As passengers stand on bridge, train keeps smoking. Photo by Jay Bernard.
Update: MBTA says metal strip came loose from train and then into contact with the third rail.
The first car of an older inbound Orange Line train suffered an explosion, then burst into flames on the bridge over the Mystic River just before Assembly this morning, sending panicked riders onto the bridge while the third rail was still live. One rider jumped into the river; came out OK.
Jennifer Thomson-Sullivan, who was in the first car and who took video of the escape around 6:45 a.m., reports:
Explosions on first car followed by flames surrounding the car. People freaked, flames started engulfing and moving toward us. Emergency exit wouldn’t open so guy next to me kicked out window. People started jumping out, not even considering active third rail.
Breaking: Fire Crews on scene of Orange line train fire. #boston25 https://t.co/XvIFJB3dI1 pic.twitter.com/n5tcIlQA6e
— Ted Daniel (@tvnewzted) July 21, 2022
Might be longer than 15 minutes.. @universalhub @NBC10Boston @WCVB pic.twitter.com/WD5FbEqNHx
— Jay Bernard (@Jacobus52999) July 21, 2022
Nick Andreucci was on the first train car when the fire broke out on the Orange line train. *LISTEN*
“It’s shocking, but not shocking at the same time… “It’s awful, but it’s kind of our daily life in Boston taking the train I guess.†#7news pic.twitter.com/F4Lbi2YKZw
— Amaka Ubaka (@AmakaUbakaTV) July 21, 2022
#MBTA Orange line trains from Forest Hills are packed like a can of sardines and standing by due to the train that caught fire at Assembly. Uber/Lyft prices are up, too. Allow extra time this morning, folks. @universalhub pic.twitter.com/Pes9RCZmGq
— Emily (@holdentheworld) July 21, 2022
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Comments
Not heresy, really
By FlyingToaster
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 1:37pm
My dad was an inspector for an airline (holding all the licenses, A, P, A&P). His job was to be the first guy in and last guy out of a plane in for overhaul, or for the section (later, specifically, widebody powerplants) of a plane his overhaul crew was responsible for.
Line inspectors do this at airports during turnarounds. Check all the orifices to see if they open/close like they're supposed to. Often just peering over the shoulders of the line crew refueling, checking the hydraulics and the tires, etc. The guy with the clipboard (nowadays, tablet).
It was a union job, and note, the planes didn't fall out of the sky. And they still don't, which tells you this kind of scheduled check works.
This is not a stupid suggestion; I suspect the Feds are going to require hiring inspectors to do this damn job.
Oh, I know it's a good idea.
By jmeltzer
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 2:18pm
Which is why they won't do it.
To be fair
By anon
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 12:47pm
Considering the frequency with which those emergency doors used to fly open mid ride, I also would have never expected one of them to be stuck.
That would be the perfect union job
By robo
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 12:57pm
The worker assigned to check doors would just lay down on a seat and take a nap for an hour instead.
Question for the legal brain trust:
By BenHa
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 11:39am
Can passengers on exploding train cars sue the T?
Person jumped into the river
By tblade
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 9:57am
https://twitter.com/robwaytv/status/15500997972013...
Per @RobWayTV
it gets comical
By anon
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 1:39pm
From the Globe
Refused or declined?
By SamWack
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 8:07pm
Maybe she's a good swimmer. Or even an average one; she was only about 200 feet from shore, at most. Maybe she didn't want to make a big deal out of it. If it was me, I would have done the same thing. But then, I'm male, so I could hope that people would think I was being rugged and manly, not hysterical.
Can't blame her
By Tim Mc.
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 9:44pm
I might be in a "to hell with vehicles" mood at that moment too.
What the hell is happening?
By Newbie-ish
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 10:05am
It's like there is no one in charge of the MBTA. You'd think after a series of embarrassing stories, something would change. Technically something did change, just for the worse.
Yeah, they need to put
By anon
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 10:34am
Yeah, they need to put someone in charge who can lay down the law and tell these old trains, “Hey, no fires before you’re scrapped!â€
"It's like there is no one in charge of the MBTA"
By anon
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 1:03pm
In case you haven't noticed, there doesn't seem to be anyone much in charge of ANYTHING anymore. And the ones that are have completely risen to the level of their incompetence.
Small Correction?
By Irma la Douce
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 10:29am
According to the Globe it was a woman who jumped into the Mystic.
(and you’re welcome for the Van Morrison earworm).
Fiddle music plays ...
By adamg
Thu, 07/21/2022 - 3:09pm
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