Just 100 years ago, New York's subway electrical transmission lines smoked the insulation, caused so much toxic smoke people panicked

That morning, two electrical cables feeding into manholes at Broadway and 52nd Street suddenly shorted out, causing a blackout in the subway tunnels below. The cable insulation, not fireproof, began issuing masses of “dense acrid” smoke that soon filled the tunnels. 

The event occurred at the start of rush hour so there where three trains between 50th Street and Columbus Circle that were immediately affected. Over 2,500 people were trapped in the subway cars or stuck inside suddenly dark stations.

they tore out the sidewalk grates that covered the subway so they could lower ladders and pull out injured people that had been trampled in the panic. Only one woman died, but hundreds were hurt by the stampede and some succumbed to the toxic smoke

http://www.boweryboyshistory.com/category/planes-trains-and-automobiles

I see several rear tires that have some traction aid, chains or ropes

New York City, the land of abandoned dead cars

in New York City.
31,578 cars were abandoned in 1968
57,742 Cars Removed in 1969
72,961 abandoned cars in 1970.
79,000 in 1978
33,112 last 1979
http://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2014/09/new-york-citys-stripped-and-abandoned.html

Horse Car, New York, 1890

found on http://www.vintag.es/2015/01/lumber-district-horse-car-new-york.html