What should you
do if you accidentally drop your phone on the tracks? I'm asking this because I read that reason why someone became roadkill when they were hit by a MUNI train at Castro station last night was because he dropped his phone on the tracks, jumped down to get it, and didn't see a MUNI train coming at the person until it was too late. So what should someone do if they accidentally drop their phone on the tracks at a BART station, especially at a station like Embarcadero where trains are coming every 2 minutes on average during rush hour?
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Get a new phone.
Get a new phone.
that is a pretty big fall, so
that is a pretty big fall, so the phone is probably broken anyway. maybe you could tell the station agent and they could have maintenance people fish it out for you when the station is shut down at the end of the day.
i would never jump down onto the tracks, unless someone fell down there and needed help getting back up.
somebody asked about this a
somebody asked about this a while ago and a station agent replied that you are supposed to go to a station agent immediately and they will handle the issue for you. stop a train temporarily to retrieve the phone or something.
going down on the tracks is SUPER dangerous, because those trains are traveling a lot faster than it looks like.
if you fall on a track there are cubby holes under the platform you can crawl into so that you don't get splattered, but it is not a good idea to be on those tracks no matter how expensive your phone is.
you can always buy a new phone.
I heard that it is dangerous
I heard that it is dangerous to go into the little cubby because that's where the electric paddles for the train pass through.
Anyone know which is safer if you accidentally fall on the tracks and a train is coming:
1) Lying flat in the middle of the track
2) Rolling into the cubby?
Rolling into the cubby most
Rolling into the cubby most likely. I know someone in New York a few years ago saved himself and a drunk guy from being hit by a subway train by laying down onto the tracks, but that was probably because there was a storm drain running in the middle of the tracks where they could duck into. Middle of the tracks is a bad idea. First of all, the train wheels might slice you up, second of all there's probably pipes and other stuff sticking out from the car.
"I heard that it is dangerous
"I heard that it is dangerous to go into the little cubby because that's where the electric paddles for the train pass through."
that is a DANGEROUS LIE.
the electrified paddles go on the other side of the track away from where people stand.
the cubby underneath the platform where people are standing is safe and is there for emergency situations like that
the trains have paddles on
the trains have paddles on both sides
that being said, the cubbies look fairly large to me and someone should be able to fit in there in an emergency without getting whacked by the paddles.
my guess is that unless someone is severely anorexic and has the head circumference of a newborn, they have no chance of laying between the tracks and surviving. the cubbie is your best bet. well, actually, not jumping onto the tracks in the first place is the best bet.
i think you're right. i just
i think you're right. i just meant that there was also room for a person in addition to the paddles.
the cubbies extend a couple feet under the platform and the paddles do not stick out that far.
Very Good Question, Never
Very Good Question,
Never Ever go into the track way. Contact the station agent immediately. If the station agent refuses to help call BART Police, ext #7000, and tell them the agent won’t help. The phone is now an "Attractive Nuisance" and needs to be removed as soon as possible. The operations control center will stop traffic and issue the station agent or other personnel work orders to enter the track way and retrieve the phone/item. They may or may not wait until after commute depending upon traffic, the location of the phone and the OCC Managers decision. But it will be removed. Do not lay down in the track unless you wish to depart this earth in a very painful manner. The refuge zone beneath the platform is designed to be just that, a refuge in case you accidently fall into the track and a train is approaching. If you find yourself under there, don’t touch the paddles sticking out from the side of the train (10 inches?). That would be a very fast way to leave this world. 1000 volts DC. Hope this helps.
i was wondering, how come
i was wondering, how come there is electricity coming out of the side that is not touching the third rail?
why not just turn off the electricity on the side that isn't on the third rail so it is not so dangerous?
The collector paddles that
The collector paddles that pick up the 1000V DC from third rail are all connected together so that if one is live, all of them are live, since third rail changes sides often it would not really be possible to turn off power to once side or the other.
huh, thanks for the answer! i
huh, thanks for the answer! i did not know that the side with the third rail switches. makes sense though.
Call the Agent from the white
Call the Agent from the white courtesy phone that's on the platform, or if a train is approaching (in the direction that you're traveling) notify the operator when then the train stops. The agent or operator (in very rare occasions) will call Central Control to get authorization to go into the trackway to retrieve the item. NEVER go into the track at anytime.
I was at coliseum bart and it
I was at coliseum bart and it was a windy day...and this guy's hat blew onto the tracks...a train was 2 minutes out, and suddenly he jumps onto the tracks to retrieve his hat! I couldn't believe it. He grabbed it, but then started having difficulty getting back up onto the platform...hearing the train's horn in the distance I ran to him, grabbed his hand, and pulled him back onto the platform. After commenting on his last of common sense and low value for his life, I reveled that the train would not be late this day and had a nice peaceful trip home. Point being, if you think you will drop your phone, use a strap, if you drop it, count it as gonzo!
Sorry, but anyone decides to
Sorry, but anyone decides to take their life into their own hands and jump into ANY electrified trackway is a moron. Please heed the warnings, if not for yourself but for those wanting to get home, call in agent or call in the white courtesy phone, which will be answered by the station agent. There is not much else more dangerous than disregarding the warnings and entering the trackway. So please for everyone's safety find the agent. If the impact did not break your phone, then there is a good chance it will still work, even if a train happens to enter the station and go over it (if not on the rail).
would it damage the train if
would it damage the train if it was on the rail?
i have always wondered about people who put pennies on railroad tracks to have them get squished... does that damage the trains?