What is the purpose of the wooden board to the right of the #2 end doors inside "L" cars?

The board is a "gang plank" used to evacuate a train in certain situations, specifically when a train is outside of a station and there is another train along side the train being evacuated. In this scenario, the operator of the train being evacuated coordinates with the operator of another train to stop their train with a side door on their train lined up directly opposite a side door on the other train, taking into account the distance between adjacent tracks, differences in elevation, curved track, et cetera. The operators of both trains then request power off in all directions, open the side doors that were lined up, and place a minimum of two gang planks next to each other, anti-skid side up, between the side doors. They announce that the train is being evacuated to another train, give specific instructions, and the operators of both trains assist the passengers in crossing between the cars on the planks, guarding the unused portion of the door openings. After the train is ...  more

The board is a "gang plank" used to evacuate a train in certain situations, specifically when a train is outside of a station and there is another train along side the train being evacuated. In this scenario, the operator of the train being evacuated coordinates with the operator of another train to stop their train with a side door on their train lined up directly opposite a side door on the other train, taking into account the distance between adjacent tracks, differences in elevation, curved track, et cetera. The operators of both trains then request power off in all directions, open the side doors that were lined up, and place a minimum of two gang planks next to each other, anti-skid side up, between the side doors. They announce that the train is being evacuated to another train, give specific instructions, and the operators of both trains assist the passengers in crossing between the cars on the planks, guarding the unused portion of the door openings.  more