OP 26 - Subway & Subway Elevated Procedures (01)

Question 0

How many types of third rails are there in Philadelphia?

Answer 0

Two. Top running on the Broad Street subway and bottom running on the market/Frankford subway/elevated system.

Top running means the shoes of the train car are riding on the top of the third rail. Bottom running means the shoes of the train car are riding the underside of the third rail.

Question 1

What are the source from which the electrically motored train cars receive their power?

Answer 1

Septa third rail.

Voltage varies from 600 to 700 Volts DC.

Question 2

Can you step on the third rail covers?

Answer 2

NEVER.
Wooden covers may be deteriorated and give way when weight is placed on them. The plastic fiber covers moved easily and may cause a person to slip and make contact with the third rail.

Question 3

Should you ever attempt to short out the third rail with a metal tool?

Answer 3

NEVER.

The tripped circuit breaker would automatically restore power after a few seconds. The resulting short-circuit may cause serious burns and electrocution.

Question 4

How many third rail shoes does each train car have?

Answer 4

Each car has four third rail shoes, two shoes on each side.
The train car receives its power through these shoes.
Only two shoes make contact with the third rail at one time.
IF ONLY ONE SHOE IS IN CONTACT WITH THE THIRD RAIL, ALL FOUR SHOES WILL BE ENERGIZED.
ON THE MARKET/FRANKFORD LINE, CARS ARE PERMANENTLY COUPLED TOGETHER IN PAIRS OF TWO WHICH WILL ENERGIZE ALL EIGHT THIRD RAIL SHOES.

Question 5

True or false, all members shall be thoroughly familiar with the location of every subway or subway/elevated station, the number and direction of tracks, location of emergency exits, available auxiliary firefighting equipment, and all other pertinent details of the subway and subway/elevated system in their local district.

Answer 5

True.

Question 6

Who will coordinate the scheduling of all subway and subway/elevated station familiarization tours for all first alarm companies in his/her division?

Answer 6

Deputy chiefs. Tour dates will be arranged by the deputy commissioner of operations and the septa fire marshal.

Question 7

When will familiarization tours be conducted, what month of the year?

Answer 7

April.

Question 8

On a full box alarm response to a subway or subway/elevated emergency, who will proceed to the scene of the emergency with all necessary equipment for subway operations?

Answer 8

The first arriving engine, ladder, and chief.
All battalion chief cars are equipped with a septa third rail test meter, train keys for septa cars and septa telephone key boxes.(The CAT 30 key opens all telephone boxes.)
Train keys for SEPTA market Frankford subway elevated line trains are stamped “6509”.

Question 9

Other than the first in engine, ladder, and chief, what will all subsequent companies do upon arrival at the scene?

Answer 9

In the absence of specific orders, they will proceed in and standby, awaiting further orders.
Consideration should be given by engine and ladder companies to locating standpipes, emergency exits and event wells.

Question 10

True or false, SEPTA maintenance personnel gates are located near entrance turnstiles and cashier booths?

Answer 10

True.
The cashier and or SEPTA employees have keys. If no key is readily available, force the lock. These gates are to be utilized to remove injured people, transport equipment, and expedite evacuation from the platform.

Question 11

True or false, communications will be difficult when involved in subway emergency because of the inability of portable radios to transmit past the concrete and steel’s rounding subway?

Answer 11

True.
In order to ensure a rapid and effective response by the PFD, it is essential to establish and maintain a reliable communications link.
Accurate info must be given to the FCC so that the appropriate apparatus, equipment and personnel can be dispatched.

Question 12

What will FCC do if an emergency call is received from a source other than the Philadelphia Police Department or septa?

Answer 12

FCC will notify the septa dispatcher and request that a SEPTA supervisor along with septa police and Philadelphia police respond to the incident.

Question 13

On all subway or subway/elevated emergencies in which there is a reported fire, train fire, explosion or train derailment below ground level FCC will dispatch what kind of response?

Answer 13

FCC will dispatch a full box alarm.

Question 14

What is the PFDs procedure for establishing the primary form of communication in subway or subway/elevated incidents?

Answer 14

1. The first arriving BC aide will be stationed with a portable radio at the closest SEPTA Centrex phone (cashiers booth or platform) and establish platform/track level communications.
2. The second arriving BC aide will maintain street-level communications.
3. Companies operating at the platform/track level will establish communications with the FCC via PFD radios.
   Consideration should be given to establishing a relay system of communications utilizing portable radios (analog channel).

Question 15

What SEPTA telephones are housed in gray phone boxes at emergency exits, internals near switch areas, on platforms (normally locked) and in cashier booths?

Answer 15

SEPTA Centrex telephones (dial #5111).
Keys (CAT 30) are carried by all SEPTA supervisors, all BCs cars and various engine companies. These telephones connect directly to the SEPTA train dispatcher in the SEPTA radio room (located at 1234 Market St., 19th floor, phone #215 – 580 – 8555).

SECONDARY FORM OF COMMUNICATIONS.

Question 16

What radios utilize the loop antenna system throughout the subway system, and connect the train operator directly to the SEPTA train dispatcher? Available on the Broad Street subway and the Ridge Avenue spur?

Answer 16

SEPTA portable radio.
To use in an emergency, depress the button and state “ MAYDAY”. Then state your message.

SECONDARY FORM OF COMMUNICATIONS.

Question 17

What radios operate in the subway and are available in all subway concourse areas?

Answer 17

SEPTA police portable radios.
All messages transmitted by these radios are received at the Philadelphia police concourse unit headquarters located on the concourse level at 15th and JFK Boulevard. (Phone #215-686-8628), SEPTA police radio room, and the Philadelphia police radio room.

SECONDARY FORM OF COMMUNICATIONS.

Question 18

What telephones are located at all stations?

Answer 18

Verizon pay telephones.
Dial 911.

SECONDARY FORM OF COMMUNICATIONS

Question 19

What is located at the center and each end of SEPTA platforms?
This pushbutton intercom system connects to SEPTA police dispatcher?

Answer 19

SEPTA passenger emergency Callbox (COLORED YELLOW).

SECONDARY FORM OF COMMUNICATION

Question 20

What will all members do when using any communications device to transmit messages?

Answer 20

ALL MESSAGES AND REQUESTS WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE FCC.

IF TRANSMISSIONS MUST BE ROUTED THROUGH THE SEPTA POLICE OR THE SEPTA DISPATCHER, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE RESPECTIVE DISPATCHER IS TOLD TO RELAY THE MESSAGE TO FCC IMMEDIATELY.

Question 21

Who will assume the role of incident commander and report the nature and conditions to the FCC upon arrival?

Answer 21

The first arriving company officer or person in charge.
If warranted, the incident commander will request, via FCC, to have the third rail power shutdown.
Accountability procedures should be considered on all incidents especially when companies must leave the platform area.

Question 22

What must a member do when requesting to shutdown third rail power?

Answer 22

1. Contact FCC and give his/her name, rank, and Company designation.
2. Give the exact location of the emergency and state which track or tracks and which direction or directions of travel are affected.

The FCC will record the name, rank and Company of the member requesting to have the third rail power shutdown.
When the power is shutdown, the FCC will obtain verification from SEPTA and relay this information to the incident commander.

Question 23

What are the only reasons that third rail power should be shut down?

Answer 23

When the emergency affects the safety of the members, passengers or people in the jeopardized area.

Members should understand that when power is shut down, loaded trains become stranded in tunnels and the possibility of passenger panic is very real. Where possible fire department personnel should make every effort to permit trains between stations to get to the nearest station prior to shutting down third rail power.

Question 24

If the emergency dictates that time is critical, the incident commander will request that power be shutdown IMMEDIATELY. True or false?

Answer 24

True.
SEPTA will then shut down the third rail power within one minute, regardless of where the trains are located.
The FCC will then request from SEPTA, the locations of all trains stranded in tunnels, and all other pertinent information, and relay this information to the incident commander.

Question 25

Who is the only member that is authorized to request to have power restored once the third rail has been shut down?

Answer 25

Only the incident commander or the member who requested the power to be shut down.
In cases when the power is left off due to another agency still working at the scene, incident commander will contact the FCC and identify the agency responsible for notifying SEPTA to restore the third rail power.

Question 26

Left off at 4.3.2 testing third rail

Answer 26

Long way to go.