When the first plane hit the World Trade Center 15 years ago, three PATH trains were en route to the station below the buildings. According to Untapped Cities:
In the minutes after the first plane hit at 8:46 am, three PATH trains were pulling into the World Trade Center station. One was arriving from Newark and two others from Hoboken. Amidst the chaos, quick thinking by PATH deputy director Victoria Cross Kelly and trainmaster Richie Moran, who was in the Port Authority Trans Hudson Control Center located in Jersey City, saved the lives of countless potential passengers who would have entered the World Trade Center site later when the foundations were much less stable.
Moran sent a command to the first Hoboken train to literally turn around at the World Trade Center station without stopping, not letting off passengers or opening any doors. The Newark-arriving train was filled with more passengers and left the station. The second Hoboken train, which arrived on Track 3 of the World Trade Center at 8:52 am, was ordered to be evacuated completely, employees included.
The Hoboken train was unable to leave the station and became trapped under the wreckage until it was recovered months later during the cleanup process. Once removed from the wreckage, the cars were sent to the 9/11 hangar at JFK Airport for storage. Last year, they were donated to the Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven, Connecticut and the Kingston Trolley Museum in the Hudson Valley.
This year, for the first time, both museums are displaying the cars during special events for the 15th anniversary of the attack.
Untapped Cities got a first look at the cars on display, saying, “It was a sobering, reflective moment – the advertisements are still there as well as the signage on the front of the train, that says “WTC.” Shaun Winton, director of the Shore Line Trolley Museum, told us that coffee cups and other items were found inside – literally abandoned in the rush to evacuate.”
See more photos and details of the events on Untapped Cities: Last Two WTC PATH Train Cars from 9/11 Will Open to Public for First Time
