Subway Door Issues(was:Could train doors accidentally open?)

[Arborway]

We've all seen the signs that say "Do Not Lean Against Doors!" but aside from any mechanical flaw in the latching mechanism, is it possible for a motorperson on any of the T's rail lines to accidentally open the tunnel-side, as opposed to the platform-side doors? I would hope there's some kind of interlock present on all of the trains to prevent such an occurrence, but I honestly have no idea.

[typesix]

Yes, doors can open on wrong side if operator/guard chooses wrong side to open. Easier on green line than the others, since on the rapid lines, the guard has to physically be on the side that's having door opened in order to actuate the door switches.

[Ron Newman]

I once saw a Green Line operator open the right-side door (against the tunnel wall) to let a worker on or off. I no longer remember where this happened.

[ceo]

Easier on green line than the others, since on the rapid lines, the guard has to physically be on the side that's having door opened in order to actuate the door switches.

...which explains why they always open the left-side doors at Park a few seconds after the right ones. I've wondered about that since I was a small child.

[MBTA3247]

I once saw a Green Line operator open the right-side door (against the tunnel wall) to let a worker on or off. I no longer remember where this happened.

I've seen that myself. I think they do that fairly regularly.

[GreenLinetoBrooklyn]

Easier on green line than the others, since on the rapid lines, the guard has to physically be on the side that's having door opened in order to actuate the door switches.

...which explains why they always open the left-side doors at Park a few seconds after the right ones. I've wondered about that since I was a small child.

I always thought it was to let the majority of the people off on the higher volume platform. tihs reason makes more sense though

[savebowdoin]

I remember getting on a train at Alewife once, and realizing both sides of doors were open! It struck me as odd, because the guard would have had to go out of their way to open the other side. Everyone getting on was weirded out by it. They remained open until the train readied for departure, at which point those closed, then the platform side doors closed. and departed as if nothing was amiss.

Mike

[Disney Guy]

Some older Green Line equipment, such as Type 5's, had door controllers off to each side which would decrease the chance of the operator's opening doors on the wrong side.

[Arborway]

Thanks to everyone who helped clear this up.

I once saw a Green Line operator open the right-side door (against the tunnel wall) to let a worker on or off. I no longer remember where this happened.

I've seen this maybe three or four times. Sometimes dropping off, other times picking up.

[RailBus63]

Slightly off-topic ... there was an incident on the Red Line in the early 1980's in which the doors on a train of 01400's opened while the train was at speed between Andrew and North Quincy.

[StefanW]

How about the CR coaches equipped with power doors? Do the switches on one side only control the doors on that side?

Also - does the engineer have any door controls? I doubt the engine cab has door controls, but a control car cab end might... do they?

[diburning]

How about the CR coaches equipped with power doors? Do the switches on one side only control the doors on that side?

Also - does the engineer have any door controls? I doubt the engine cab has door controls, but a control car cab end might... do they?

the door to the engineer's cab on the cab car probably doesn't have power doors as it has a door handle. The only way to open or close the doors on the commuter coaches with power doors is for the conductor to insert their key and press the door buttons unless someone pulls the valve from the outside or the emergency valve from the inside.

[ST214]

I have also seen this numerous times....first time, i was shocked when the door opened in the tunnel!

I once saw a Green Line operator open the right-side door (against the tunnel wall) to let a worker on or off. I no longer remember where this happened.

[Robert Paniagua]

Slightly off-topic ... there was an incident on the Red Line in the early 1980's in which the doors on a train of 01400's opened while the train was at speed between Andrew and North Quincy.

Wow, I thought the red/Orange/Blue line trains had special protection while the train is in motion, which prevents it from running with the doors open and also prevents one from opening the doors when the train is moving

[StefanW]

Wow, I thought the red/Orange/Blue line trains had special protection while the train is in motion, which prevents it from running with the doors open and also prevents one from opening the doors when the train is moving

I'm very sure that all the lines have that mechanism - but it could have been faulty on that occasion.

The Green Line cars do have door/motion interlocks also, which you can see in action all the time. On Type 7s and Type 8s I've seen the operators hit the door switches to open and hold them while the train slows down. The doors don't open until speed drops to zero - or almost zero. On some Type 7s I've felt the door interlock switch out while the train was still creeping forward, so then when the doors open the brake interlock causes full application and the train stops suddenly. I don't recall it ever happening at more than a few MPH, but it's still enough to give people a jolt.