# Passengers stopping a train? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 27, 2012, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542 "2012-07-27T07:50:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542/21 "2012-07-27T14:07:03Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > OK, in that case, the answer is: “Yes, passengers could pull a rope from their seat and stop a train” > > Because pulling the rope signals the driver to perform an emergency stop. You’re being picky in a different direction from me. The rope doesn’t actually stop the train, and that was what the OP was alluding to. In movies and TV shows it is done for comedic effect, not to represent what happens in the real world. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542/22 "2012-07-27T14:11:51Z")
There was a Top Gear episode in India, where James May got off of the train at one stop and didn’t make it back on. Jeremy and Richard considered pulling the signal to stop the train, but balked at paying the fine, which was approximately 7 GBP, iirc. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542/23 "2012-07-27T14:16:52Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > You’re being picky in a different direction from me. The rope doesn’t actually stop the train, and that was what the OP was alluding to. In movies and TV shows it is done for comedic effect, not to represent what happens in the real world. The rope _does_ stop the train. I’m not sure I ever saw a movie that implied there was a direct connection between the cord and the brake mechanism (in fact, I’m fairly sure I’ve only ever seen it called ‘the communications cord’ onscreen) ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542/24 "2012-07-27T14:23:02Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The rope _does_ stop the train. I’m not sure I ever saw a movie that implied there was a direct connection between the cord and the brake mechanism (in fact, I’m fairly sure I’ve only ever seen it called ‘the communications cord’ onscreen) You need to watch more TV then. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542/25 "2012-07-27T14:27:28Z")
Can you cite an example where it was clearly stated (or strongly implied) that pulling the cord would _directly_ apply the brakes? Or are you basing this on the (onscreen) immediacy of effect? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542/26 "2012-07-27T14:48:13Z")
In the 1936 documentary _A Pain in the Pullman_ by the Howard Brothers and Fine, a monkey pulled the emergency cord. (This is just one of at least a dozen reasons why one should not bring a monkey on a train.) If my memory serves, there was a subsequent shot of a whistle sounding in the locomotive and the driver responding by pulling a lever to stop the train. So in this case it seems the cord was not directly attached to the brakes. Back then, apparently, the penalty for pulling the cord was being _literally_ thrown from the train, onto the back of a bucking bull. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542/27 "2012-07-27T14:57:13Z")
There was an episode of I Love Lucy in which Lucy repeatedly pulled the emergency cord. As I remember, it was _implied_ that this activated the brakes, rather than signalling the driver to stop the train. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542/28 "2012-07-27T15:38:03Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > The informational sticker next to the emergency brake cord helpfully explains that, no matter what sort of emergency may be occuring, pulling the emergency brake cord is not the correct response. Yeah, those stickers are poorly worded. The only time that pulling the cord is the correct thing to do is when the train’s motion would cause injury, such as somebody getting stuck in the door and about to be dragged. All other emergencies, it’s better to let the train get to the next station so help can arrive. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542/29 "2012-07-27T15:47:30Z")
> [@ClintO](#): > > For a Few Dollars More **_This train will stop at Tucumcari_!** ---
**Author:** ![Galwegian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galwegian/32/3426_2.png) [@Galwegian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galwegian)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542/30 "2012-07-27T15:53:27Z")
About fourteen years ago, I was on a train in the north of England, and had to use the toilet. It had one of those sliding doors that had an electronic button to open, close and lock it. Anyway, it closed and locked…and then wouldn’t open again. It was back in the days before everyone had mobiles, so I couldn’t call my wife. I hammered and hammered on the door, but nobody heard me. There was a switch on the wall, labelled “Use in emergency”. Now, I knew I was on a train, I knew about communication cords: but this was also a toilet that was suitable for wheelchairs, which often has a call switch or cord if assistance is required. There was also nothing about stopping trains and nothing about fines. I was a bit wary of it, but eventually I pulled it after at least fifteen minutes banging on the door. And yes, it _was_ the emergency brake! After about a minute I heard running feet, and the door opened: the conductor and driver were both there, and they were furious! They accepted it was an honest mistake, and I wasn’t fined and the police weren’t called. But I haven’t used a toilet on a train since. ---
**Author:** ![Blakeyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blakeyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blakeyrat)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542/31 "2012-07-27T19:49:07Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > The informational sticker next to the emergency brake cord helpfully explains that, no matter what sort of emergency may be occuring, pulling the emergency brake cord is not the correct response. Similarly on the Sounder commuter train in the Seattle area. (Although the “cord” is actually a Big Red Button.) It has a little plague explaining that in case of a medical emergency, you’re better off telling the conductor as stopping the train will simply delay the arrival of medical assistance. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542/32 "2012-07-27T20:02:22Z")
On MetroLink (Southern California commuter rail), the train cars all have emergency cords that imply by signage, at least, that there is a direct link to the brakes, and a hefty fine for misusage. On the area’s subway and lightrail (Metro), my understanding through experience/observation is that pulling an emergency cord, which can be found above each set of doors, causes the “seal” on the closed doors to be broken, and the trains aren’t able to move if the doors aren’t sealed. While I’ve never seen anyone do this with the subway/lightrail in motion, I have seen plenty of times where a train is prevented from leaving a station by someone having pulled down a cord. Now, two quick notes. On LA’s subways, the emergency “cord” is actually more like a hard stick, and can be pushed back into place. People use it all the time (in both appropriate and inappropriate situations) to hold the doors open for people. Even the sheriffs use it to check that the cars are empty when the train has reached its terminus. On the lightrail, however, those cords are replaceable. Sadly, I know this from personal experience when I stranded a train at a station because I assumed they operated the same way as the subway cars. I wasn’t able to push the cord back in. I think I left behind a lot of very angry commuters. I was able to see they were still there at least 10 minutes later. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passengers-stopping-a-train/629542.md?page=1)