14
staging The Boston police emergency units arrived at 8:30 a.m., established an inner perimeter, and activated the mobile command post, which provided a central reporting location for the many agencies responding to the accident. In addition, the fire department and EMS communications specialists set up a portable radio repeater system. Such a system enables underground operations to communicate with surface personnel during disaster operations.
Passenger Evacuation—According to train crewmembers, the evacuation of passengers was hampered by dense smoke that obscured the lighting in the tunnel and made breathing difficult. Crewmembers with flashlights led passengers to firefighters, who in turn evacuated them from the tunnel. However, most passengers were able to exit the trains unassisted. All tunnel exhaust fans were operating at the time of the derailment, and the EMS used the three emergency tunnel exits to evacuate passengers Most passengers from MBTA train 906 used the main exit from platform 2 Because the tunnel was blocked by the derailed locomotives, most passengers from Amtrak train 66 used the other tunnel emergency exit. Buses and ambulances transported the injured to local hospitals and the uninjured to South Station.
MBTA Train 906 Crew—Just after impact, the conductor, who had been in control car 1614, assisted passengers off the car onto the platform one assistant conductor, who was standing in the vestibule of the third car (302) at impact, heard a sound like an explosion from the rear of the train. He was hit by a piece of metal and thrown onto the platform. He proceeded through dense smoke to the platform exit doors and directed passengers up the stairs A second assistant conductor, who had been announcing the coming station stop, next remembered being on a stretcher en route to a hospital. The third assistant conductor was stationed at the door making an announcement; he next remembered being in the hospital.
Amtrak Train 66 Crew.—The two assistant conductors and the deadhead conductor stated that they were in the fifth car, coach car 21248, at impact. The coach tipped at an angle to the left toward track 1 During the accident sequence, both coach doors were crushed and jammed shut. As they opened emergency windows to evacuate passengers, the coach filled with smoke. They assisted passengers through dense smoke along the catwalk and met emergency personnel, who guided them to the station platform.
At impact, the conductor was in dining car 20238. He was thrown forward, striking his head on a counter. The one passenger in this car was uninjured. The conductor moved through dining car 20238 toward coach car 4702 and spoke with the lead service attendant, who assured him that the passengers in coach car 4702 did not need immediate medical attention. The conductor then proceeded to coach car 21070, which had tipped on its side, and pulled out emergency windows to evacuate passengers. When the fire department arrived, the conductor and the two injured engineers were evacuated and transported to a hospital.
The lead service attendant, who was sitting in dining car 20238, was thrown into the opposite seat and sustained multiple contusions. He proceeded to coach car 4702; through a small opening between dining car 20238 and coach car 4702, he assisted passengers off the train. He stated that the rescue activities were very "organized and efficient".
