New York City, New York State //
Taking The Subway - Part 2
Abandoned stations on New York's Subway system
Date November 2010
Posted October 2011
Posted October 2011
From the old Manhattan Bridge connection Steve, Shane and I had crossed onto the BMT Nassau Street Line, served by the New York Subway's 'J' service. We had to be a little more alert now for the rails over which we now stepped across showed signs of occasional use. The grimy steelwork if followed would take us northbound in the direction of the disused Canal Street platforms where we'd have to be even more careful of running into staff or trains.
If siologen ever gets his act together and writes a book on rapid transit system exploration then apart from advising you to treat disused access shafts with care he'll probably also suggest not starting your relationship with any network by exploring its best station. With the breach of the coveted City Hall station back in 2009 it was impossible not to wonder if this stretch of track would be a disappointment. It's not that a location ever counts for more than an experience, but that'd been one rad night...
Too late to change anything about this (and as if I would anyway) there was nothing to it but to push on down the track and climb up onto the platform. And I was hardly disappointed. The dusty graf'd Canal St platforms are of a different flavour entirely to the ornate tiled arches at City Hall, plus a little less tense with it. And as a regular passenger back then in 2009 this felt much more like the system I'd come to know and love. Despite the fact that we weren't dressed as MTA staff this time it paid to be on our guard especially when there were active platforms not so far away.
Upon reaching the far end of the platform we dropped down onto the blackened sleepers and passed back into the darkness of the running tunnels. Now we walked parallel to the active lines, moving as quickly as possible between exposed sections. Inevitably it wasn't long before we could hear a train on its way down the track to meet us, that same distinctive banging of metalwork. The glow of the lights warmed the tunnel providing just enough illumination with which to find places to hide. As the train rattled by it was impossible not to smile at the thought of all those passengers sat inside, unaware of the world beyond the glass.
Ahead of us the track began to curve, eventually heading eastward and into the abandoned Bowery platforms. Although a little different in design the story was much the same - litter, graffiti, and this time a few homeless guys who'd set up camp. And hardly surprising either - up on the surface it was getting frigid. For this night though our adventures were nearly through. NYC would be waking up soon, and it would make our exit (through a live station) significantly more risky should we stay much longer.
Thanks to Steve and Shane for the company, and to siolo, ds and Control for inspiration.
This article is the final part of a two part series entitled 'Taking The Subway'. You can read the previous part here.
If siologen ever gets his act together and writes a book on rapid transit system exploration then apart from advising you to treat disused access shafts with care he'll probably also suggest not starting your relationship with any network by exploring its best station. With the breach of the coveted City Hall station back in 2009 it was impossible not to wonder if this stretch of track would be a disappointment. It's not that a location ever counts for more than an experience, but that'd been one rad night...
Too late to change anything about this (and as if I would anyway) there was nothing to it but to push on down the track and climb up onto the platform. And I was hardly disappointed. The dusty graf'd Canal St platforms are of a different flavour entirely to the ornate tiled arches at City Hall, plus a little less tense with it. And as a regular passenger back then in 2009 this felt much more like the system I'd come to know and love. Despite the fact that we weren't dressed as MTA staff this time it paid to be on our guard especially when there were active platforms not so far away.
Upon reaching the far end of the platform we dropped down onto the blackened sleepers and passed back into the darkness of the running tunnels. Now we walked parallel to the active lines, moving as quickly as possible between exposed sections. Inevitably it wasn't long before we could hear a train on its way down the track to meet us, that same distinctive banging of metalwork. The glow of the lights warmed the tunnel providing just enough illumination with which to find places to hide. As the train rattled by it was impossible not to smile at the thought of all those passengers sat inside, unaware of the world beyond the glass.
Ahead of us the track began to curve, eventually heading eastward and into the abandoned Bowery platforms. Although a little different in design the story was much the same - litter, graffiti, and this time a few homeless guys who'd set up camp. And hardly surprising either - up on the surface it was getting frigid. For this night though our adventures were nearly through. NYC would be waking up soon, and it would make our exit (through a live station) significantly more risky should we stay much longer.
Thanks to Steve and Shane for the company, and to siolo, ds and Control for inspiration.
This article is the final part of a two part series entitled 'Taking The Subway'. You can read the previous part here.
