[UPDATE] LIRR Passenger Accused Of Operating Train Arrested

Bill Kutsch

[UPDATE BELOW] Would you let this man drive your train? Sure, why not—as long as he knows how to drive, which this man most certainly does not. Bill Kutsch, a court stenographer in Manhattan and a lifelong resident of Setauket, Long Island, turned himself in to Nassau County police today to face a felony charge of reckless endangerment for allegedly operating a westbound LIRR train on July 2nd. You'll recall that a witness blew the whistle on Kutsch's joyride after he allegedly operated the double-decker diesel train as it traveled 25 miles from Hicksville to Hunters Point Avenue in Queens.

The engineer, Ronald Cabrera, 40, also turned himself in today, and he faces an additional charge of official misconduct. Apparently, Kutsch was a regular rider and was friendly with the LIRR workers. The anonymous witness didn't see Kutsch enter the cab, but became suspicious when the train's horn, which usually emits short bursts, went "long, loud and a little wild... It was like a little kid was driving."

Near Hicksville, the cab's door was opened; Cabrera was allegedly standing "in the middle of the compartment, away from the controls" and Kutsch was out of view, presumably behind the controls. After returning to his seat, Kutsch reportedly "bragged" about operating the train, asking another rider, "How'd I do?" Ultimately, not too good—each man could spend a year in prison if convicted, and Cabrera, a 20-year LIRR employee, faces disciplinary charges up to and including termination.

UPDATE: In announcing the indictments today, Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice told reporters that both men committed "an unimaginably reckless act"—particularly because the train did not have an "auto-pilot" feature and required the compression of a "dead man's pedal" to keep moving. This means that "when Cabrera was not at the controls, someone else had to be. Make no mistake that the potential for danger... was incredibly high." Rice also revealed that another LIRR employee noticed Kutsch behind the controls, but assumed he was just a LIRR trainee.

The DA says Kutsch drove the train through seven car crossings, one pedestrian crossing and 24 home signals during his joyride, which at times hit 80 mph! Luckily, he didn't have to react to any emergencies, and an inspection of a locomotive "black box" recorder showed nothing out of the ordinary. Also, according to Newsday, Rice said there was a "relationship" between Kutsch and Cabrera, but she did not elaborate further on the nature of their relationship.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on August 5, 2009 3:11 PM

Comments [rss]

Guest

a good lawyer could get them off the hook.

billytipps

under investigation they have the lirr train engineer cabrera ,the passenger william kutsch but what role did lirr conductor robert kutsch play?......is william kutsch related to robert kutsch the lirr conductor.....how can the da rice miss this one?this is the latest claim being romured

Manitoba2

I think I'm more terrified by the LIRR now that I know the train operators actually do something. Given how mentally-deficient all LIRR employees appear, I had assumed the trains had to be automated to some degree. God help us.

bowelmovment_man

I guess you are a doctor of psychiatry to have made this assessment of the thousands of employees of the LIRR.

Good work dude!

NannyState

Biggest Douchebag Of The Day, August 5, 2009.

ides_of_march

Throw the book at these clowns. They could have gotten hundreds of people killed.

rcltrh

Retarded to put them in jail. Give them a ticket and move on. In fact, the actual conductor should get the harsher fine for letting it happen in the first place. I wonder if he would allow just any random passenger to stand behind the panel or was it just this guy? Anyway, it's not like he really could do anything but blow the whistle anyway as the trains are basically autopilot and the conductor is just there to press the stop and start levers and he stayed in the box with the guy. When I was a kid in another part f the country, conductors used to let kids in the "cockpit" to drive the trains all the time - as did road graders, front end loaders, big dump trucks, etc - while the real driver actally just let us sit in his lap or stand by him. Regardless, stupid thing for the conductor to let this guy do, so fire him/fine him/whatever but to put these two on the public ticket for the next year in prison is just too much.

movi

Engineer! Engineer! The engineer drives the train! The conductor takes the tickets (on those trains that have tickets)! Why don't New Yorkers know this??!!!

jaycjay

There would be a lot more credibility in your claim to understand what it takes to operate an EMD locomotive if you didn't consistently misuse as basic a railroad term as "conductor."

rcltrh

con·duc·tor (kən-dŭk'tər)

n.

One who conducts, especially:

One who is in charge of a railroad train, bus, or streetcar.

Music One who directs an orchestra or other such group.

Physics A substance or medium that conducts heat, light, sound, or especially an electric charge.

A lightning rod, as on a house or barn.

con'duc·to'ri·al (kŏn'dŭk-tôr'ē-əl, -tōr'-) adj., con·duc'tor·ship' n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Cite This Source

jaycjay

Thank you, that's correct. The conductor, as that entry shows, does not operate the train.

TKaisen

Thank goodness we're getting a couple more people in jail who don't deserve it.

JenChungsBaby

Big deal, it's not like he had to steer or anything. I bet I could fly a 747 if I didn't have to takeoff, turn or land.

silver

747 is many times more complicated than a train. But you don't need to be a rocket scientist to do it, but you definitely need some training. Its seems about as complicated as being an expert on Microsoft Word. New planes are getting easier and easier to use b/c of more computerization. Alot less buttons and dials in a 787. Plus to prove its easier, nowadays no new planes come with a flight engineer. The computer does it all for you. A train can only do 2 things, go forwards or backwards. Much easier and safer than driving a car or bus.

bigmikebrooklyn

so is that the 787 lowrider model? those shag carpeted seats in the 787 look totally 70's, are they standard equipment or an option that someone picked up at strauss auto for $39.99?

and how come every time i see the interior of cockpit i can't help but think "...billy, have you ever seen a grown man naked?".

Snoopy

You mean like one of those towel headed pieces of shit that crashed into the twin towers?

Chakal

Do you mean like a beach towel, or one of those bath "sheets" that they sell?

thelexiphane

John Clifford wants Bill Kutsch to shut the hell up with that horn already, or he'll clobber him with some hot coffee over his head and an egg sandwich in his face.

osmium

I'm glad we have finally identified the greatest threat to humanity.

Dirk

When I first heard about this story, I thought for sure the passenger was going to be a hot woman with big breasts.

sadpanda

Everyone knows that when you get special things (like a free meal at a restaurant from your buddy who works there, or getting to drive a train for 25 miles), you don't go bragging about it. If this guy hadn't blown his own horn so much (or the train's for that matter), no one would have been the wiser and his little joyride would have gone unnoticed.

Dumbass.

Bizzle

I hate to be double sided, but the guy had should not have taken control, the complaining passenger is a whiney douche, and where are all the PhotoShopper's out there? This pic needs a train conductor hat!

jaycjay

But conductors don't operate the trains.

The traditional engineer hat would be a better choice:

http://www.centurynovelty.com/detail_296_092-116.html

Jen Chung

jaycjay, you're right and we've changed it again!

jaycjay

I hope he sees this pic. I'm sure he'd love it... but then again, he probably already has one of those hats.

Bizzle

Awesomeness! Now, about the name Gothamist....

Jen Chung

Hey, we're starting with Photoshopping requests for now...

jaycjay

Nice job!

valeriob

Sometimes I wonder if you give in to requests to be loyal to readers, or if it's just plain fun for you. :)

I've done my own research and it says right here in this pamphlet that the proper dome piece for an LIRR train conductor is as follows:

http://twurl.cc/1dxy

Jen Chung

It's changed!

valeriob

Hahahah!

jibbly

YESSS!!!

hotstepper

gothamist, where dreams come true.

potatomato33

Who wouldn't jump at the chance to operate a train (I had the experience six years ago, coincidentally on an empty, offpeak, westbound LIRR train. I guess I'll be in jail too then.)

The passenger who complained is just jealous he/she did not get that chance him/herself.

Jen S

NOT a hot chick?!?

Dirk

I hope the guy had fun and it was worth a year in prison.

hotstepper

i'm guessing that his mustache is the non-ironic type?

Dead Himmler

Engineer Cabrera did nothing wrong. Being nice to the public should be commended and part of the public relations initiative. Engineer Cabrera did not leave the cab while Mr. Kutsch drove the train so very little could have gone wrong. And on top of that its not that hard to drive a train in the first place.

TheKlaus

So any dickhead should be able to go ahead and grab the reigns and feel to drive a bazillion ton train full of passengers? And based on your mongoloid logic, train operators really don't need any training. Any John or Jane off the street should be entitled to work as a train operator? I hate you.

CR

Don't bother arguing with DH - it's like yelling into a bucket. See yesterday's delusional claim about how the subway system is _cheaper_ and more _earth-friendly_ then riding a bike. Obviously DH gets off on mass-transit, and I'm starting to think he actually, y'know, *gets-off* on mass transit.

sadpanda

You mean John or Kate?

CR

Further proof of the extent to which DH loves mass transit.

Dead Himmler

Mass transit is the most safe, cheap, convienent and mother earth friendly way to travel.

hotstepper

wrong. LIRR placed cabrera in control of a powerful and expensive machine, not given the option to share it with the other kids on the playground. similar circumstances: NYPD do not allow officers to handle their guns in order to be nice to the public, and you don't often see court stenographers behind the wheel of those bright red firetrucks.

admit it or not, people's lives hang in the balance and it is right that the engineer be punished.