Commuters stuck in Roosevelt Island tram

[undergroundrailroad]

Commuters stuck in Roosevelt Island tram

By am NewYork with the Associated Press

April 18, 2006, 11:07 PM EDT

UPDATE: (04/19/06 12:09AM)

Two cable cars carrying dozens of people were left hanging over a river for hours on Tuesday when the cable system lost power because of a mechanical problem, and police prepared to mount a daring rescue.

At least a dozen of those stranded in the tramcars were school-age children or babies.

Both cars of the Roosevelt Island Tramway, which shuttles commuters and tourists between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island while offering breathtaking views of the city from up to 250 feet high, stopped moving around 5:15 p.m., stranding about 70 people, said Herb Berman, president of the agency that operates the system.

The tramcars still were stalled after 11 p.m., occasionally swinging gently, while engineers worked to restore power and police and firefighters tried to figure out how to get the people down.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. I've been watching it live on ABC 7 News

They're getting the people down. Everyone is fine. They had a kid talking on a cellphone to the news and he was really smart and articulate. He told the news that he learned that everything will be okay and great things will happen as long as everyone works together and understands each other.

[eleny]

2. I would immediately have had to pee

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. I've never heard of this tram until now...

Sounds like a fun ride when it's working!

[LizW]

5. Billy Crystal rode it to work in "City Slickers"

[OneBlueSky]

4. the story wasn't big enough to pre-empt "Boston Legal!" . . .

but it did . . . damn . . .