NEW YORK, July 18 (UPI) -- About 70 New York City commuters spent nearly two hours baking in the heat that buckled an elevated train power rail and stranded them without electricity.
The 8-car train was headed for Manhattan when a deformed 700-volt third rail lost contact at 12:45 Monday afternoon, the New York Daily News said.
The crew opened all the doors on the train to allow air to move through the sweltering cars stranded in the full sun, but an evacuation wasn't begun until 2:30, the report said.
The 95-degree heat and frustration took a toll, passenger Michael DiQuattro told the newspaper.
"People were pushing and shoving and cursing at each other," he said.
Another passenger said the time passed slowly.
"It got mad hot inside, and it was smelly," the woman said.
Firefighters and train crew eventually led everyone aboard to ground level on stairs used by transit workers, the report said.
