Watch High Wire Rescue Of People Stuck On Aerial Tram Overnight New Year's Eve - Not On Roosevelt Island But After Leaving New Mexico 10 Thousand Foot High Mountain Top Restaurant

20 people stuck on an aerial Tram overnight but not our Roosevelt Island Tram https://t.co/aAgEYLx5DF

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) January 1, 2022

21 people were rescued in a dramatic high-wire rescue in Albuquerque, New Mexico after leaving a mountain-top restaurant and the tram carrying them down from the 10,300-foot Sandia Peak got stuck in harsh winter conditions. @ReeveWill has the story.https://t.co/SwX1GF5mb1 pic.twitter.com/g9Alge4HJx

— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 2, 2022

Roosevelt Island Tram rescue drills  are practiced periodically by NYPD
 

and  FDNY. 

FDNY Chief Richard Blatus reports on the FDNY 2014 Tram rescue drill
 

and CBS New York reporter Chris Wragge tells us it's the first step out of the Tram Cabin during the Rescue drill that is the scariest.

More on Roosevelt Island Tram Rescue drills at this prior post.

Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin Stuck Above East River For Over 30 Minutes This Afternoon Due To Brake Problems

@NY1 this Roosevelt Island tram has been stuck for 30 mins pic.twitter.com/MLAdQzGOyN

— William Wallace (@Sti11matic) February 2, 2019

Roosevelt Island residents coming out of the F Train subway station this afternoon looked up towards the Queensboro Bridge and saw the Tram inching very,very,slowly across the East River

Roosevelt Island Tram stuck above East River this afternoon for about 30 minutes due to brake problems before safely bringing riders to RI station. @RIOCny pic.twitter.com/VK0UXBcsgt

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) February 2, 2019

before safely docking at the Roosevelt Island Tram Station.

pic.twitter.com/4puhfGWiCX

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) February 2, 2019

According to a passenger getting off the Tram at the Roosevelt Island Tram Station, the South Cabin was stuck over East River for about 40 minutes due to brake problems.

When the Tram docked, the doors would not open. The door had to be physically pried open and a bench inserted to keep the door from closing. Passengers had to climb over bench to exit the Tram.

I've asked the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) for more info on what happened and will update when info received.

UPDATE 5;35 PM:

RIOC Tram is suspended in both directions. Consider alternate routes and allow for additional travel time. Multilingual & ASL Link: https://t.co/6zoLomBDy9.

— NYCEM - Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) February 2, 2019

UPDATE 6:30 PM

Following a prior service disruption, RIOC Tram service has resumed in both directions. Expect residual delays. https://t.co/z8HSJdAdRs. https://t.co/CDXyIneHSt

— NYCEM - Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) February 2, 2019

UPDATE 2/4 - RIOC Public Safety Deputy Director Kevin Brown adds:

On Saturday, February 2nd at around 3:45 PM The south tram cabin experienced a mechanical issue after leaving Roosevelt Island at the midway point of the trip and had to return to the Roosevelt Island station. As a result of the mechanical issues, the tram moved at a reduced speed, taking approximately 30 minutes to return back to Roosevelt island. Passengers onboard were informed of the mechanical issue. Once the tram reached the Roosevelt island station they were transferred to the north tram cabin. The south tram cabin was taken out of service to address the mechanical issue.

The South Tram Cabin is back in service.

Single Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin During Station Repairs Is Hardship Says Resident - At Least RI Tram Riders Not Stranded In Air Like Tram Passengers In Cologne Germany Today

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reports:

@RIOCny Shutting down 1 tram cabin for an extended period is a hardship on Roosevelt Island residents. There are ways to do manage better. 1

— Laura Arual (@Laura0701) July 30, 2017

Image From July 26 Evening

Another resident suggests:

How about covering the windows during peak hours to discourage tourists from using the tram?

If only the Roosevelt Island Tram ride across the East River was this fast, the lines would be much smaller.

I have a feeling you’ll like this one 😍 New York Time Lapse / Roosevelt Island Tramhttps://t.co/qsomVERG3O

— Womanhattan (@WomanhattanMe) July 7, 2017

Earlier today Tram Riders in Cologne Germany were stranded in the air and had to be rescued.

#BREAKING Dramatic video from the rescue at Cologne Cable Car – and pics of BABY among trapped https://t.co/rOMwGbBSZt pic.twitter.com/2qwxF8gRZn

— Daily Star (@Daily_Star) July 30, 2017

A Roosevelt Island resident remarked:

Let's hope this NEVER happens to us.

Here's more on the Tram Station repairs and single Tram Cabin operation as well as Roosevelt Island Tram Rescue Drill.

Up Close And Personal View Of Roosevelt Island Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Conducting Tram Rescue Drills Last Sunday

Image Of Tram Rescue Drill From Frank Farance

Roosevelt Island Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member Frank Farance reports on and shares photos from Roosevelt Island Tram Evacuation Drill held Sunday April 12.

Roosevelt Island Tramway staff acting as "passengers" to be evacuated from the tram.
Posted by Frank Farance on Sunday, April 12, 2015

Getting explanation of rescue procedures from tram supervisor.
Posted by Frank Farance on Sunday, April 12, 2015

According to Mr. Farance:

Roosevelt Island Tram Evacuation Drill: As Tram staff explained: there are many redundant and backup systems to return tram cabins to stations, including having the second tram pull up side-by-side -- evacuation like this is a last resort. 

A second tram rescue is one of the options before resorting to passenger drop evacuation.
Posted by Frank Farance on Sunday, April 12, 2015

Mr. Farance explains evacuation procedure for lowering Tram Riders to the ground from the Tram Cabin.

The passengers are first fitted into a "diaper" that is attached to the pulley (which holds 9000 lbs), then they would drop down (slowed by centrifugal braking) while rescue workers on the ground use guide ropes to reduce swaying, and they land on the ground (the 5 mm cable supports passengers up to 900 pounds). Notice that while the diaper holding the passenger going down, a second diaper on the other side of the pulley goes up to ready the next passenger. See passenger drop video below.

Photo 1/4: Passenger is readied, wearing orange "diaper".
Posted by Frank Farance on Sunday, April 12, 2015

Photo 2/4: Passenger descends as second "diaper" returns upward on other side of the pulley.
Posted by Frank Farance on Sunday, April 12, 2015

Photo 3/4: Passenger descends, workers below holding guide ropes so passenger doesn't sway.
Posted by Frank Farance on Sunday, April 12, 2015

Photo 4/4: Passenger lands, workers on the ground detach "diaper" to release passenger, workers above are readying the next passenger with second "diaper".
Posted by Frank Farance on Sunday, April 12, 2015

Pulley holds 9000 pounds, has centrifugal brake that limits passenger drop speed, 5 mm drop cable holds 900 pounds.
Posted by Frank Farance on Sunday, April 12, 2015

The second part of the emergency drill is pulling the tram's haul cables back and swapping drive wheels (big orange gear) -- think of pulling a rubber band off a pulley. Here workers are bolting on sleeves onto the cables that are pulled back via hydraulic jack, which gives them enough slack to thread the haul rope on the backup drive adjacent to it (big yellow gear behind big orange gear). Truly amazing.

Main drive wheel (orange), backup drive wheel (yellow) is behind. Haul rope (the cable) is swapped onto the backup drive.
Posted by Frank Farance on Sunday, April 12, 2015

In order to pull the haul rope (cable) off the drive wheel, there must be some slack to pull it back. Workers bolting...
Posted by Frank Farance on Sunday, April 12, 2015

Roosevelt Island CERT team members: Georganna Galateau (Deputy Team Chief), Howard Polivy (Team Chief), Lynda Marmara (RIOC Public Safety Department Deputy Director), Frank Farance
Posted by Frank Farance on Sunday, April 12, 2015

Mr. Farance also participated with NYC wide CERT Teams assisting following the March 26 East Village Building fire, explosion and collapse. He reports on the experience here.

More on NYC Office Of Emergency Management Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) here.

Up Close Look At Yesterday's NYPD Roosevelt Island Tram Rescue Drill

According to CBS New York:

... Fifteen officers took turns on top of the tram, inside it and on one of the towers simulating certain saves.

“So that when they show up on the scene, it’s either that scenario or very close that the officers can perform at a moment’s notice without even thinking,” Lt. Barberio said.

The tram training was something those heading to Roosevelt Island were checking out, along with those on the ground.

“You’ve got to continue practicing for a rescue because you never know when it’s going to happen,” tourist Bob Franklin said.

The last time a passenger rescue happened was in 2005, when the people mover lost power and its backup system also wouldn’t work.

Officers practiced for that scenario by lowering someone down to the ground, and they added a new practice session after rescuing an iron worker from a tram tower two weeks ago....

More on the recent rescue of Tram worker at this earlier post and FDNY rescue drill here.

NYPD and FDNY Rescue Worker Injured On Top Of Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin This Afternoon

Tram Rescue Image From Eric Mellinger

According to this Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) advisory sent out at 12: 24 PM:

Please be advised that due to FDNY and NYPD activity, Tram service has been temporarily suspended. We will immediately send out a notice when service resumes.

Images Of NYPD And FDNY Rescue Units At Roosevelt Island Tram

A little bit after 12 PM today, I started receiving phone calls and messages asking what was going on at the Roosevelt Island Tram with some readers reporting:

SIX PSD cars and ONE FDNY ambulance at Tram

and:

UPDATE: THREE FDNY Trucks, SIX PSD cars and ONE FDNY ambulance at Tram

and:

the tram is stuck with people on it and the island is flooded with fire and police vehicles.

Image From Paul Callendrillo

Image From Eric Mellinger

I arrived at the scene and tweeted:

NYPD FDNY Roosevelt Island tram rescue of injured worker on top of tram cabin going onright now twitter.com/Rooseveltislan…
— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) February 5, 2013

 Image of Tram Rescue

It turns out that a tram worker got his foot stuck on top of the Tram Cabin. He was rescued by NYPD and FDNY.

Tram Rescue Image From Eric Mellinger

Extent of injuries not known at this time.

Tram service was back to normal at about 1:45 PM.

UPDATE 9:45 PM - According to MYFoxNY:

An iron worker was doing routine maintenance on the Roosevelt Island Tram when his leg got stuck above some machinery in Tower 3, nearly 250 feet in the air, at around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday....

... The workers right leg was badly damaged, but rescuers said that he was talking and awake through it all.

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