Why Are These People Standing On Top Of The Roosevelt Island Tram Hangar High Above the East River?

Image From Spencer McCormick

What are those people doing on top of the Roosevelt Island Tram Hanger looking out over the East River? Is this some new Thrillseekers Observation Deck for those seeking great New York City views and think that the Empire State Building Observation Deck is too touristy and lame? That climb from the cabin up the ladder to the Tower Top must be a real doozy.

It turns out that the NYPD was conducting Roosevelt Island Tram Safety drills. Spencer McCormick reports:

Yesterday biking across the Queensboro I noticed NYPD practicing evacuating folk out of the tram.

Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy shares these Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin rescue drill photos taken last October

 Tram Cabin Rescue Images From Judy Berdy

and previous Tram rescue drills from Roosevelt Island and Portland Oregon, including video, from earlier posts are here.