Holiday travelers grateful for their lives after the separation of Amtrak cars and the train



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The Montreal-New York train was traveling near Albany, New York around 7:20 pm On Wednesday, when two cars separated from the engine, Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said in a statement. Of the 287 passengers and crew members, no one was injured, he said. The passengers were transferred to a new train, Abrams said.

CNN contacted Amtrak for more details, but had no news.

Billy Osher-Dugan was traveling to spend Thanksgiving with his girlfriend when he saw the cars parting.

"It was packed," he says. "There was almost no places available."

He heard a noise and went back to see the cars behind him separate from the train, he said. At that time, a passenger pulled the emergency brake to stop the train and others – smelling smoke – grabbed the fire extinguisher.

Fortunately, he said, there was no fire and everyone was OK.

Helen Mary Crane was with her son on the way to spend the holidays with her daughter. Crane added that two cars had been added to the train when she boarded in Rensselaer, NY, and that her son and she had been invited to sit in the first of the additions.

Crane's car was one of the two to be detached.

"As for being with my son," she says. "I was terrified when I saw the sparks and felt a burning smell, then realized that our car was no longer tied in. I thought we were going to derail or be affected." by the other train. "

She said that she attributes to the man who pulled the emergency brake of fleeing cars the safety of everyone. She identified him as Reuben Clarke, a student at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

"He saved our lives tonight," said Crane. "Our car stopped from the rest of the train and was picking up speed, there was no Amtrak personnel in our car." Reuben intervened calmly and activated the emergency brake. the front of the car.Thank you, he was in the train with my son and me "

CNN contacted the National Transportation Safety Board, but did not hear anything.

New York State Police investigate the incident.

Joe Sutton of CNN contributed to this report.

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