Cylindrical in shape and constructed of brick, concrete or tubular cast iron
- tube walls-2 and 2 1/2” ft thick
- most bored into solid bedrock-few run through clay sand silt
Most tubes are between…?
14 and 19 feet wide, only large enough to contain ONE TRACK
Personnel and evacuating passengers should walk in the area…
OUTSIDE the rails, OPPOSITE 3rd rail
- 3rd rail ALTERNATES SIDES as it goes through
- drainage trough between rails
Most tubes have NO ACCESS to adjacent tube throughout under water areas…
underground TUNNEL:
- numerous crossovers
- most cases, members can operate from sides of train
- open area containing 2 or more tracks
- narrower than underground tunnels
- very little space between train and tube…it may be impossible to obtain access to the side of the train
- structure of tube could fail and flood as result of explosion
-only opening for air flow are at the ENDS of the tube…disabled train in a tube will impede air flow
Exception to typical tube layout…
- 63rd st., 161st street , Lexington ave-all have openings
- 63rd st.-most susceptible to flooding
Tunnel to Tube transition Areas…
- underground tunnel connects to under river tube-
- MOST CASES- last EMERGENCY EXIT and CROSSOVER-until other side of river
- Square (underground tunnel) connects to Round (river tube)
Emergency Exits…
-NYCT guide book distinguishes between 2 types
- STANDARD- flush with sidewalk
- UPRIGHT- DOORS are VERTICAL-located on side of structure
Both are opened with TRIANGLE KEY
-Billy Bar has 2 points that fit into holes of the ring…not essential but opens doors MORE QUICKLY AND EASILY
Exit Stairways..
24-130 feet deep
Concrete or Metal
-METAL IS STEEPER-open treads
- critical that members are familiar with the LOCATION AND CONFIGURATION of subway emergency exits in their response area..especially in vicinity of under river tube
- Glow sticks can provide illumination
Crossovers…
- connections between adjacent tunnels
- use caution - live tracks and trains moving on other side
-usually at TRACK LEVEL, but may be one or more levels above tracks
Standpipes…
all under river standpipes in NYCT system are WET
-city-main fed/NO pumps to augment pressure
- siameses are usually located at the emergency exits closest to the river..in all cases check sign attached to siamese
- 2 1/2” outlets every 200 feet throughout tubes (standpipe outlet number used to pinpoint location
- section valves located approximately 600 ft apart -may needed to isolate ruptured Standpipe
- sound powered phone jacks are located at standpipe outlets (exception: JORALEMON TUBE)
What can be used to pinpoint the location of the incident?
STANDPIPE OUTLET NUMBER
Every 600 feet?
20 lb dry chem extinguisher
Power removal boxes
Blue Light Phone
PET-Power/extinguisher/Telephone
Emergency Evacuation Devices…
bolt cutters or forcible entry tools required to force Transit Authority locks.
- located at both ends of each under river tube at the base of the emergency exits
- EED used as ladder from benchwall/train to track level, bridge between adjacent subway cars (step side down, personnel stationed in each car)
- 7 feet long (auc 207)
- positioned against side or end doors of subway car- reach roadbed at 70 degree angle (AUC 207)
- also located at underground or grade level stations, 1st BLUELIGHT location south of the southbound platform(within 50 ft of platform end) (auc 207)
- ELEVATED STATIONS- in area of full time token booth (auc 207)
- keys to remove are at every token booth
- SI-Tower B-St. George terminal/ crew quarters-Tottenville train yard (auc 207)
Nolan Rail cart…
brought to scene by MEMBER and assembled by MEMBERS
Communications inside under River tubes?
- relay
- breaks in repeater zones
- members inside tube on opposite sides of break will NOT BE able to communicate
IC should ensure member operating on REPEATER CHANNEL is at STREET LEVEL in a position to the closest station on BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER….members operating at street level on opposite sides of the tunnel should relay important messages across the river
-no repeater antennas at most emergency exits and no coverage inside emergency exit stairways
Blue Light Phone…
Centrex system/similar to FDNY phone system
- member using blue light phone can call TA TRAINMASTER or token booth of the nearest station
- CANNOT call outside system, but CAN RECEIVE outside system
call a BLUELIGHT PHONE: 1+area code+ 3 digit exchange+4 digit extension number
TA portable Radios carried by..?
conductors, train operators, supervisors
- may not work above ground
- communications link may be established from a TA portable radio to the trainmaster, who can then relay info to borough dispatcher
(AUC 207..Light train is TRain Operators radio)
POST RADIO:
- do not use in immediate vicinity of signal, communications equipment, or train operator cabs, due to electrical interference…notify NYCT when POST radios are in use…POST RADIOS MAY BE USEFUL to communicate above ground from one side of the river to the other .
Members using Sound Powered phones should?
use AMPLIFIERS AND HEADPHONES
Ventilation Fans?
-all NYCT under river tubes have REVERSIBLE fans at both ends, usually in the vicinity of EMERGENCY EXITS nearest to water
Operational Guides?
2 sided
-Side A-maps, pictures,exits,stations
Side B-diagram, crossovers
L.I.V.E.S?
Location Incident info Ventilation Evacuation Safety
Initial Actions?
assisting SELF EVACUATING PASSENGERS
Units assigned to Emergency Exits should?
-consult emergency exit guide book to VERIFY correct exit
-open exit door and assess
-assist/ambulatory persons
INFORM dispatch which emergency exit you opened…if self evacuating request POWER OFF on affected tracks
Power removal…
- TA may be moving operable trains out of affected tube early on..IC must consider this
- moving trains out of subway may save lives
any indication civilians are ON THE TRACK, POWER REMOVAL MUST BE REQUESTED
-if a member operates POWER REMOVAL BOX, make IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION TO TRAINMASTER via emergency phone, ALSO NOTIFY IC, who shall relay info to borough dispatcher
