[PRCo] Re: Tragedy/Question To The List

[Fred W. Schneider III]

John Swindler wrote:
> 
> Won't disagree with you.  That's why I hung around the office for almost an
> hour after word received of closing to allow traffic to evaporate.  Figured
> my biggest threat was other drivers who would be more distracted then
> normal.
> 
> Saw another message that Amtrak never shut down, dispite what TV reported.
> Any confirmation??

Amtrak was operating except into or through New York.  I checked with my
Rich Banzoff yesterday.  Rich also said that it had just been announced
that "Midway was down permanently."  After I walked out the door I
realized I was thinking Midway Airport and he was probably thinking
Midway Airlines.  I did ask him which airlines would be unable to
survive a few days of down time and a slowdown afterwards ... he named
four.  My mind remembers Wwestern and US Airways.  I've forgotten the
other two.  
> 
> Likewise, has anyone heard any mention of the PATH station and tunnels
> beneath the World Trade Center????  Does anyone realize they exist??

I'm certain that PATH does.  

Reply Fred Schneider
> 
> John
> 
> >From: "John F Bromley" <johnfbromley at home.com>
> >Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> >To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> >Subject: [PRCo] Re: Tragedy/Question To The List
> >Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 20:33:26 -0400
> >
> >
> >Sounds like a wee bit of over-reaction.  No insult intended but I doubt
> >off-shore terrorists have ever heard of Cleveland (or Toronto for that
> >matter) never mind find it.
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: <HRBran99 at aol.com>
> >To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> >Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 8:06 PM
> >Subject: [PRCo] Re: Tragedy/Question To The List
> >
> >
> > > In a message dated 9/12/01 1:12:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > > bobrathke at home.com writes:
> > >
> > >
> > > > Yesterday (Tuesday) in downtown Chicago, the tall, major, public and
> > > > government  buildings were evacuated and closed.  By Noon, most
> >workers
> > > > downtown had left to go home.  CTA and Metra trains were running on
> >schedule
> > > > to get the people out of downtown, but the CTA Blue Line terminated at
> > > > Rosemont, and still does not go into O'Hare Airport.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > Thanks for all the replies to my post. This, of course, is not PRCo
> >material,
> > > however, the reason I wanted to know is because of how strange the past
> >two
> > > days have been here in Cleveland. This is a long explanation, so read on
> >if
> > > you really want to.
> > >
> > > The post by Bob in Chicago is almost what happened here in Cleveland
> > > yesterday. While watching the events unfold on live TV I was telephoned
> >by
> > > Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) and told to report
> >to
> > > work immediately. This was at 11:00 AM. My normal report time is 12:34
> >PM.
> >I
> > > had been watching a news briefing from Cleveland City Hall by Mayor
> >Michael
> > > White and just after GCRTA called the mayor indicated that he had
> >ordered
> >the
> > > evacuation of downtown Cleveland, closing of all educational facilities,
> >all
> > > public buildings, all museums and the entire Tower City Center complex,
> >and
> > > had ordered implementation of the city emergency plan. Note that this
> >plan
> >is
> > > put into effect only when a dire situation exists. The mayor then went
> >on
> >to
> > > say that he had ordered the GCRTA (and the two intercity transit
> >authorities,
> > > Akron Metro and Laketran) to begin rush hour bus and rail service at
> >11:00
> >AM
> > > and the recall of ALL bus and rail operators and supervisors. Also a
> >parking
> > > ban on all downtown streets was in effect and police and tow trucks were
> > > standing by to remove any vehicle not in compliance.
> > >
> > > When I began my run on the 81-Scranton/Dennison/West Blvd. Rapid Stn
> >route
> > > and entered downtown to find it looked like martial law had been
> >declared.
> > > City police, Federal police, FBI and even suburban police were
> >everywhere.
> > > Unmarked trucks (such as Pensky, Ryder, etc.) were being pulled over and
> > > searched. Even buses could only dwell for a short period at each bus
> >stop.
> >I
> > > stopped mid-block, not at a bus stop, to wait for a customer signaling
> >that
> > > she wanted the bus and within 30 seconds two police cars and four guys
> >in
> > > suits and sunglasses in a plain car were at the side of the bus wanting
> >to
> > > know why I had stopped. This was in the Justice Center/Civic Center
> >area.
> > > Downtown was empty by 1:30 PM.
> > >
> > > The west end of the Red Line heavy rail service was operating from
> >Brookpark
> > > Stn (one station short of the Airport station) eastbound to W. 25/Lorain
> >Stn
> > > and shuttled back and forth between these points. The east end of the
> >Red
> > > Line and the Green and Blue Lines (light rail) operated from E. 55 Stn
> >to
> > > their outer ends. The Waterfront light rail line was suspended. There
> >was
> >no
> > > through rail service or Airport service. The shut down section operates
> >in
> > > what appears to be a subway through the downtown, however, one is merely
> > > riding through the basement of the Tower City Center complex.
> > >
> > > Today, educational facilities (all schools, universities, etc.) remain
> >closed
> > > and many downtown buildings are still closed. The parking ban remains in
> > > effect. The city fire department, according to the evening news,
> >responded
> >to
> > > thirty bomb threats in the downtown today. I saw three incidents where
> >trucks
> > > were stopped in the downtown, surrounded by police, drivers handcuffed,
> >and
> > > the trucks being searched.
> > >
> > > Another news conference by Mayor White today where it stated that the
> > > closings will remain in effect at least until Sunday. Reporters twice
> >asked
> > > the mayor why Cleveland had taken such major actions and twice the mayor
> > > replied that, "Security concerns will not allow me answer that
> >question."
> > >
> > > Also of note is that gasoline prices rose from $1.85.9 (average for
> >premium
> > > grade) to anywhere from $3.50.9 to $5.00.9 overnight. They mayor then
> >placed
> > > an emergency ordinance into effect which prohibits excessive prices on
> >needed
> > > items, gasoline being one of the needed items.
> > >
> > > I am still mystified and concerned as to why Cleveland is still in
> > > "emergency" mode and have not a clue.
> > >
> > > HrB
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> 
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