G Train Motorman Dies While On The Job

Earlier this morning, train operator Domenick Occhiogrosso, 50, suffered a fatal heart attack "while guiding the train out of the Court Square station in Queens," reports City Room. The train stopped because of its "dead man's switch." The Post explains, "Once he released his grip from the handle on the control panel, the train stopped as if someone pulled the emergency brake. The train can’t move unless the handle is compressed. On newer cars, the motorman has to hold down a bar with his foot, and on the L line, the operator must press a button every 30 seconds."

With the train stopped, the conductor went to the lead car, found Occhiogrosso unconscious and then called for help. Occhiogrosso was pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital. NYC Transit says he joined NYCT in 1983 as a subway car cleaner and became a train operator in 1986.

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By Jen Chung in News on April 28, 2010 5:19 PM

Comments [rss]

takenobs

According to Inspector Garber, it's known as the "dead man's feature" and not "dead man's switch" as stated in the article.

Kevin Bracken

And the MTA still thinks one-man operation is a good idea? If this had happened during OMO at 2 AM in the East River Tunnel it would have taken hours to respond

jaycjay

Why would it take any longer? Under OPTO, the train operator would have been unresponsive and the train would have stopped. The conductor wouldn't have been there to call to dispatch, but wouldn't have been needed. The same emergency response would have been sent... perhaps even sooner, because the time taken for the conductor to move up to the lead car (which means, the train stopped, he waited for a call from the TO to tell him why, eventually when it didn't come he went to the intercom himself to call up, a few times, no response, call again, then walk up front), check on the TO, determine that he was in trouble, and finally to make the call wouldn't have been needed.

No doubt there was a five minute or so delay -- likely more -- from the time the dead-man was released until the call was made. Under OPTO, within 30 seconds there would have an indication that there was a problem.

mctaco

Best switch name ever.

SP

Having to press a button every thirty seconds all day sounds really depressing to me somehow.

Politburo

It's typically setup so that any control input resets the 30 second clock, so it's not as tedious as it sounds.

jaycjay

George Jetson only had to do it three hours a day, three days a week... and even he found it to be pretty grueling.

Noreaster76

4 8 15 16 23 42

chuzzlewit

Life is like a mountain railway,

With an engineer that's brave;

We must make the run successful,

From the cradle to the grave;

Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels;

Never falter, never quail;

Keep your hands upon the throttle,

And your eyes upon the rail.