The Atlantic Tunnel tour underground

[ellen_datlow]

So the six of us: Carol, Bob, Ellie, Justin, Rick, and I meet at Court Street and Atlantic at 1:15 and see a group of people standing around with cameras and flashlights. We ask if this is for the tunnel tour--yes it is. after about 15 minutes, a guy comes around with clipboard and explains that we must line up at the side of the courthouse (the building we're standing in front of) and sign the permission forms--and he and his colleagues will collect the $15 per person. By now there are lots more people (turns out about 150 total show up). We've already noticed a jeep parked in the middle of the street with the center area closed of and what looks like a manhole cover opened to the world...uh oh. Is THAT where we're going? While the signing, paying, and settling goes on, a cop car stops, two cops get out and go to the hole/jeep. Apparently, the cops often come by--they get a kick out of it and one mentions (or jokes--I don't hear it but this is relayed to us) that he and his wife would like to go on the tour. It IS all legal, there are permits. It's an official city franchise run by Bob Diamond, the guy who discovered the tunnel back in 1980--for more information read about it here Atlantic Avenue tunnel


So... at around 2:30 we are ready to go. This after sweltering in the heat for an hour. I'm a little nervous, as I've got my carrier bag that I hold on my shoulder, so Carol took it from me as she climbed down first. Narrow narrow--so this is what going down a manhole is like. Strong, sturdy ladder yes. I've worn my cowboy boots because I don't have sneakers and I thought that sandals wouldn't work. (I was wrong and should indeed have worn my rubber soled flat sandals, but I didn't realize that till walking in the tunnel itself).
Twelve feet down the ladder, walk over some debris, climb under a barrier and then there's a hole in the wall in front of me with stairs going down. Unfortunately I'm blinded by the dark and yes, there are lanterns lit along the walls going down the steps, I trip because I can't see the stairs in front of me for the shadows. Just a teeny trip and I fall on my ass. When I get up I realize that I can see better when I walk sideways down the steps.
We all wait at the bottom and are told we can walk to the second set of lights. You can see pretty well with the lanterns and with our flashlights (bring one with a wide beam if you can). Some people had miner's headlights which I'm sure were great for them, but blinding to anyone walking in towards them.

The ground in the tunnel is very uneven, with gouges, ridges, rocks. So my feet, legs and back are feeling a little sprained today. It was great and I highly recommend it--however if you're claustrophobic don't do it. There were people of all shapes and sizes (and ages) so it's not arduous...I could have worn my skirt (I changed into trousers there) but bring handy wipes. Leaving, I used the ladder rungs to climb because I felt more comfortable/secure but my hands were then filthy from everyone else's shoes.
It's about 20 degrees cooler down there than outside.

You can see all my photos here: photos of Brooklyn's Atlantic tunnel tour .

Comments

[nick-kaufmann.livejournal.com]

Great pictures! Was the pub you went to also in Brooklyn?

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yes, I think it was called Cody's. I think it was on Court street.

[nick-kaufmann.livejournal.com]

I know it well!

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

One of the best hamburgers I've had in a looong time. Excellent quality of meat. And I had a lovely dark bock beer.

[casacorona.livejournal.com]

That is totally cool! Great pictures, too.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

If you're in NYC long enough for a visit and time it right, you could probably do it...I'd thought the tours were once a month but I guess they're so popular this summer that they're doing them twice a month.

It may be closed down in a few months for a documentary shoot about the history of the tunnel.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Just too cool...

[joeicarus.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

That is *so* cool! I would love to do that!

If you're ever in Upstate South Carolina, like halfway between Charlotte and Atlanta--and I can't think of why you would be, but humor me--check out the Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel. It was a planned tunnel for the Confederate Railroad through the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, but they never finished the tunnel. No ladders or manholes--you just walk on in. You can bring a flashlight, but it's delightfully eerie to try and hike it using just a glowtube. There's also awesome mountain hiking all around the outside, and a gorgeous waterfall.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

It sounds gorgeous. I'll certainly keep it in mind should I ever wander that way ;-)

[asyouknow-bob.livejournal.com]

That's a great thing! I've long wanted to do that.

In faintly-related urban-exploration news, next year the Poughkeepsie RR bridge opens as a pedestrian walkway, 200-some feet over the Hudson..)

(Typo report: your flickr page is labeled "AUGUST 27")

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Now THAT I'm not sure I could handle--at least I know I couldn't if I looked down ;-).

Oops. Thanks and fixed.

[clockwork-zero.livejournal.com]

wow, what an interesting trip! I would love to do that if I ever visited your city. I love Urban exploration - though many of the places I've been to visit weren't so public. ;)

wearing the right shoes are always so tricky! I'd probably be tripping right along side you. I'm one of those people who trip on a perfectly flat sidewalk. sigh.

love the photos! so much fun!