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Massive Power Failure Hits NYC


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#1 AlanB

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Posted 14 August 2003 - 03:53 PM

While I've yet to hear anything on the news, in part because I have no power, I can hear on my scanner that all Subways have no power city wide. Also all LIRR and Amtrak service is out. I'm also assuming that Metro North is also out of service. I'm hearing many reports of LIRR trains having their emergency windows removed so that people can escape the trains and heat that is obviously building inside the cars.
Alan,

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#2 AlanB

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Posted 14 August 2003 - 04:03 PM

A fire at a major New York power plant caused cascading blackouts throughout the Northeast, the Midwest and eastern Canada late Thursday afternoon, knocking out electricity to millions of people in New York, Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland and elsewhere.


The full story from MSNBC.
Alan,

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#3 AlanB

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Posted 14 August 2003 - 04:20 PM

All trains are being evacuated where ever they are, in tunnels, on el's, or on the ground. Supervisors are walking from station to station on every line to check for trains that did not make it into a station to ensure that they have been evacuated.
Alan,

Take care and take trains!

#4 AlanB

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Posted 14 August 2003 - 05:55 PM

Well so far no power here in Queens. Reports that I'm seeing say that some areas, no word on what areas, may not see power until tomorrow. I have no idea if that includes NYC or if it's in more outlying areas. The LIRR is trying to position it's diesel's in an effort to push stranded electric trains into stations. Of course many of those trains have already been evacuated, with or without crew help. I could hear reports of passengers removing the emergency windows within 15 minutes of the start of the outage. I don't think that there are any plans to actually try and run trains. There is simply no way for them to move that many people first of all. Second all mainlines are littered with stranded electric trains. On the subway side, evactuations continue and supervisors are walking all tracks system wide to confirm that all trains have indeed been evacuated. I'm currently on-line via my laptop and it's battery. However that won't last forever and I have no idea how much longer I'll be able to stay online.
Alan,

Take care and take trains!

#5 AlanB

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Posted 14 August 2003 - 07:19 PM

As of 8:15 PM EST, I'm hearing reports from train crews in the Bronx who are seeing power being restored. Things are still out in Queens and Manhattan, but hopefully these areas will follow the Bronx soon. All trains that are once again under power are being ordered to remain out of service and to stay put wherever they are until the entire city has power back. Crews continue to confirm that all trains are evacuated. I've just heard that one track on the LIRR now has power at 8:19. The LIRR has been moving some trains into stations with diesels, but there is no service other than positioning a train into a station.
Alan,

Take care and take trains!

#6 KevinKorell

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Posted 14 August 2003 - 08:06 PM

Here is a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer tonight, where the news is still being gathered electronically and the presses are still rolling.

A power outage along the northeastern and midwestern United States and Canada forced people from their offices and out onto the streets.

Commuters from New York and other areas hit by the blackout had to be inventive to get home tonight, as major train lines and bus stations were shut down.

Full story is here.


Kevin Korell


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#7 AlanB

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Posted 14 August 2003 - 08:53 PM

Well it's now 9:50 PM EST and power is still out here in NYC. I'm hearing reports that power has been restored to Westchester County, which would explain my earlier post that a few stations in the Bronx now have power. Overall though things are still grim. I continue to hear reports from LIRR diesel crews rescuing stranded electric trains. All subways are still at a standstill, although buses continue to operate as best as they can. Cars are allowed to drive, however if you leave the city you will not be allowed to re-enter until the power is restored. The MTA is apparently hopeful that power will be back soon, as they are currently broadcasting instructions to the crews about not touching the controls on the trains for at least 15 minutes, once power is restored. This will probably be my last post until power is restored, as the battery is just about used up on my laptop.
Alan,

Take care and take trains!

#8 KevinKorell

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Posted 15 August 2003 - 12:01 AM

There is not much public information coming from the MTA, since all of their websites for the NYCT, LIRR, and MNRR are down.

From WCBS-880 radio's website comes this advisory about Friday travel on Metro North:

(Hartford-AP) -- Commuters coming to New York from Connecticut could be in for a brutal trip into the city this morning.

The Metro-North Railroad says train service will be extremely limited and they're suggesting commuters avoid the rails.

Officials say it's going to take six to eight hours to get even basic service up and running after the power is restored.

And here is a story from the same radio station about a frustrated Metro North commuter who was fed up with waiting on the sweltering train:

BRIDGEPORT -  Two hours on a sweltering Metro-North train was enough for Jose Alarcon. The Brooklyn, N.Y., resident jumped from the tracks to the top of a nearby tractor-trailer, then to the ground.

``I was on my way to Berkeley College in Manhattan to take an accounting exam,'' he told the Connecticut Post. ``I guess I won't make it.''

After several attempts, Alarcon finally managed to wave down a passing car and persuaded the driver to take him back to New Haven.



Kevin Korell


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