New York Has a Supervillain Pulling Subway Emergency Brakes
May 22, 2019 7:20 AM Subscribe
Someone—no one really knows who—has been disrupting the train system, sneaking into cabs, pulling the emergency brakes, and grinding not just one train, but entire lines in the system to a halt during the busiest hours of the day.
And just like that, they then melt into the darkness between the tunnels, waiting to strike again
“Unruly Customer” is a supervillain marketing fail.
posted by chavenet at 7:32 AM on May 22, 2019 [12 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 7:32 AM on May 22, 2019 [12 favorites]
Why does the NYC subway even have these? I can't think of another transit system that has them, and the signs next to the ones in NYC basically explain that there are virtually no emergencies where it's actually appropriate to activate the emergency brake.
posted by schmod at 7:37 AM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by schmod at 7:37 AM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
They're there in case someone is caught in the doors and the train starts moving. Other systems do in fact have them.
posted by Automocar at 7:43 AM on May 22, 2019 [19 favorites]
posted by Automocar at 7:43 AM on May 22, 2019 [19 favorites]
It's all fun and games unless you're an unlucky soul in front of their boss begging to keep a job they hate because they were late for the third time.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:45 AM on May 22, 2019 [15 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:45 AM on May 22, 2019 [15 favorites]
Is his name Andrew Cuomo?
posted by lownote at 7:49 AM on May 22, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by lownote at 7:49 AM on May 22, 2019 [6 favorites]
I'd put my money on it being an actual subway worker who has a better than average understanding of how to do this.
posted by mit5urugi at 7:52 AM on May 22, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by mit5urugi at 7:52 AM on May 22, 2019 [8 favorites]
Why does the NYC subway even have these? I can't think of another transit system that has them, and the signs next to the ones in NYC basically explain that there are virtually no emergencies where it's actually appropriate to activate the emergency brake.
They aren't pulling the 'in case of emergency" brake in the passenger section and running off. They're jumping on the back of the train, going through the last door, entering the unmanned rear cab (there for when the train gets to the end of the line), and activating the emergency brake that only the conductor has access to.
posted by thecjm at 7:59 AM on May 22, 2019 [34 favorites]
They aren't pulling the 'in case of emergency" brake in the passenger section and running off. They're jumping on the back of the train, going through the last door, entering the unmanned rear cab (there for when the train gets to the end of the line), and activating the emergency brake that only the conductor has access to.
posted by thecjm at 7:59 AM on May 22, 2019 [34 favorites]
This calls for a subway fare hike!
posted by Liquidwolf at 8:00 AM on May 22, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by Liquidwolf at 8:00 AM on May 22, 2019 [9 favorites]
Automocar: "They're there in case someone is caught in the doors and the train starts moving. Other systems do in fact have them."
Do NYC's trains seriously not have failsafes to prevent the train from moving until the doors are closed? DC's had this since the system opened in the 1970s (and, yes, they'll take a train out of service if a "door-closed" sensor stops working)
posted by schmod at 8:06 AM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
Do NYC's trains seriously not have failsafes to prevent the train from moving until the doors are closed? DC's had this since the system opened in the 1970s (and, yes, they'll take a train out of service if a "door-closed" sensor stops working)
posted by schmod at 8:06 AM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
Rational part of my brain: Christ, what an asshole
Irrational part of my brain: Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!
posted by ominous_paws at 8:07 AM on May 22, 2019 [13 favorites]
Irrational part of my brain: Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!
posted by ominous_paws at 8:07 AM on May 22, 2019 [13 favorites]
Morlocks. It's the morlocks. Hasn't anyone ever read the X-Men comics?
posted by FritoKAL at 8:09 AM on May 22, 2019 [14 favorites]
posted by FritoKAL at 8:09 AM on May 22, 2019 [14 favorites]
“Unruly Customer” is a supervillain marketing fail.
Track Panther?
The Incredible Halt?
posted by ominous_paws at 8:12 AM on May 22, 2019 [65 favorites]
Track Panther?
The Incredible Halt?
posted by ominous_paws at 8:12 AM on May 22, 2019 [65 favorites]
Just a reminder: this website does not endorse vigilante justice. Unless it gets results. Which it will!
posted by SansPoint at 8:15 AM on May 22, 2019 [11 favorites]
posted by SansPoint at 8:15 AM on May 22, 2019 [11 favorites]
Morlocks. It's the morlocks. Hasn't anyone ever read the X-Men comics?
Could be a C.H.U.D. ..with white sneakers.
posted by Liquidwolf at 8:15 AM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
“Unruly Customer” is a supervillain marketing fail.
Ricki Brake
Sir Francis Brake
Or if they have an accomplice - Halt ’N Pepper
posted by Garm at 8:21 AM on May 22, 2019 [41 favorites]
Ricki Brake
Sir Francis Brake
Or if they have an accomplice - Halt ’N Pepper
posted by Garm at 8:21 AM on May 22, 2019 [41 favorites]
For the confused: this guy is going into the rear conductors' cabs and pulling the brakes in there. There is one of these at each end of the trains, because they don't turn around when they reverse direction.
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:23 AM on May 22, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:23 AM on May 22, 2019 [8 favorites]
Michael Bloomberg, sipping on coffee, tenting his fingers in front of his iPad, satisfactorily muttering something about the city ruing the day they laughed at his presidential ambitions.
posted by griphus at 8:26 AM on May 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by griphus at 8:26 AM on May 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
I'd put my money on it being an actual subway worker who has a better than average understanding of how to do this
It's the Braking of Pelham 123
posted by theory at 8:30 AM on May 22, 2019 [114 favorites]
It's the Braking of Pelham 123
posted by theory at 8:30 AM on May 22, 2019 [114 favorites]
If I see this dude, I will go down in history (I think?) as the first Mefite arrested for murder. But I won't be the first Mefite convicted of murder...
posted by praemunire at 8:35 AM on May 22, 2019 [12 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 8:35 AM on May 22, 2019 [12 favorites]
Do NYC's trains seriously not have failsafes to prevent the train from moving until the doors are closed?
Yes, they do. But it isn't a perfect solution. A person was recently killed when she when she got her clothing stuck in the door.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 8:40 AM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
Yes, they do. But it isn't a perfect solution. A person was recently killed when she when she got her clothing stuck in the door.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 8:40 AM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
For the confused: this guy is going into the rear conductors' cabs and pulling the brakes in there. There is one of these at each end of the trains, because they don't turn around when they reverse direction.
Im like 99% sure this is entirely preferable to pulling the emergency break in the passenger compartment, which requires some major reset by the train crew (and given that they have giant signs saying not to use the emergency break in case of literally any flavor of emergency, its not actually clear why they exist)
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:40 AM on May 22, 2019
Im like 99% sure this is entirely preferable to pulling the emergency break in the passenger compartment, which requires some major reset by the train crew (and given that they have giant signs saying not to use the emergency break in case of literally any flavor of emergency, its not actually clear why they exist)
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:40 AM on May 22, 2019
In a just world it would be Darius McCollum's job to catch this guy instead of being put away in an institution.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:41 AM on May 22, 2019 [17 favorites]
posted by Space Coyote at 8:41 AM on May 22, 2019 [17 favorites]
In a just world it would be Darius McCollum's job to catch this guy instead of being put away in an institution.
Now picturing a Silence of the Lambs-style thriller where a young impressionable MTA employee goes and interviews Darius McCollum for insight into the subway supervillain's mind. "What is the first and principal thing he does, what need does he serve by braking?"
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:56 AM on May 22, 2019 [23 favorites]
Now picturing a Silence of the Lambs-style thriller where a young impressionable MTA employee goes and interviews Darius McCollum for insight into the subway supervillain's mind. "What is the first and principal thing he does, what need does he serve by braking?"
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:56 AM on May 22, 2019 [23 favorites]
Im like 99% sure this is entirely preferable to pulling the emergency break in the passenger compartment
I've always been surprised that some antisocial little shitheads don't pull that break more often.
posted by Mavri at 9:04 AM on May 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
I've always been surprised that some antisocial little shitheads don't pull that break more often.
posted by Mavri at 9:04 AM on May 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
I've always been surprised that some antisocial little shitheads don't pull that break more often.
Because then they'd be stuck, too, unless they were willing to be like this fool and exit on foot through the tunnel.
Come to think of it, this may be a self-solving problem.
posted by praemunire at 9:17 AM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
Because then they'd be stuck, too, unless they were willing to be like this fool and exit on foot through the tunnel.
Come to think of it, this may be a self-solving problem.
posted by praemunire at 9:17 AM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
My money's on a sales rep from the company that has the repair contract.
posted by evilDoug at 9:18 AM on May 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by evilDoug at 9:18 AM on May 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
If I see this dude, I will go down in history (I think?) as the first Mefite arrested for murder. But I won't be the first Mefite convicted of murder...
first, be smart from the very beginning...
posted by supermedusa at 9:20 AM on May 22, 2019 [14 favorites]
first, be smart from the very beginning...
posted by supermedusa at 9:20 AM on May 22, 2019 [14 favorites]
I'd put my money on it being an actual subway worker who has a better than average understanding of how to do this.
The Braking of Pelham One-Two-Three
posted by Gelatin at 9:25 AM on May 22, 2019 [6 favorites]
The Braking of Pelham One-Two-Three
posted by Gelatin at 9:25 AM on May 22, 2019 [6 favorites]
That's some serious deja vu, down to the quoted bit being responded to...
posted by RedOrGreen at 9:28 AM on May 22, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by RedOrGreen at 9:28 AM on May 22, 2019 [6 favorites]
And what's even more surprising is that neither of us are a NY Post copyeditor
posted by theory at 9:55 AM on May 22, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by theory at 9:55 AM on May 22, 2019 [9 favorites]
I bet it's Pizza Rat.
posted by dirigibleman at 9:58 AM on May 22, 2019 [19 favorites]
posted by dirigibleman at 9:58 AM on May 22, 2019 [19 favorites]
This guy should worry about what might happen if he gets caught . . . by the passengers.
posted by Bee'sWing at 10:04 AM on May 22, 2019 [10 favorites]
posted by Bee'sWing at 10:04 AM on May 22, 2019 [10 favorites]
Brake the “A” Train
posted by chavenet at 11:05 AM on May 22, 2019 [10 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 11:05 AM on May 22, 2019 [10 favorites]
If he gets caught he’ll be taking the pain train
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 11:34 AM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 11:34 AM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
Jerk 182
posted by non canadian guy at 11:38 AM on May 22, 2019 [13 favorites]
posted by non canadian guy at 11:38 AM on May 22, 2019 [13 favorites]
I'd put my money on it being an actual subway worker who has a better than average understanding of how to do this.
From what I understand from a friend (who is probably not this guy) subway conductors are underpaid and have had some safety concerns ignored recently. I could definitely see this.
posted by corb at 11:39 AM on May 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
From what I understand from a friend (who is probably not this guy) subway conductors are underpaid and have had some safety concerns ignored recently. I could definitely see this.
posted by corb at 11:39 AM on May 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
I don't believe it, at all. A story to pass blame from the system to the people.
The real supervillians are the electeds covering their asses b/c they don't have the political will to fix an incredibly underfunded mass transit system.
posted by RajahKing at 11:43 AM on May 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
The real supervillians are the electeds covering their asses b/c they don't have the political will to fix an incredibly underfunded mass transit system.
posted by RajahKing at 11:43 AM on May 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
My first thought was that it's probably a current or former employee of the MTA. Those cabs aren't easy to bust into; you have to know how to open them. And if people are in the last car, you have to look like you know what you're doing to open that cab door, or the other riders will get suspicious, right?
posted by droplet at 11:44 AM on May 22, 2019
posted by droplet at 11:44 AM on May 22, 2019
I don't believe it, at all. A story to pass blame from the system to the people.
No way is this true. Too many people, across multiple agencies and levels of responsibility, have independently verified this. You'd have to assume, for example, that all those conductors mentioned in the article had been instructed to lie about the chains on the back of their trains being messed with. Or that the MTA had either made a false report to the NYPD, or that the NYPD was collaborating with the MTA to support this rumor, and the NYPD doesn't collaborate with anyone on anything. Plus you'd have to believe that the best NYC transit reporter in years had been totally fooled by every person he interviewed for this story.
When the MTA wants to pass blame from the system to the people, they fiddle with their performance metrics and raise a fuss about fare evasion, they don't invent a fake nefarious criminal.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:55 AM on May 22, 2019 [14 favorites]
No way is this true. Too many people, across multiple agencies and levels of responsibility, have independently verified this. You'd have to assume, for example, that all those conductors mentioned in the article had been instructed to lie about the chains on the back of their trains being messed with. Or that the MTA had either made a false report to the NYPD, or that the NYPD was collaborating with the MTA to support this rumor, and the NYPD doesn't collaborate with anyone on anything. Plus you'd have to believe that the best NYC transit reporter in years had been totally fooled by every person he interviewed for this story.
When the MTA wants to pass blame from the system to the people, they fiddle with their performance metrics and raise a fuss about fare evasion, they don't invent a fake nefarious criminal.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:55 AM on May 22, 2019 [14 favorites]
jesus christ metafilter you're braking my heart with all these goddamn puns
posted by Bwentman at 11:57 AM on May 22, 2019 [11 favorites]
posted by Bwentman at 11:57 AM on May 22, 2019 [11 favorites]
Braking Bad
posted by swr at 12:00 PM on May 22, 2019 [24 favorites]
posted by swr at 12:00 PM on May 22, 2019 [24 favorites]
I've always been surprised that some antisocial little shitheads don't pull that break more often.
This used to happen with some regularity back in the 90s. In those days the emergency brake was just a cord with a toggle on the end that hung down from the ceiling in a corner of the subway car. An antisocial shithead could just reach up when no one was looking, quickly yank down the cord and then assume a posture of innocence. It wasn't even possible for the other passengers in that car to know that the brake had been activated from that specific car. Then the MTA got the idea to put the emergency brake activators behind a little cover that had to be flipped open to access the brake cord, which would also sound an alarm in that car. This made it harder to activate the emergency brake without tipping off all the passengers in the same car, and apparently the prospect of being ripped limb-from-limb by angry commuters was enough of a disincentive that this really doesn't happen much anymore (as attested by the fact that this is now newsworthy).
posted by slkinsey at 12:06 PM on May 22, 2019 [11 favorites]
This used to happen with some regularity back in the 90s. In those days the emergency brake was just a cord with a toggle on the end that hung down from the ceiling in a corner of the subway car. An antisocial shithead could just reach up when no one was looking, quickly yank down the cord and then assume a posture of innocence. It wasn't even possible for the other passengers in that car to know that the brake had been activated from that specific car. Then the MTA got the idea to put the emergency brake activators behind a little cover that had to be flipped open to access the brake cord, which would also sound an alarm in that car. This made it harder to activate the emergency brake without tipping off all the passengers in the same car, and apparently the prospect of being ripped limb-from-limb by angry commuters was enough of a disincentive that this really doesn't happen much anymore (as attested by the fact that this is now newsworthy).
posted by slkinsey at 12:06 PM on May 22, 2019 [11 favorites]
jesus christ metafilter you're braking my heart with all these goddamn puns
WELL MAYBE TONI BRAXTON CAN UNBRAKE IT
posted by duffell at 12:08 PM on May 22, 2019 [27 favorites]
WELL MAYBE TONI BRAXTON CAN UNBRAKE IT
posted by duffell at 12:08 PM on May 22, 2019 [27 favorites]
And if people are in the last car, you have to look like you know what you're doing to open that cab door, or the other riders will get suspicious, right?
Frankly, most people in any given subway car are doing their level best to pretend nobody else in the car exists. It would take a lot more than that to ping my suspicion-o-meter. Or even to make me look up from my book.
Re: suspicious behavior, though, my biggest question is whether he is actually boarding the train through the rearmost doors. That would get my attention WAY more than somebody opening the conductor cab door, as I would just assume that person was an MTA employee.
Here's my theory: he is, as the article states, getting onto the back of the train to disconnect the chains, and possibly riding on the back of the train to the next station. But then, at that next station, I think he's getting off the back of the train, returning to the platform, and boarding the rearmost car as normal. Then he gets into the cab, pulls the break, and in the confusion he makes his exist through the now-unsecured back door.
I wouldn't be surprised, actually, if at least one or two people see this article and realize in retrospect that they did actually see this guy. Like maybe they saw someone riding on the back of the train, or opening the conductor's cab, and just didn't connect it to the braking problem because the system is shit right now so of course there was a braking problem, what else is new?
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:09 PM on May 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
Frankly, most people in any given subway car are doing their level best to pretend nobody else in the car exists. It would take a lot more than that to ping my suspicion-o-meter. Or even to make me look up from my book.
Re: suspicious behavior, though, my biggest question is whether he is actually boarding the train through the rearmost doors. That would get my attention WAY more than somebody opening the conductor cab door, as I would just assume that person was an MTA employee.
Here's my theory: he is, as the article states, getting onto the back of the train to disconnect the chains, and possibly riding on the back of the train to the next station. But then, at that next station, I think he's getting off the back of the train, returning to the platform, and boarding the rearmost car as normal. Then he gets into the cab, pulls the break, and in the confusion he makes his exist through the now-unsecured back door.
I wouldn't be surprised, actually, if at least one or two people see this article and realize in retrospect that they did actually see this guy. Like maybe they saw someone riding on the back of the train, or opening the conductor's cab, and just didn't connect it to the braking problem because the system is shit right now so of course there was a braking problem, what else is new?
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:09 PM on May 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
Track Panther?
The Incredible Halt?
posted by ominous_paws
Captain MRVL?
posted by UltraMorgnus at 12:13 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
The Incredible Halt?
posted by ominous_paws
Captain MRVL?
posted by UltraMorgnus at 12:13 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
jesus christ metafilter you're braking my heart with all these goddamn puns
so you want us to what, JUST STOP?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:21 PM on May 22, 2019 [11 favorites]
so you want us to what, JUST STOP?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:21 PM on May 22, 2019 [11 favorites]
Clap your hands everybody, if you got what it takes
'Cause I'm Kurtis Blow and I want you to know that these are the braaaakes!
posted by theory at 12:21 PM on May 22, 2019 [10 favorites]
'Cause I'm Kurtis Blow and I want you to know that these are the braaaakes!
posted by theory at 12:21 PM on May 22, 2019 [10 favorites]
This is setting a pretty low bar for supervillainy but that's New York I guess
posted by OverlappingElvis at 1:02 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by OverlappingElvis at 1:02 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
“Unruly Customer” is a supervillain marketing fail.
Oh he had a dashing name all picked out and is mad as hell at Spider-Man for calling himPaste Pot Pete Unruly Customer and now the media has picked it up and he's all "CURSE YOU SPIDER-MAN!"
posted by straight at 1:55 PM on May 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
Oh he had a dashing name all picked out and is mad as hell at Spider-Man for calling him
posted by straight at 1:55 PM on May 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
I've always been surprised that some antisocial little shitheads don't pull that break more often.
that's not really something i would expect anyone to survive in 2019, especially in the summer.
posted by poffin boffin at 1:57 PM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
that's not really something i would expect anyone to survive in 2019, especially in the summer.
posted by poffin boffin at 1:57 PM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
NYC's total residential population is around 8.5 million. The average weekday has a subway ridership of 5.5 million.
Let's pick some ballpark, nonrigorous napkin-math numbers. I'll say that 60% of that ridership is peak hours; assume it's split equally between two morning and evening rushes; I'll say that in the morning rush (which I'm assuming contains 30% of total ridership, or 1.7 mil) 85% of that ridership is commuting to work. Finally, I'll assume that one brake-pull affects one-half of the system for the entire rush hour.
With that math, 0.72 mil, or 722,000 people are late to work with every morning disturbance.
Another 12,000 are presumably late for brunch.
If you imagine that 1% of those commuters are CRITICAL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS and in 1% of those cases, the delay causes a severe deficiency in care, each brake-pull could cause 70 untimely deaths. I'm not saying it does. Every single word of this post is unsupported by evidence. I'm just saying that maybe this unknown person is a mass murderer. We just don't know.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 2:01 PM on May 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
Let's pick some ballpark, nonrigorous napkin-math numbers. I'll say that 60% of that ridership is peak hours; assume it's split equally between two morning and evening rushes; I'll say that in the morning rush (which I'm assuming contains 30% of total ridership, or 1.7 mil) 85% of that ridership is commuting to work. Finally, I'll assume that one brake-pull affects one-half of the system for the entire rush hour.
With that math, 0.72 mil, or 722,000 people are late to work with every morning disturbance.
Another 12,000 are presumably late for brunch.
If you imagine that 1% of those commuters are CRITICAL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS and in 1% of those cases, the delay causes a severe deficiency in care, each brake-pull could cause 70 untimely deaths. I'm not saying it does. Every single word of this post is unsupported by evidence. I'm just saying that maybe this unknown person is a mass murderer. We just don't know.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 2:01 PM on May 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
It seems to me that a Go-Pro with a motion detector aimed at a brake handle at face height might shed some light on this mysterious criminal, but what the hell do I know?
posted by halfbuckaroo at 2:18 PM on May 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by halfbuckaroo at 2:18 PM on May 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
Looks like they're headed for a Hard Brakes-it
posted by chromecow at 2:19 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by chromecow at 2:19 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
I guess with all the current politics he was pushed to the braking point
posted by numaner at 2:26 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by numaner at 2:26 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
omg
POINT BRAKE
This guy should worry about what might happen if he gets caught . . . by the passengers.
“If you want the ultimate, you’ve got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. It’s not tragic to die doing what you love.”
posted by numaner at 2:27 PM on May 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
POINT BRAKE
This guy should worry about what might happen if he gets caught . . . by the passengers.
“If you want the ultimate, you’ve got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. It’s not tragic to die doing what you love.”
posted by numaner at 2:27 PM on May 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
Do NYC's trains seriously not have failsafes to prevent the train from moving until the doors are closed? DC's had this since the system opened in the 1970s (and, yes, they'll take a train out of service if a "door-closed" sensor stops working)
Yeah, but now we've had this happen. "Metro Opens Doors," indeed.
posted by candyland at 2:56 PM on May 22, 2019
Yeah, but now we've had this happen. "Metro Opens Doors," indeed.
posted by candyland at 2:56 PM on May 22, 2019
It seems to me that a Go-Pro with a motion detector aimed at a brake handle at face height might shed some light on this mysterious criminal, but what the hell do I know?
posted by halfbuckaroo at 5:18 PM on May 22
The MTA can't even afford to upgrade all those miscalabrated signals, and now you want them to buy 2 Go Pros for each train?? Best we can hope for: One Go Pro tied to the head of a rat
posted by UltraMorgnus at 3:07 PM on May 22, 2019 [15 favorites]
posted by halfbuckaroo at 5:18 PM on May 22
The MTA can't even afford to upgrade all those miscalabrated signals, and now you want them to buy 2 Go Pros for each train?? Best we can hope for: One Go Pro tied to the head of a rat
posted by UltraMorgnus at 3:07 PM on May 22, 2019 [15 favorites]
yeah, motion-sensitive gopro sounds cool until you realize there is NYC Subway Rolling Stock that was manufactured during the second Johnson administration.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 3:13 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 3:13 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
Does the NY subway not have electrified rails? I can't imagine someone escaping down the tunnels of the London tube in the dark without getting fried within about 3 steps.
posted by penguin pie at 3:20 PM on May 22, 2019
posted by penguin pie at 3:20 PM on May 22, 2019
The entire track bed isn't electrified, just one rail. If you know to avoid it, you can easily walk down there. I've seen transit workers doing it to clear stuff from the tracks, during normal service times.
posted by showbiz_liz at 3:34 PM on May 22, 2019
posted by showbiz_liz at 3:34 PM on May 22, 2019
Brake another little piece of my commute
amiright
posted by Kemma80 at 4:10 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
amiright
posted by Kemma80 at 4:10 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
showbiz_liz: Frankly, most people in any given subway car are doing their level best to pretend nobody else in the car exists. It would take a lot more than that to ping my suspicion-o-meter. Or even to make me look up from my book.
Re: suspicious behavior, though, my biggest question is whether he is actually boarding the train through the rearmost doors. That would get my attention WAY more than somebody opening the conductor cab door, as I would just assume that person was an MTA employee.
As someone who's ridden the MTA as a visitor to NYC, I have to think that even if people notice, there's the next step of actually doing something about it, which is an even higher hurdle to clear.
I saw this first hand a number of years ago on my morning commute on the subway in Toronto.
This was in the last car on the train, and a guy who had been pacing around (to the extent he could at rush hour) decided that he was going to open the rear doors and exit the moving train and stand outside, clinging to the back of the car - it was one of these Bombardier T1s.
It was hard to determine what his deal was, but everyone in the train just stood there staring at him when he slammed open the door and went outside, and there was a collective shruggy "Oh, well, this is bad, but whaddayagonnado?"
Then again, I like to think maybe New Yorkers would have been a bit more proactive: "No fuckin' way there, buddy!"
Anyway, since nobody had either the brains or sense of urgency do anything about it, I thought "Welp, this seems like a bona fide emergency of some kind, so let's see what this alarm strip really does!"
The emergency assistance alarm on TTC Bombardier T1 trains:
a.) triggers an ear-piercing alarm in the car in which it was activated, and
b.) requires the driver to stop and hold the train at the next station.
So, when the train stopped at the next station, the conductor came marching onto the car and I explained that "Dude is just...hanging off the back of the train." The conductor opened the back door and retrieved him, and he was ushered off. I got to hear announcements over the PA about the delay I had just caused, during rush hour.
Momentarily inconveniencing several thousand people for a legitimate reason is an interesting experience, I must say.
schmod: Why does the NYC subway even have these? I can't think of another transit system that has them
Toronto's older rolling stock (the aforementioned T1 train) has them (not sure about the newer Toronto Rockets), but you've got to punch through a perforated plastic panel thingy to pull the brake cord. I think punching open the panel sets off an alarm, but I'm not sure.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:10 PM on May 22, 2019 [14 favorites]
Re: suspicious behavior, though, my biggest question is whether he is actually boarding the train through the rearmost doors. That would get my attention WAY more than somebody opening the conductor cab door, as I would just assume that person was an MTA employee.
As someone who's ridden the MTA as a visitor to NYC, I have to think that even if people notice, there's the next step of actually doing something about it, which is an even higher hurdle to clear.
I saw this first hand a number of years ago on my morning commute on the subway in Toronto.
This was in the last car on the train, and a guy who had been pacing around (to the extent he could at rush hour) decided that he was going to open the rear doors and exit the moving train and stand outside, clinging to the back of the car - it was one of these Bombardier T1s.
#/media/File:TTC_T1_at_Kipling.jpg){kind=link}
It was hard to determine what his deal was, but everyone in the train just stood there staring at him when he slammed open the door and went outside, and there was a collective shruggy "Oh, well, this is bad, but whaddayagonnado?"
Then again, I like to think maybe New Yorkers would have been a bit more proactive: "No fuckin' way there, buddy!"
Anyway, since nobody had either the brains or sense of urgency do anything about it, I thought "Welp, this seems like a bona fide emergency of some kind, so let's see what this alarm strip really does!"
The emergency assistance alarm on TTC Bombardier T1 trains:
a.) triggers an ear-piercing alarm in the car in which it was activated, and
b.) requires the driver to stop and hold the train at the next station.
So, when the train stopped at the next station, the conductor came marching onto the car and I explained that "Dude is just...hanging off the back of the train." The conductor opened the back door and retrieved him, and he was ushered off. I got to hear announcements over the PA about the delay I had just caused, during rush hour.
Momentarily inconveniencing several thousand people for a legitimate reason is an interesting experience, I must say.
schmod: Why does the NYC subway even have these? I can't think of another transit system that has them
Toronto's older rolling stock (the aforementioned T1 train) has them (not sure about the newer Toronto Rockets), but you've got to punch through a perforated plastic panel thingy to pull the brake cord. I think punching open the panel sets off an alarm, but I'm not sure.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:10 PM on May 22, 2019 [14 favorites]
A lot of this is just ignorance, not necessarily sabotage.
I was on a subway when a guy vomited more vomit than I thought possible.
Then some kindly old woman thought she'd alert the driver by pulling the emergency brake.
Madness.
posted by ascii at 5:20 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
I was on a subway when a guy vomited more vomit than I thought possible.
Then some kindly old woman thought she'd alert the driver by pulling the emergency brake.
Madness.
posted by ascii at 5:20 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
I'd like to take exception to calling the perpetrator a " Supervillain."
Makes it sound hip or edgy, like all the cool kids want to be like them.
Mods, could you please change that to "antisocial little shithead" or maybe "obnoxious asshole"?
posted by BlueHorse at 5:32 PM on May 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
Makes it sound hip or edgy, like all the cool kids want to be like them.
Mods, could you please change that to "antisocial little shithead" or maybe "obnoxious asshole"?
posted by BlueHorse at 5:32 PM on May 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
I thought the same thing, but Jack Ass isn’t reading Metafilter and the mods can’t change the Junkoptic article. I’ve got to say that I’m a bit disappointed in the Norkers’ response to this guy. My friend from NY is always on about how a mild greeting on the street imagines tearing off the other participant’s head and shitting down their neck, and the train conductor can’t even back up a few blocks to run this dude down? Weak tea, man.
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 7:25 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 7:25 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
a Silence of the Lambs-style thriller where a young impressionable MTA employee goes and interviews Darius McCollum for insight into the subway supervillain's mind.
You know, I hear HBO has a hole in their schedule to fill. I'd watch the hell out of this.
posted by Kadin2048 at 6:44 AM on May 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
You know, I hear HBO has a hole in their schedule to fill. I'd watch the hell out of this.
posted by Kadin2048 at 6:44 AM on May 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
No one's said Breaking Brad yet?
posted by Kitty Stardust at 7:16 AM on May 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitty Stardust at 7:16 AM on May 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
Our Intrepid Reporter is back with more details: New York's Brake-Pulling Subway Supervillain Has Delayed More Than 740 Trains. Apparently one conductor almost caught him! Dude really needs to quit while he's ahead - now that this story is out, he can't keep getting away with it for long.
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:52 AM on May 23, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:52 AM on May 23, 2019 [4 favorites]
Near the bottom, an additional clue: At Wednesday’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority board meeting, New York City Transit president Andy Byford said the suspect almost certainly gets into the cab to activate the brakes by using a key available to any train operator or conductor. However, he did not venture a guess how this person obtained a key.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:03 AM on May 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:03 AM on May 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
Um, pretty sure this guy has screwed me over twice. Better believe I'll be waiting at the back of the platforms with my phone out.
And my foot out, if he hops off and tries to run across the platform.
posted by schadenfrau at 12:43 PM on May 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
And my foot out, if he hops off and tries to run across the platform.
posted by schadenfrau at 12:43 PM on May 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
Tuesday’s spree, which saw emergency brakes activated on three different trains within a 36-minute span, delayed or cancelled 118 trains during the peak afternoon rush on the 1, 2, and 3 lines. Dashing between trains during that encounter, he attempted to climb aboard a 2 train from the rail bed only to see the train’s conductor. He smiled, made an “obscene gesture,” ...and sprang away
can you bring bags of tar on the subway
posted by schadenfrau at 12:51 PM on May 23, 2019
can you bring bags of tar on the subway
posted by schadenfrau at 12:51 PM on May 23, 2019
Subway 'Brake Bandit' Arrested For Allegedly Pulling Emergency Brakes, Exposing Himself
Supervillain indeed.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 6:32 AM on May 24, 2019 [4 favorites]
Supervillain indeed.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 6:32 AM on May 24, 2019 [4 favorites]
He was arrested at home overnight in Bed-Stuy based off a tip, but the Post has video of a loooooong perp walk from the A/C/E Canal Street station. So the cops arrested him, kept him overnight, called the Post, apparently cleared the A/C/E Canal street station (which is busy as fuck), and paraded him from the train station out into a car.
My relief that he's caught is pretty much entirely cancelled out by the fact that it's the NYPD who caught him. Which...was probably pretty predictable. Such dicks.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:36 AM on May 24, 2019 [6 favorites]
My relief that he's caught is pretty much entirely cancelled out by the fact that it's the NYPD who caught him. Which...was probably pretty predictable. Such dicks.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:36 AM on May 24, 2019 [6 favorites]
Also, pretty clear that the NYPD only gave a shit when it became a story that embarrassed them, because it took them like 36 hours from the time the story broke to make an arrest, and the guy had been operating for months prior.
We know they're assholes, but they're also just...really well-rounded at being assholes. Christ.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:38 AM on May 24, 2019 [7 favorites]
We know they're assholes, but they're also just...really well-rounded at being assholes. Christ.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:38 AM on May 24, 2019 [7 favorites]
Also, pretty clear that the NYPD only gave a shit when it became a story that embarrassed them, because it took them like 36 hours from the time the story broke to make an arrest, and the guy had been operating for months prior.
With the caveat of "fuck the NYPD and all it stands for," it's not really clear from the articles how long ago the MTA referred this to the NYPD.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:09 PM on May 24, 2019
With the caveat of "fuck the NYPD and all it stands for," it's not really clear from the articles how long ago the MTA referred this to the NYPD.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:09 PM on May 24, 2019
(The perp walk thing is theatrically awful, though)
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:13 PM on May 24, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:13 PM on May 24, 2019 [1 favorite]
Nah, the subway is under the NYPD's jurisdiction, and always has been. Transit cops are just a subdivision of the NYPD. They had the case the whole time.
They're just assholes.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:09 PM on May 24, 2019 [2 favorites]
They're just assholes.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:09 PM on May 24, 2019 [2 favorites]
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