OT: 119th Obsequious Banter Thread: April Foods Day
- Thread starter MiamiScreamingEagles
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ellja3
Registered User
Good luck todayProbably a bet
Just kidding
Still hoping for CZE-LAT for bronze, tho (realistically)
LegionOfDoom91
Registered User
ellja3
Registered User
Winston Wolf
Registered User
Thanks, it's definitely an experience I won't forget.
JojoTheWhale
"You should keep it." -- Striiker
- May 22, 2008
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I really thought I was about to kick the bucket two nights ago. I was on this same train, although not on these cars at the time of these videos:
I was on a PATH train heading from Jersey City (Newport station) to NYC, and what should’ve been a quick 8-minute ride turned into a 70-minute nightmare under the Hudson River.
Not long after we left at around 5:50 PM, the train stopped, and the conductor announced there was a train ahead of us causing a brief delay. At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal—just a minor holdup. But after we moved forward slightly and stopped again, the conductor said there was a “small electrical fire” in the tunnel.
Within minutes, smoke started filling the train cars. It was light at first, but it quickly became overwhelming. People started moving toward the back of the train, going through emergency exits between cars to get away from the worst of the smoke. As we moved toward the rear cars, it turned out the smoke was even thicker there. The middle cars seemed the clearest for a while, but they eventually filled with smoke too.
The scene inside the train was chaotic. People were crying, huddling by the exits, and trying to make sense of what was happening. At one point, I considered whether we could try to pry open the train doors, but it didn’t seem like a viable option. There likely wasn’t enough space between the train and the tunnel walls to even get out, the electrified tracks posed a significant risk, and the smoke was coming from the tunnel itself. On top of that, the conductor had mentioned there was supposedly another train blocking the way behind us. We were completely trapped.
The conductor made repeated announcements for at least ten minutes: “We’re waiting for electricity to turn back on!” “The train behind us has to move first!” and “Someone pulled the emergency handle, the train can’t move until it’s reset!" Meanwhile, the smoke just kept getting worse. It seemed like an eternity that the conductor kept on saying that we were about move. As the seconds passed, I really started to believe that this train wasn't going to ever leave this position with us alive. I was getting ready to go through the caboose and into the tunnel, which might be home to Satan himself.
Finally, the train finally started moving again, and we were diverted to Hoboken, where we evacuated. By the time we got off, the smoke, the confusion, and the lack of information left everyone shaken.
I held a girl's hand who was extremely distraught for much of the time and the floor was literally soaked with her and other womens' tears by the end of the ride.
The Port Authority offered us a "complimentary transfer" and mentioned this as a minor convenience on their social media accounts. No paramedics were at the Hoboken station waiting for us, even after our 8-minute ride turned into a 70-minute ride through hell.
Anyone know any good lawyers in NJ?
Somehow only NYPost and Barstool Sports have posted anything about this when hundreds of people were possibly minutes from dying underneath the Hudson River.
What the hell? I didn't hear anything about this. Glad you're ok. So you were in the tunnel to Christopher when this happened?! Holy shit.
Winston Wolf
Registered User
That's correct.
PATH is acting like it never happened (although I wouldn't be surprised if more senior level individuals have no idea this even occurred) and there have been no actual media stories about it. Insane that there was nearly the biggest mass casualty event in NYC since 9/11 and even regular PATH commuters have no idea this occurred. They called this an inconvenience, then announced regular service on this line would resume 1.5 hours after the event ended.
ellja3
Registered User
kudymen
Hakstok was a fascist clique hiver lickballs.gif
Lord Defect
Secretary of Blowtorching
- Nov 13, 2013
- 19,044
- 35,128
Take that to the news dude. Online and traditional. Get a buzz going about it.
Or contact a lawyer and go off their professional advice, that’s probably the better option
ellja3
Registered User
kudymen
Hakstok was a fascist clique hiver lickballs.gif
Beef Invictus
Revolutionary Positivity
I really thought I was about to kick the bucket two nights ago. I was on this same train, although not on these cars at the time of these videos:
I was on a PATH train heading from Jersey City (Newport station) to NYC, and what should’ve been a quick 8-minute ride turned into a 70-minute nightmare under the Hudson River.
Not long after we left at around 5:50 PM, the train stopped, and the conductor announced there was a train ahead of us causing a brief delay. At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal—just a minor holdup. But after we moved forward slightly and stopped again, the conductor said there was a “small electrical fire” in the tunnel.
Within minutes, smoke started filling the train cars. It was light at first, but it quickly became overwhelming. People started moving toward the back of the train, going through emergency exits between cars to get away from the worst of the smoke. As we moved toward the rear cars, it turned out the smoke was even thicker there. The middle cars seemed the clearest for a while, but they eventually filled with smoke too.
The scene inside the train was chaotic. People were crying, huddling by the exits, and trying to make sense of what was happening. At one point, I considered whether we could try to pry open the train doors, but it didn’t seem like a viable option. There likely wasn’t enough space between the train and the tunnel walls to even get out, the electrified tracks posed a significant risk, and the smoke was coming from the tunnel itself. On top of that, the conductor had mentioned there was supposedly another train blocking the way behind us. We were completely trapped.
The conductor made repeated announcements for at least ten minutes: “We’re waiting for electricity to turn back on!” “The train behind us has to move first!” and “Someone pulled the emergency handle, the train can’t move until it’s reset!" Meanwhile, the smoke just kept getting worse. It seemed like an eternity that the conductor kept on saying that we were about move. As the seconds passed, I really started to believe that this train wasn't going to ever leave this position with us alive. I was getting ready to go through the caboose and into the tunnel, which might be home to Satan himself.
Finally, the train finally started moving again, and we were diverted to Hoboken, where we evacuated. By the time we got off, the smoke, the confusion, and the lack of information left everyone shaken.
I held a girl's hand who was extremely distraught for much of the time and the floor was literally soaked with her and other womens' tears by the end of the ride.
The Port Authority offered us a "complimentary transfer" and mentioned this as a minor convenience on their social media accounts. No paramedics were at the Hoboken station waiting for us, even after our 8-minute ride turned into a 70-minute ride through hell.
Anyone know any good lawyers in NJ?
Somehow only NYPost and Barstool Sports have posted anything about this when hundreds of people were possibly minutes from dying underneath the Hudson River.
WMATA had a recent issue with this few years back. Issues with ventilation systems. Led to payouts. Get that bread.
I don't know the particulars of their system at all, but in general even old systems have strong enough vent systems that it can move air to keep things clear. But that's if the systems are started early enough and in the right order to promote air flow; they can keep ahead of a fire but are very noisy at playing catch-up. And if maintenance was followed to ensure they all work. Strong chance of human f***up at work. Keep anything that proves you were on that train. If the proof is electronic on their site, snag copies now
Beef Invictus
Revolutionary Positivity
Followup, everyone on that train has to sue. Lack of EMS is alarming. Complete lack of diligence and under planning, or failure to follow plans, despite recent industry mishap showing how urgent this can be. Vent systems are either out of order, badly used, or insufficient.
It's easy to think "I'm fine, don't need to be selfish and sue" but it honestly isn't about you. Every cent you passengers can drain is a cent that will encourage the bean counters to properly fund planning, training, and maintenance. That's all the stuff that gets squeezed over time for savings, and eventually response to emergency decays to the point where people die. It is luck nobody died. There won't be sufficient change if the agency can get away with it with minimal hassle. You all need to change the accounting so that it is clear proper safety investment is a better money saver than cutting corners until a disaster happens.
Oh, and once the insulators on an electric rail system start failing, arcing, and catching fire? From what I've seen that's a sign that it's going to begin happening a lot more. One failing is a sign that a bunch are aging out. So this is likely to happen again. WMATA f***ed around for years and didn't replace them all and let them burn up at increasing rates until a compounding set of failures left many injured and one dead. Then they finally went through the system and swapped out.
It's easy to think "I'm fine, don't need to be selfish and sue" but it honestly isn't about you. Every cent you passengers can drain is a cent that will encourage the bean counters to properly fund planning, training, and maintenance. That's all the stuff that gets squeezed over time for savings, and eventually response to emergency decays to the point where people die. It is luck nobody died. There won't be sufficient change if the agency can get away with it with minimal hassle. You all need to change the accounting so that it is clear proper safety investment is a better money saver than cutting corners until a disaster happens.
Oh, and once the insulators on an electric rail system start failing, arcing, and catching fire? From what I've seen that's a sign that it's going to begin happening a lot more. One failing is a sign that a bunch are aging out. So this is likely to happen again. WMATA f***ed around for years and didn't replace them all and let them burn up at increasing rates until a compounding set of failures left many injured and one dead. Then they finally went through the system and swapped out.
JojoTheWhale
"You should keep it." -- Striiker
- May 22, 2008
- 36,372
- 112,011
There are people shining lasers into the bleeping air at what they think are drones. You're going to blind a small aircraft pilot. How unbelievably dumb are we?
FlyerNutter
In the forest, a man learns what it means to live
Weird nobody has taken a few shots at it. Assuming they aren’t just over the city.
Tangent story, buddy of mine spent some time flying into reserves in the north on tiny planes. Apparently sometimes the locals would pop off a few shots as the plane was landing
Tangent story, buddy of mine spent some time flying into reserves in the north on tiny planes. Apparently sometimes the locals would pop off a few shots as the plane was landing
DancingPanther
Foundational Titan
- Jun 19, 2018
- 34,285
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Chicken N Raffls
Here for the chaos and lolz
I mean, it wasn't that long ago some folks paid ridiculous sums to travel 1000's of feet below the ocean in a propane tank. So yea, really, really, really dumb and then some.
DancingPanther
Foundational Titan
- Jun 19, 2018
- 34,285
- 72,550
Whooping cough rates have doubled in Michigan while childhood vaccine rates have halfed
JojoTheWhale
"You should keep it." -- Striiker
- May 22, 2008
- 36,372
- 112,011
Winston Wolf
Registered User
So I believe there isn’t much of a ventilation system. From my understanding, they rely on the actual trains going through the tunnel to move air.
The PATH lines and this one in particular are ancient and would be condemned if they weren’t absolutely critical infrastructure for commuters.
And I have videos of myself on the train that I haven’t posted anywhere yet.
I did send an actual summary to some law firms a few days ago, so we’ll see what happens.
