Weasie, honestly, in the heat of the moment, I don't know if I could have pulled myself up from the tracks with train coming barreling at me down the tracks. Sometimes adrenaline kicks in in those situations and you can overcome some pretty steep obstacles, but then again, I don't know what it's like to be 58 nor do I know how much time the guy had. The platform is pretty high and there's nothing there really to grab onto when pulling yourself up.
My first thought when looking at the photos, knowing the station as I do, was that I would have acted one of two ways:
First, move to the opposite side of the track, away from the platform, hop the third rail and go for the middle area between the southbound local and downtown express tracks (there are gaps between the tracks where columns support the station in the middle). You can wait for the train to pass there and then pull yourself up with time.
OR, if the first was not an option (fear of being electrocuted by the third rail, no room, etc.), run away from the train on the track trying to outrun the point where it ultimately would stop. The conductor was able to slow down finally, so if I knew I couldn't pull myself up in time, at least I would be able to lie down between the tracks if I knew the train could pass over me.
When it comes down to it though, this is all just talk from me. I have no idea how I would respond in the face of death. I'll tell you one thing for certain, is that spot on the edge of the platform where that guy is trying to pull himself up is the very last place I'd want to be. To have my upper torso/chest crushed between the train and the platform seems like to most painful way to go out to me, given the situation.
