NBC Report: Conductor Acted Fast to Mitigate Urgent Risk

A veteran Train Conductor, who also serves as a TWU Local 100 Shop Steward, is being praised for taking quick action after a rider spilled gasoline inside his N train Sunday, October 14.

Conductor Benjamin Schaeffer immediately secured his cab and evacuated riders from the Manhattan-bound train after passengers came to his window at the 36thSt. and said an apparently homeless man with a shopping cart stuffed with items spilled the flammable material from a canister. Schaeffer was interviewed by NBC Channel 4 Reporter Andrew Siff. The piece aired Tuesday night at 6 p.m.

"I was proud of him," RTO Vice President Joe Costales said to Siff. "This is what we train to do in a daily emergency situation." See the full report here.