Not that a subway disaster is even newsworthy at this point, but an F train had to be taken out of commission at 23rd Street for a "smoke condition" just a few minutes ago, and now there are some fun service changes and delays.
Straphanger Polly Mosendz says she was onboard a southbound F train at around 5:34 p.m. when it stopped suddenly, eventually ejecting riders at 23rd Street. "I was on the F train headed downtown. At 23rd we heard a loud thud. I thought we hit someone or something, but then we started smelling smoke." She says the conductor got out of the train to check the tracks: "He says he saw flames. Then there was a whole bunch of smoke, and then they told us train was stalled," Mosendz said.
Mosendz says there was quite a bit of smoke in the tunnel, and her conductor believed there was an electrical fire on the tracks:
My F train just stopped and made a huge thud. The conductor said he saw flames and there's smoke on the tracks. pic.twitter.com/HQc2W0ksqh
— Polly Mosendz (@polly) May 18, 2017
The FDNY says they responded to reports of a "smoke condition" at 23rd Street at around 5:35 p.m. It's unclear if there was actually a fire:
The conductor is now on the tracks, he thinks it was an electrical fire. Says flames shot up but doesn't know what caused it. pic.twitter.com/yTyzmM8GlX
— Polly Mosendz (@polly) May 18, 2017
We're stuck at 23rd St and have been told to get off the train. Smells smokey in the station. Conductor is pacing back and forth inside. pic.twitter.com/UZa4YRpHEv
— Polly Mosendz (@polly) May 18, 2017
The MTA says thanks to a train with "mechanical problems at 23 St," southbound F and M trains are running express from 34 St-Herald Sq to W 4 St-Washington Sq, and some southbound F trains are rerouting along the E line from Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av to Court Sq, and then on the G to Bergen St. Riders on the BDF and M trains can expect delays.
Gave up on F train bc it’s on fire. 1 bypasses stop. Next one stops, lady tells conductor someone’s exposing himself on the station stairs.
— Mike Epstein (@mikepstein) May 18, 2017
@NYCTSubway F train seems fully shut down. Sitting empty at 23rd street- all passengers kicked off. And fire trucks shutting down lanes on 23rd also
— Janna D Gilbert (@JannaDG) May 18, 2017
At least it's Thursday.