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| (1650628) | |
9/11 Memories... |
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Posted by subfan on Fri Sep 11 09:11:26 2026 I just went through the old SunTalk archive to find what I wrote about my personal experience that day - hard to believe it's been 25 years. In the interim, I've changed jobs, moved countries, and become a grandfather. Life does move on, as must we - but we must periodically pause to remember as well.My original post, from. September 12, 2001: Subject: Personal Account of Collapse Effects from Underground (long) Message Number: 263471 Posted by: subfan Date: Wed Sep 12 17:47:24 2001 I was on a train a block from the WTC when the first tower came down. I had first heard obout the attacks on the Center before leaving my home in Brooklyn. I decided therefore to take the IRT from the Juction, rather than my usual Q train, since I thought there was a good chance the Manhattan Bridge would be shut down, since it is a potential target. At first I got a 2; they were saying that they weren't sure if it would go up the Lex or 7th ave, but I figured that either way would be good for me; I work in the area north of Grand Central, so I could either take it all the way, or change at Nevins for a 4 or 5. When we got in to Franklin, a redbird 4 was across the platform, so I switched. We were running fine, with the exception of an anouncement, first made at Nevins, then repeated at Boro Hall, Bowling Green, and Wall Street, that because of the "earlier incidents" at the WTC, we would be bypassing Fulton St. It was as we were pulling out of Wall Street that things started to get interesting: first, everyone on the train noticed a change in the air preasure - ears popping, and train doors moving in slightly in their frames, as they do when another train passes next to the one you are on. About 2-3 seconds later, the emergency brakes went off. The C/R then came on the PA, and anounced, in a panicky voice, "Everyone to the front of the train, _now_, to evacuate!" I was in the last car; everyone immediately got up and started to move up. I had only gotten into the next car, when the T/O got on and said that rather than the front, we should all go to the rear, as there was smoke ahead. We all then turned around and went back. I got to the rear storm door and looked out into the tunnel; there was what looked like smoke starting to roll in from that side too, and the tunnel lights were out. One of the train crew then turned off the A/C to avoid bringing the smoke into the cars. About four minutes later, the T/O came to the back of the train and looked out; he saw the smoke, cursed, then got back on the radio with control to ask for guidance and assistance. Control was kind of busy, and couldn't get back to him right away. He kept on calling, saying he had a "five-minute situation", and where the f--- was the assistance he'd been promised fifteen minutes ago - he needed someone to come and open up Fulton station so he could evacuate. He was then told to reverse and return to Wall St. to evacuate. He had left the train charged from the north end, though, and would have to walk back to get his brake handle; however, with several of the passengers on the verge of panic, he thought it would not be a good idea for him to leave the car he was in. He tried to raise the C/R to ask him to do this, but couldn't get him on the radio. About then, though, another TA worker with some kind of mask on came walking down the tracks with a flashlight; he walked around the train to get the handle, and brought it back to the T/O. We then started to move toward Wall Street, but the brakes tripped again after about 20 feet - apparently, A/C power to the signals had gone out, and all the trippers had come up; one that was now under the train tripped us. The T/O recharged within about 30 seconds, and started moving again, and got tripped again when the next tripcock hit the same tripper. He then told us to sid down or brace ourselves, as this would continue to happen until we made it into the station - in fact, it happened about 2-3 more times. Once he got the first (last?) car into Wall, he keyed open the doors that were in the station and told us to get out, and _fast_. We ran out through the station, which was pretty smokey, and had a layer of dust on the ground - no one really knew what was going on; I thought there may have been another bombing, and just wanted to get out in the open in case anything colapsed. When we got to the street, it was unreal; about 2-2 inches of dust on the ground, pitch dark, and choking, swirling dust and debries on the ground - you couldn't breathe, you couldn't see more that a couple of feet in front - nothing. People were yelling, "when are we going to bo out" - it was so dark, they didn't realize that they were _already_ out on the street. Some rescue workers or volunteers were yelling to follow their voices and get into a building where there was water and the air was clearer, so I pulled my shirt up to cover my mouth as much as possible and went in that direction. When we got inside, they told us that one of the towers had colapsed, and that was the source of the dust. Thank god there was a working phone inside, so I was able to call my family and coworkers and tell them I was OK. After about 45 minutes, when the dust had somewhat settled, they told us we could leave if we wanted, but should head south, towards the Battery - for lack of anything better to do, I decided to go there. They had a bunch of tugboats there to take people to Jersey and uptown, so I took one uptown, got off at 63rd St., and walked to my office to have a place to stay until I could get back to Brooklyn. I stayed until the F started to run again, and then finally headed home at about 7. Well, that's my story. I hope I never have to go through something like that again. subfan |
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Re: 9/11 Memories... |
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Posted by BILLBKLYN on Fri Sep 11 14:02:35 2026, in response to 9/11 Memories..., posted by subfan on Fri Sep 11 09:11:26 2026. Thank you for sharing. I was in NY Harbor when the 2nd tower fell. Our boat got covered in ash, debris, and pulverized who-knows-what? |
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Re: 9/11 Memories... |
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Posted by cortelyounext on Fri Sep 11 15:45:06 2026, in response to 9/11 Memories..., posted by subfan on Fri Sep 11 09:11:26 2026. Thank you for sharing your post. In my civilian career, I work(ed) in transportation. I was based out of San Francisco and happened to be off that day. I woke up at dawn, showered, got dressed, and turned on CNN without looking as I walked over to the kitchen to make breakfast. I heard something and walked back to see the "Breaking News" with the damaged buildings still standing. It was a typically clear, 70 degree morning in the South Bay down near San Jose where I lived but I never left the apartment for my usual walk that morning.The next day I spoke with my Operations Officer at the USAF squadron I had left earlier that year. Everyone had been recalled and were preparing personal bags and equipment (professional gear), being issued additional mission items, rechecking shot records and such, speaking to the Chaplain, going through deployment briefings, etc. I wished him well and let him get on with it. Fast forward a few days later when my company restarted operations despite aircrews and airplanes being re-positioned. I got to KSFO early and completed flight planning but the inbound was running late. I make no apologies for this but after grabbing a coffee and while walking past our empty gate I absolutely engaged in profiling. As it turned out, there were a couple of bearded men sitting at our gate wearing either a turban or tagiyah I can't remember it doesn't matter. Obviously, I had no idea whether either or both were American citizens, foreign nationals, or what religion, if any, they practiced, among other markers. I cannot remember if I mentioned anything to the Captain or flight attendants beforehand since it was obvious. The flight was uneventful. The industry "collapsed" and I, being a junior FO on the Airbus, was furloughed shortly thereafter. I relocated to Vermont, bought land, and built a home. Around that time, I spent a few days with family in north Jersey and I distinctly remember my father and I decided to head into New York City to spend the day at The Met and Central Park and the West Village. I grew up in New Jersey and worked in the city and so I knew the region like the back of my hand but still prepared myself for what I was about to see when I got on the George Washington Bridge eastbound and the Palisades disappeared behind us. The image I saw took my breath away for a fleeting moment and I mean that literally. It was the void in the skyline. God bless them and those in Washington, D.C. and Shanksville and our soldiers. |
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Re: 9/11 Memories... |
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Posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Fri Sep 11 20:46:42 2026, in response to 9/11 Memories..., posted by subfan on Fri Sep 11 09:11:26 2026. I heard about it on the radio that morning.Several other events in my life have happened on September 11: I got my driver's license on this date in 1973. I set off for Colorado on this date in 1980 In 1992, our family embarked on an emotional journey to Lithuabnia, my parents' homeland and mine as well, in many ways. And the late Wayne aka Mr. Slant R-40 experienced the Express Ride from Hell in 1973. Long story short, a sick passenger lost his lunch on a crush loaded R-6/7 Fred train whiel rocking and rolling through the 53rd St. tunnel. It was a hot day and the heat in lead motor, 1277, was on. Wayne wasn't able to get off until the train had reached Continental Ave. He boarded at Lexington Ave., where the doors opened to the left, and for the rest of the trip, they would open omly to the right. It was a matter of life and breath. |
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Re: 9/11 Memories... |
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Posted by Italianstallion on Sat Sep 12 11:23:14 2026, in response to 9/11 Memories..., posted by subfan on Fri Sep 11 09:11:26 2026. “They had a bunch of tugboats there…” That flotilla was all spontaneous volunteers, comprising tugs, ferries, pleasure craft, anything that was on the harbor at the time, all sailed to the site to ferry people away. Some say it was the biggest water evacuation since Dunkirk. |
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Re: 9/11 Memories... |
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Posted by irtredbirdr33 on Sat Sep 12 14:51:50 2026, in response to Re: 9/11 Memories..., posted by Italianstallion on Sat Sep 12 11:23:14 2026. With the closing of the river tunnels it became obvious that lower Manhattan would have to be evacuated by boat. When the call went out virtually anything in the harbor that could float showed up. Normally there would be four Staten Island ferries in service. Using all available manpower three more boats were put in operation. New York Waterways mobilized their entire fleet. Circle Line Sightseeing Yachts added two boats to the three in service and even sent “barkers” into midtown to inform passengers. All lines suspended fare collection. Total Evacuations by Boat are as follows: New York Waterway – 158,500 Staten Island Ferry – 50,000 Circle Line – 30,000 Spirit Cruises – 8,000 Tugboats – 5,000 New York Fast Ferry – 4,000 Other Dinner boats and cruise vessels – 3,000 Seastreak – 3,000 Harbor Patrol Boats – 3,000 USS Army Corps of Engineers – 2,000 VIP Yacht Cruises – 1,800 Fox Naviagation – 1,300 Fireboats – 600 Total – 272, 539. Granted some of these figures are best guess estimates. Sources: “The Lives They Saved” by L. Douglas Keeney, Lyons Press, 2021 Professional Mariner Magazine, Issue # 61, December/January 2002. Fire Apparatus Journal, Volume 19, Number 1 / January-February 2002. FDNY Official Report on 9-11 prepared by McKinsey and Company. Larry, RedbirdR33 |
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Re: 9/11 Memories... |
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Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sat Sep 12 16:32:22 2026, in response to 9/11 Memories..., posted by subfan on Fri Sep 11 09:11:26 2026. Subject: I was there, but I got out in time!Message Number: 262358 Posted by: Chris R27-R30 Date: Tue Sep 11 13:59:37 2001 This is by far the worst day of my life. Some of you might know that I worked (emphasis on the past tense) at 2WTC, now gone. I ran when the first plane hit. I was on the ground when the second plane hit my building. I've been running ever since. God bless all my friends whom I know did not escape in time. Death to everyone responsible for this incomprehensible disaster. |
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Re: 9/11 Memories... |
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Posted by Train Dude on Sat Sep 12 16:58:51 2026, in response to 9/11 Memories..., posted by subfan on Fri Sep 11 09:11:26 2026. I had a medical appointment that afternoon so I was in the garage that morning building cabinets for my basement. I came in and saw it on TV and asked my wife what happened. She said a small plane hit the Tower.After I found out what happened, I called in. I was told that nothing was moving so stay home but come in at 4 AM the next day when they try to restore service. The bridges were blocked that morning but I showed my badge and was allowed over the bridge and into the Bronx. |
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