire with a good pension.
They do this at the London transport museum -- it's a lot of fun.
meant in response to Snoopy -- love the Gothamist software!
...and yes, re-read that sentence. So harsh to be suspended at 8 or 9.
The 8 or 9 year old boy was apparently a relative of the conductor, who along with the motorwoman has been suspended without pay, pending further investigation.
Re-read that.
The boy got suspended, too? What a shame!
That's why nobody actual reads the posts here. Just read the headline, get worked up without knowing any details, and comment like the rest of us!
You know, upon some thought, it does seem more like the "green speed up, yellow slow down" was more likely happening while she was controlling the train, and just telling the boy that's what the lights meant.
But still, worthy of a suspension. Firing, I suppose it comes down to whether the boy drove the train, and I suspect we won't know either way, since it's just her and the boy's words.
you know the shame of this all is that it'll cost the MTA $30,000 to investigate... something that isnt a big deal as others have already said 10-15 years ago this wasnt a big deal - you could get wings from an airplane captain and see how the train works (How did you think little kids grew up wanting to be those people!!?)
It's stupid that people are pissed about this, it was just a curious kid. I think most reasonable people can see that this was a case of making a little kid's day rather than a truly dangerous or irresponsible act.
That said, the operator will get fired over this to appease the people that are pissed about it, because they will make a bigger fuss about it than the people who think this whole thing is stupid.
what's the big deal? i'm all for child labor. the kid wants to work and he's probably already as smart as half of the grown-up MTA employees. give that boy a reflecty orange vest and git'er done.
Change "half" to "99%"
Classy MTA union workers. 'Stand clear of the closing doors' so they dont hit your stupid ass on the way out you freakin moron.
Should've taught the kid how to mumble annoucements.
A few years back an Aeroflot pilot let his 15 year old son take control of the plane which he promptly crashed killing everybody on board. There are good reasons only qualified personnel are allowed behind the controls of things like trains and aircraft that carry hundreds of people.
The pilot, nor his son crashed the plane. An undocumented "feature" that didn't exist on Soviet jets by Airbus turned off the autopilot (apply enough force to steering wheel long enough, autopilot silently turns off, b/c maybe its an emergency and you want to override the autopilot but can't reach the button). The pilot was never trained this "feature" existed by his airline.