Trapped...in a World Trade Center Elevator Articles / United States Date: Aug 09, 2008 - 11:31 AM |
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I read with some interest today that four or five people were stuck in an elevator in the Empre State building in NYC due to a power outage . Let me relay to you a similar experience I had when traveling in an express elevator up to the 78th floor in WTC tower #2. That was the one without the TV antenna on the top. As best as I can recollect, it was around September or October, 1992. I was returning from lunch at a great hot dog store that was situated on the corner of Broadway & John Streets. I could probably write about those delicious tube steaks for a few more parargraphs, but will stick to the topic at hand instead. At the time I'm writing about, I was employed at an engineering consulting firm that had leased office from floor 78 through 91 in the WTC tower #2. When the buildings were being constructed, I understand that since my company agreed to long-term leases for the floors noted, express elevators were installed that could whoosh people to the sky tower that would be created for them on the 78th floor. From there, "local" elevators could take people from floors 79 through 120, where the Windows of the World restaurant, viewing windows and other attractions could be found. So, returning from lunch on the day in question, me & about 10-12 fellow travelers boarded the express elevator, fully expecting to arrive up at the 78th floor after a typical 30-40 second trip. But, after about 15 seconds, we felt the elevator slow, and then stop, well shy of the 78th floor. Breaking the unwritten manners of not looking at another rider, we glanced at each other, realizing that we had not arrived at our destination. Thank goodness, someone remembered there was a telephone that could be used for such an emergency, and thank goodness both it and the overhead lights just happened to be in working condition! Some guy in a gray business suit picked up the phone & in a couple of seconds someone at the other end of the line said "Port Authority Elevator" or something like that. The gray-suited man explained our predicament. After a moment or two of silence, in a manner unusual for a New Yorker the guy announced that all the maintenance workers who could possibly assist us were at lunch & not expected back for at least another hour. We were stunned and a chorus of "What?", "what did he just say?" and some other epithets that expressed physical actions that were probably impossible for the guy on the other end of the phone to perform were expressed. Then, we heard the guy laughing and his voice announced, "just kidding." He explained workers were looking into the problem at that very moment. And, in just about another four or five minutes the guy called us back & said we'd be on our way in a few seconds. Sure enough, the elevator started and in 30 seconds or so completed its journey tot he 78th floor and disgourged us at our destination. |
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