>>Wondering if there's a way to open the end doors from the outside on those cars (mostly thinking of the F)? Lots of people would not be able to squeeze out those windows (I think it would be tricky without help even if you fit).<<

I *believe* that the end doors can be opened from the outside, once the window is knocked out, but I haven't tried it myself so I'm not sure. Again, it's only on the 75-foot cars that the end doors are locked - the F line mostly used 75' R46's, but also runs some 60' R32's (The R32's are the ones with the corrugated metal all the way up and down the sides and the route designation directly above the end door; the R46's have the LED signs on the sides and six metal stripes in two groups of three on the sides.)

In any event, it's a good incentive to stay in shape so I can climb out through the window just in case <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Some of the people trapped underground were stuck there for over 2 hours, from reports I've heard. Temperatures were often in excess of 90 degrees, the trains were completely dark, aside from any lighting carried by passengers or crew, many of the trains were crowded (SRO or worse), including children, the elderly, and physically ill or pregnant women in a few cases. No cell phone service or radio reception of any kind for the most part, no PA announcements, other than an occasional walkthrough by a TA employee, who usually didn't know much more than any of the passengers on the train.

Completely unacceptable. Yes, it's an exigent circumstance, but there is absolutely no reason why it had to be like that.