Copyright 2006 Newsday, Inc.
BY SAMUEL BRUCHEY
Newsday (New York)
The Roosevelt Island Tramway suspended service indefinitely as city and state officials began an investigation into what caused an electrical failure that left 69 people trapped for nearly 12 hours hundreds of feet above the East River.
“The primary power system for the tram was compromised yesterday for reasons that have not yet been identified,” said Herb Berman, of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, which runs the tram. “We are now investigating the cause.”
On Tuesday, police and fire officials pulled off a daring open-air rescue, much of it seen live on TV. But troubling questions remained about why three of four electrical systems designed to power the trams were inoperable yesterday and why it took so long to bring the stranded riders to safety.
“I’m sure that the people would have liked to be taken down quickly,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who praised the joint efforts of police and fire officials and called the rescue a “classic city operation.”
“We did what we had to do to get everyone down safely,” Bloomberg said during a news conference at FDNY headquarters in Brooklyn.
The frightening power failure took place about 5:15 p.m., moments after two tram cars, one heading to Roosevelt Island with 47 passengers, the other traveling to Manhattan with 22 people - began their scenic five-minute ride over the East River.
“The initial speculation, and it’s just that, is that there must have been some electrical power surge that caused it,” Gov. George Pataki told The AP.
Not only did the tramway’s primary electrical system fail, but also a back-up diesel hydrostatic drive, Berman said. That system had successfully returned tram cars to their starting positions during a power outage that darkened much of the East Coast three years ago. Berman said he has no explanation why it did not work Tuesday.
Inexplicably, a second diesel drive did not stall. About 11 p.m., operators used the working diesel drive to power an enclosed metal cage containing police and fire officials to the eastbound tram and pulled passengers from the tram through a side window.
Officials used an industrial crane to unload passengers from the Manhattan-bound tram, which was suspended 150 feet over First Avenue. The last passengers were brought to the ground by 4:30 a.m.
Had this second diesel drive failed, the tramway did have yet another generator. But this generator, which state regulations do not require the tramway to have, was also inoperable, Berman said.
Because Roosevelt Island tramway chooses to have this additional power source, Berman said, it is required to keep it fully operational.
In September, after a two-hour power outage stalled two trams, the state issued a violation against the tramway because this power source was not working. It ordered the company to repair or replace this generator and issued a second violation for failing to provide employees with adequate training.
Ruth Pillittere, a spokeswoman for the Department of Labor, said the tramway has since provided additional training, but has not replaced the back-up generator, although a new one had been ordered.
Pillittere said state investigators had begun interviews after yesterday’s stall, a process that will likely last up to two weeks. She declined to comment on any preliminary findings.
During rush hour yesterday, as hundreds of Roosevelt Island residents returned home on crowded subway trains, some said they were apprehensive about taking the trams after the late-night drama that unfolded.
“What happens it if falls?” said Victoria Vines, 29.
But a few, including Chris Godleski, 41, said the tram ride home can feel more like a vacation and is often the best part of her day.
“I will totally get back on,” Godleski said. “It seems like they know how to rescue people.”