The Freedom Tunnel

Urbex Aficionado: 9th Jun 2008 - 15:51 GMT

Wow! Just.... wow. This is a great posting. This place is legendary, but I've only ever seen it online. I'm glad to see your extensive, comprehensive photos. I saw some new things here that I haven't seen before. And at the risk of sounding gratuitous, if you have more photos, please post them! I'm sure I speak for others when I say I can't get enough of this sort of thing!

chuckvideo: 9th Jun 2008 - 16:05 GMT

I love that 8th image in so many ways, the rays of light are incredible, and the way the light reflects off of the front rail draws your eye to the front elements.

Jamie: 9th Jun 2008 - 16:23 GMT

this one has to be my favourite

So is the tunnel currently in use (by trains) ?

kellymac: 9th Jun 2008 - 16:26 GMT

wow these are just beautiful. i'm finishing up Jennifer Toth's book now, great timing! thank you for sharing and i'll be checking back to see if you post more!

Madaline McBain: 9th Jun 2008 - 16:54 GMT

WOW - those are amazing.

So no trains through the tunnel anymore?
No more homeless sleeping?

Chitin: 9th Jun 2008 - 16:57 GMT

These are incredible. Is the tunnel still in service? How do you avoid oncoming trains?

Peter: 9th Jun 2008 - 17:09 GMT

yes, the tunnel is very much in use, as the tunnel is the main artery that connects Metro-North Railroad and amtrak trains to penn station. dodging the trains and staying out of their line of sight is key.

kellymac: you should take toth's writing with a grain of salt... its an exciting read, for sure, but largely fictionalized... it was long ago proved to be filled with extensive exaggerations/fabrications and factual errors. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_People

i only passed one homeless person who seemed to jsut be passing through the tunnel, headed downtown. some say that a few still live there, but that nowadays theyre much more secretive and subtle, so who knows. i can only imagine what i might have walked right past and not even noticed...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Tunnel is a good read, though it's rather cursory and not wholly correct as far as the dates/timeline of the tunnel and some of the other details go. i think i might edit that wiki some, and add some of these photos...

kellymac: 9th Jun 2008 - 19:43 GMT

thanks for the links peter, my skepticism at the "factual" information in the book started with her claiming there are natural caves under Manhattan, much less ones accessible from subway passages. she clearly had a lot of interest in sensationalism.

kiwi: 9th Jun 2008 - 20:20 GMT

Wow. Those are lovely. My fave would have to be the one with the trunk, though. The contrast between bright mural and dark remnant is great.

codespace: 9th Jun 2008 - 20:42 GMT

do you have any hi-res versions of those photos? i'd like a hi-res version of the six shafts of sunlight for a wallpaper.

Peter: 9th Jun 2008 - 20:47 GMT

i have huge hi-res of all of these. email editors at citynoise dot org and ill make sure you get a copy of any youd like...

xyka: 10th Jun 2008 - 00:21 GMT

loved the report, and yes, my favorite one is with the 6 beams of lights.

very, very cool!
how often did you have to dodge from the trains?

EvilGentleman: 10th Jun 2008 - 05:40 GMT

Wow. Knockout urbex piece, Peter! Love it!

little ukraine: 10th Jun 2008 - 14:50 GMT

wow, peter, i think this post contains some of the best photos ive ever seen on CN...really really incredible...thanks for taking the trip and sharing!

Peter: 10th Jun 2008 - 15:19 GMT

thanks you guys... i had a great time down there, so its been nice to share these shots. i took so many photos in there, so it was hard deciding which to post here... im glad they dont all look the same, heh.

ill put more in the comments here when i get home today. i also plan on going back here soon... now that i got all the sort of "tourist" shots out of the way, there are more details and obscure bits id really like to photograph, besides all teh graf and the tunnel itself...

Jamie: 10th Jun 2008 - 15:56 GMT

I look forward to seeing more. Just watch out for the trains.

Micah: 12th Jun 2008 - 14:19 GMT

Woah. I never new this existed. Thanks for telling me, and awesome photos!

Britrock: 12th Jun 2008 - 14:35 GMT

Thanks Peter - I've learned something new and gained a fresh creative inspiration to start my day. Beautiful images.

Candlejack: 12th Jun 2008 - 14:45 GMT

This is just an amazing sight to see, and even more amazing is that you actually went down there, took so many high quality photographs, came back and put it all here to share with us. Thanks for the links, too, otherwise I wouldn't have known exactly what I was looking at, or why it was such a worthwhile place to explore and share with the world. Kudos to you, Peter!

Andrew: 12th Jun 2008 - 14:56 GMT

Great work with the light! Where is the other end of the tunnel and what does that look like?

Martha Garvey: 12th Jun 2008 - 15:08 GMT

Thanks for your terrific work. So lonely and beautiful.

levitypalmer: 12th Jun 2008 - 15:11 GMT

Thank you for seeing value in and sharing this. The light coming through the grates and moving across walls etc made me think of a stage with the light following a performer. There is a lot of artistic energy bouncing around that tunnel! (including your view of it) thank you thank you.

Hoolia: 12th Jun 2008 - 15:53 GMT

Wow. These are beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing these. You've been stumble thumb-upped.

mrsleep: 12th Jun 2008 - 16:16 GMT

If you can, find the film 'Dark Days'
It is a documentary, of sorts, made by the people who used to live in the tunnel.
A film that is both beautiful, and tragic.

Peter: 12th Jun 2008 - 16:20 GMT

indeed. "dark days" is a good movie. i hadnt seen it in years, and jsut watched it again after going into the tunnel and taking these shots...

www.imdb.com/title/tt0235327
www.netflix.com/Movie/Dark_Days/60001871?lnkctr=srchrd-sr&strkid=1874030515_0_0

Angel: 12th Jun 2008 - 16:44 GMT

this is amazeing. I'd love to go see it in person.

leggs: 12th Jun 2008 - 16:46 GMT

This totally amazing, thank you for sharing. I have never heard or seen of this before, you just must show the world more

anon (mail01.aopwv.com): 12th Jun 2008 - 18:04 GMT

What an awesome adventure! Thanks for sharing the photos and info of this secret place.

vanillamay: 12th Jun 2008 - 18:30 GMT

Thank you, Peter, for sharing all these strange and beautiful pictures and feelings with us.This is a reality which is as usual at times a "wonder", which we don't notice and the role of the people, who have the ability and "the eye" to not only see it for themselves but to show it to others is blessed by God. Thank you.

Kevin_in_the_Uk: 12th Jun 2008 - 22:26 GMT

mrsleep says about the film dark days, I have a copy, my wife got it on amazon for me. Fantastic stories from the people who used to live down there. You might even be able to see clips on youtube. It also has a haunting soundtrack by DJ Shadow

Ash: 13th Jun 2008 - 16:01 GMT

Thanks for these photos! Ever since I saw Dark Days about 10 years ago I've had a fascination with the world beyond the seen - the abandoned corners of our existence. So captivating!

Kittycat Clover: 13th Jun 2008 - 16:11 GMT

How very unusual! The light effects are great - must be wonderful in 'real life'. Thanks for sharing this.

Jim: 13th Jun 2008 - 18:02 GMT

Dark Days -> video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4615469295729142806

oneoldman: 14th Jun 2008 - 03:03 GMT

Some of the most meaningful art of the 21st century is in the form of grafetti. Thank you for sharing this with us.

futurebird: 14th Jun 2008 - 03:15 GMT

I just did a painting today (from memory) of the freedom tunnel-- so, of course, the graffiti is all made up-- in fact, it's YOUR FAULT I started thinking about this again and did this painting. Your comment on my entry about the tunnel got me to thinking about how I've been thinking about how wonderful it'd be if a group of rouge mathematicians started doing math graffiti. So, I did a painting of the tunnel, but put in my own made up graffiti based on mathematics.

You're to blame for all of this!

Jane B.: 14th Jun 2008 - 05:46 GMT

hey PETER, can you PLEASE ANSWER this question?? =D

how were you able to get up there in that 125th street entrance? i've been trying to get into the freedom tunnel for so long but i just can't figure out the right way to go through with this!

i've seen that entrance, but all the way on the other side, across the highway n along that bike n ped. route...how do you get in??? please tell me!!!! =( PLEASE! i've been trying for months now!

Bekka: 14th Jun 2008 - 12:28 GMT

This place reminds me of a similar location in Bucharest, Romania [where I live] I've been there once and the atmosphere is just about the same...
The art isn't quite the same, obviously... but the way light comes in, the junk, probably the smell of stale air and dust... yeah... your pics stir up some strong memories
I bet it was a weird place to visit... your pictures capture the atmosphere of such a place perfectly...

Peter: 14th Jun 2008 - 19:27 GMT

jane b: come on, i cant really post that publicly on such a busy thread, you know that. its not that hard if you go poke around up there. email the editors and ask them :P

Pratik: 16th Jun 2008 - 00:43 GMT

just too cool. am wondering how did u manage that. grt work dude!!! bravo!!

Jack: 16th Jun 2008 - 06:02 GMT

These are amazing, i stumbled on them. easy thumbs up

James: 16th Jun 2008 - 13:47 GMT

Have to say though, the six lights are good, but my fave is the entrance. The contrast of it is brilliant

Shayleia: 17th Jun 2008 - 02:49 GMT

Thank you for sharing such a hauntingly beautiful journey. I have been in or through New York City a few times and I have always marvelled at the degrees of sheer talent that is depicted in some of the graffiti I have seen. Capturing the graffiti and art in so many degrees of light like you have has given a forlorn place such a surreal aspect and even a romanticized beauty that I never would have thought existed. Bravo for risking your life to capture it on film.

Emily: 17th Jun 2008 - 13:57 GMT

Wow. These are amazing and beautiful. The six shafts of light was my favorite, but they were all so great. Thanks for sharing these.

Katrin: 17th Jun 2008 - 19:03 GMT

Hey - Funny: my journey started with reading stuff about Leftover Crack, squatting and mole people while actually I should have prepared a talk about Billy Wilder and Some Like It Hot. Well, anyway, finally I found your photos and I have to say that they are amazing! Really fascinating! Thanks a lot for sharing, I just changed the topic of my talk ;).

Jeff: 19th Jun 2008 - 02:27 GMT

Great set of photos! For the past many years, I have stared down into the tunnel from above in Riverside Park watching Metro-North go by. I've always wondered what it looks like in there! Thx so much for sharing these with us all. I always wanted to sneak into the tunnel from one of the archways one day, but it's really nice that you got in there!

EinsteinsBrother: 19th Jun 2008 - 02:38 GMT

What a fabulous post. ANd what a marvelous place. It is so surreal it is almost dream-like. Is it like that in person???.. Maybe someday I'll be there.......

maykat18: 19th Jun 2008 - 08:30 GMT

I can not believe that the people who painted those pictures are only painting on walls. I think they should do some thing else with their talents and make money by doing something they are good at.

Peter: 19th Jun 2008 - 13:35 GMT

maykat: the types that paint in tunnels arent generally the types that are interested in milking their talents to make money...

Moo-Sama: 19th Jun 2008 - 15:31 GMT

It really is amazing that people would rather share something beautiful with everyone and gain nothing for themselves in the process.
So many times is it really obvious that humankind is generous in mysterious ways...
But kudos to their magnificent guerilla artfare! Just think how hard it must've been to paint with a train coming past every few minutes. xP

Megan: 20th Jun 2008 - 05:35 GMT

This is the type of thing you need to go to New York to see... Plenty of people can go to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island, but these paintings are the largely unknown beauties of the city. Thank you for posting this.

charlie : 21st Jun 2008 - 03:53 GMT

Great pictures I myself used to hang out in that tunnel for years back in the early years before the amtrak police kicked me out
another time at the southern end one of the homeless nut cases came at me with a baseball bat and another time a meat cleever
and most recently a badly decomposed body was found down there. So I would say to everyone reading this Please be careful
when you go down if you must it sure is great 'Oh yes' and Wacth those trains they stop for no one.

SMUTBAGS: 21st Jun 2008 - 06:03 GMT

i really hope you post some more pics.it looks like the most amazing place ever.i cant believe chris papes stuff is still there,as far as graffiti goes thats incredible.that twist from 96 is crazy too.good shit

2spooky: 21st Jun 2008 - 11:36 GMT

Thank you for doing this work, and for sharing it with us.

Flo: 22nd Jun 2008 - 01:28 GMT

I just stumbled here, as it appears have many others, and this is an amazing find. Thank you for sharing!

PROPIEDADDESHIREEN@GMAIL.COM: 22nd Jun 2008 - 01:58 GMT

i went to ny like 2 years ago and i love it i never got to that area of town
and i love to go back and check it out,love the pics thankx 4 sharing!

john: 22nd Jun 2008 - 03:07 GMT

If you think the tunnel looks great now you should have seen it back in the 70's I was 12 years old when I started going down there.
Thats when there were five tracks down there and the Conrail freight trains were rolling at 15 miles an hour mmmm. The smell of diesel there was a huge train yard at 72nd street where all the box cars were parked before trump put up his condo city, The freedom tunnel also back then went all the way down manhatten's west side all the way down to the now famous high line and to the 14th street slaugther houses. The Freedom tunnel is one of manhattens best historys pasts

eskae: 22nd Jun 2008 - 23:48 GMT

sweet
thanks for sharing
I remember seeing those chris papes pieces through the grates in riverside park back in 888...nice to know that thye are still riding. And nice to see twist stuff from the 90's still riding as well. Thanks for sharing!

Confusedkat: 23rd Jun 2008 - 04:33 GMT

These are absolutely wonderful.
How can I get a copy of one of these??
What do I ask for? And how will I receive it? I also haven't found a way to get there.I live in Oklahoma and when I am up visiting family I have tried to access it and can't do it.

Soupflowers: 23rd Jun 2008 - 08:06 GMT

www.flickr.com/groups/freedomtunnel

Here are some more pictures if anyone is interested.

Cheers,
Soupflowers

janek: 24th Jun 2008 - 12:53 GMT

stunning! absolutely beautiful and i admire your courage.

Gilligan: 25th Jun 2008 - 00:12 GMT

There are many places in this country I will never see in person, I thank you for taking me to this one.

robert: 26th Jun 2008 - 06:29 GMT

wonderful photos documenting spaces and their ghosts that few ever see. Would love to do an article on my web site... indizoo.com

sunshine: 27th Jun 2008 - 22:44 GMT

wow! thanks for sharing this, it was really interesting and I love graffiti!

joey: 28th Jun 2008 - 01:56 GMT

the unabomber lived in berkeley, ca for a while when he studied math at uc berkeley. ray pointed out the cottage today as we walked by it.

sie: 28th Jun 2008 - 06:24 GMT

i also just finished jennifer toth's book..thank you for posting such fantastic images!

justme: 29th Jun 2008 - 08:36 GMT

Pape's work is graffiti. Nontraditional but graf, nontheless. Respect!

Alejandro!: 30th Jun 2008 - 18:33 GMT

That "obsolete machine" picture seems like a Nine Inch Nails reference to me from the song Somewhat Damaged. This tunnel looks amazing, though.

Tick: 30th Jun 2008 - 21:30 GMT

This reminds me of the game Half Life 2. These are kick-ass images.

admod: 30th Jun 2008 - 23:32 GMT

the freedom tunnel.top notch graf
all the way.

leeds band bedlam-ago go.
back on the estate,so ya better watch ya bassbins..

anon (87.113.88.50.plusnet.pte-ag2.dyn.plus.net): 3rd Jul 2008 - 08:57 GMT

The six beams of light!

mackie.p: 4th Jul 2008 - 17:26 GMT

Nice images Peter!

Im from the UK and currently working with rail workers producing images of the work that sits along the live tracks.
mackie.p@hotmail.com

Panda_Chan: 7th Jul 2008 - 22:52 GMT

As a future art student I'm amazed by the art throughout my city. I didn't know this place existed and from the photos I'm tempted to take a walk through myself. It's nice to know that there are places that remain untouched in this city. A place of rebellion, struggle and humanity. I'm looking forward to more pictures.

Anon: 7th Jul 2008 - 22:55 GMT

Wow, these photos are awesome. And the artwork is fantastic!
Good work.

Telemill: 8th Jul 2008 - 03:47 GMT

I can just imagine what the archaeologists are going to say when they discover this art vast years from now. How the most cultured of the beings of our time lived underground . . . how the art speaks of the conditions of this era. "Wonder were those artists are . . . they just disappeared . . ."

Kassie: 8th Jul 2008 - 03:56 GMT

I went here with my friend a couple months ago. We got some amazing pictures. I've never seen such beautiful graffiti in my entire life. We had a nice talk with a homeless man who lived in the tunnel before the cleanup, and still lives there. He said, "All I want to do is drink beer and smoke weed... that's all... I don't know why they can't leave me alone." The scariest part was the trains going by. They're so loud! Also the fear of being in the complete dark with no quick escape route right beneath Harlem. I loved the Goya painting imitation. In the same area is a makeshift chandelier and a bunch of cinder blocks.. like it was a living room. Climbing out of the exit was so hard. I felt like I was being born hahaha. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world.

Peter: 8th Jul 2008 - 12:52 GMT

hmm. i thought the trains were pretty quiet. bordering on silent, actually. you dont even hear them until theyre speeding towards you, about 50 feet away...

Robert: 9th Jul 2008 - 02:40 GMT

Lets us all remember that while there are trains rolling though the tunnel at 70 miles or so. The really good thing about that entire tunnel is there is no 700 volt Third Rail to worry about when it gets dark everything that runs down there is all diesel. And there's plenty of wall clearance since there used to be five tracks down there, Just bring a flash light and make sure the trains don't see you.

sudhir: 9th Jul 2008 - 07:36 GMT

terrific post. The one with the sun beams is brilliant.

design_e: 11th Jul 2008 - 01:44 GMT

Often when I stumble, I skim through stuff, but this held onto to me and looked through it all. Thanks for capturing that important bit of American NYC history. ;)

stan: 11th Jul 2008 - 09:42 GMT

I live around 116th street. A year ago I found a way in (and while down their noticed a few ways out.) I went down with a friend, a lighter, and two cellphones (which we used as a make-shift lamp.) From what I could see, which was very little, there were some amazing pieces. many you could see online but there are a lot of interesting things laying around the tunnel. ANCIENT cans to name one of the things. We didn't bump in to any left over shanty dwellers but at one point we heard a faint cry; a females voice. We figured it was one of the homeless who sometimes live around the downstairs portion of riverside park which is now closed off. (This portion of the park offers a view through a gate of freedom tunnel, which may have been how we heard her.) Afterwards we also heard a cough coming directly from behind us. We shined our lights towards it and saw a man sleeping on one of the raised platforms. He was with his girlfriend. We spoke with him briefly and asked a bit about the tunnel. he said every few days or so people would come down. Sometimes couples. He also said he wouldn't go past a certain point in the tunnel (farther south) as it was dangerous. it was a very interesting experience.

Paul Revere: 15th Jul 2008 - 00:33 GMT

I'm sure you can never receive enough accolades for your photography. Great work. Personally, I've roamed those tunnels repeatedly for the past year. As someone remarked you can't hear the train untill it's prcaticly upon you, but there is so much clearance that there is really nothing to worry about. There was never a problem for the numerous excursions from 39th to 125th at all different times. There is a few "homeless" people that for the most part are pretty harmless. I can imagine the frustration of those that do call the Freedom Tunnel home constantly avoiding contact with the numerous Flickr photographer affectionados. So much so that Amtrak should just charge an entrance fee. As for the artist that love the peacefull sanctuary (or what little is left) and the urban explorers that stroll through for the genuine love of their game. I would imagine the convictions of a true artist is the adventure and experience of the moment. Moving on I have to say the underground of all mediums is where true art is spurned. Again....great shots.

Edward LAMB: 15th Jul 2008 - 05:49 GMT

I am very familiar with this tunnel having personally "discovered" the place way back in 1969...
The following, if you please, is an excerpt from my own story :

I had, one day, roaming through Riverside Drive Park, somewhere down near 92nd Street, discovered a dark, cool railway tunnel which ran right underneath the length of the park almost like a subway train ; a place the existence of which, I'm sure, very few native New Yorkers even suspected. I entered the tunnel through a ventilation grill which had been vandalised allowing me to slip through a small opening between the bent iron bars ; inside, a cavernous orifice led to a small concrete ledge overlooking the tunnel and the tracks below. The underground edifice was eerily lit by shafts of daylight that filtered through holes pierced in the high ceiling producing a strange, almost cathedral-like effect. In reality, seen from above, those openings - which also provided a precious little fresh air - took the ordinary appearance of heavy iron sidewalk grates that most everyone walked upon without ever giving them any notice.

I would sometimes climb into that secret crypt just to be alone and invisible, sitting with my legs dangling over the ledge, unseen, watching the trains go by ; long, endless freight trains pulling boxcars, flatcars, gondolas or hoppers, refrigerator cars, and even stock cars and usually tailed by a red caboose… .
I was like a little boy, fascinated by the exotic names and logos of the different railway lines painted in gay circus colors on the sides of the railroad cars : The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, the Erie Lakawanna, the B&O, the Soo Line, the Union Pacific and the Canadian Pacific amongst others, repeating themselves in a long, enduring litany as the trains rolled on and on and on…
I dreamed of one day hitching a ride on one of those trains, as hoboes do in the movies, travelling across the entire country, watching the changing scenery rushing by, framed by the boxcar's open door…

Now, my decision was made. For the first time, I let myself fall from my cement balcony, sliding along the wall, blackened by the soot, and landing, more or less on my feet. It was a strange, exciting, new sensation being right down there beside the tracks. I hid myself in a dark cavity in the wall, waiting for the next train to pass.
After several fruitless attempts at catching a boxcar, I ended up in a open gondola or, rather, a hopper loaded with gravel. The exploit of catching a train in motion proved more difficult than I had imagined. In the first place, most of the boxcars were locked and sealed. The second difficulty is that they are higher from the ground than they seem. Also, even trains that appear to be moving slowly require you to be a good sprinter. Finally, grasping the cold metal ladder without having your arms ripped off takes a bit of training ; it's a very perilous gymnastic exercise…
In reality, the train I finally jumped didn't get me very far…. Anyway, I had succeeded in catching one and I could feel the exhilarating power of the locomotive far up front of the long line of cars and the thumping clatter of the wheels gliding along the rails : clickety-clack, clickety-clack, clickety-clack…. After plodding around the perimeter of the hopper discovering the sturdy, massive vehicle, I sat on the edge of the car for a while, but then resolved that it was less uncomfortable lying flat on my back settling into the gravel…
A few miles later, the train suddenly emerged into the blinding afternoon sunlight. Such Barrabas coming out of the salt mines…, when I recovered my sight, I distinguished the more suburban style of the surrounding architecture. Occasionally, kids hanging over the railings of an overhead pedestrian footbridge would wave their hands at the incongruous clandestine passenger, as the convoy rolled by…
Shortly, the train crossed an old steel railway bridge over the Harlem River through the Bronx and, thusly, gained the mainland of New York State. There, it gradually slowed almost to a stop arriving at a freight yard terminal, where the different types of freight cars were to be sorted. After countless jerking, bumping, screeching manoeuvres the hopper car stopped definitively. Looking over both sides of the car, I saw long networks of tracks lined with railroad cars of every description…
As evening was beginning to fall, I decided to seek shelter in one of the numerous boxcars I had seen parked in long lines. Cautiously, I descended the ladder jumping to the ground. Walking down a branch of tracks, I came to a line of grimy, faded red boxcars. Imagining I heard voices, I jumped into the first one I came upon with open doors. Inside, the rough wooden planks of the floor were strewn with flattened, heavy cardboard packaging material. I quickly laid down on one of them, covering myself with several others…
After an uneasy night, spent more or less in the same position, I was awakened by a new series of bumps and jerks. Hopefully thinking that this movement announced the beginning of a new voyage, I sat up and looked around seeing that it was morning. A few minutes later, the car came to a halt. Hearing voices, I slipped back under my cardboard covers and waited until the train would start moving again. Alas, it never did…
I, anxiously, heard someone climbing into the car. I tried to imagine if the intruder be friend or foe, when I perceived the sound of a broom sweeping the floor and the flattened boxes and steel strapping being pushed out of the big doors. Knowing that I could not avoid being discovered, I sprang up ready to run…
The man with the broom, a black railroad employee, was probably as surprised as I. He asked what I was doing, there. Seeing he meant no harm, I confessed that I was hoping to hitch a free ride on an outgoing train. He explained that this was simply a receiving yard and that no convoys were formed here. He indicated that freight trains were dispatched from a control centre further upstate…
.......

"Running scared : Memories of a young fugitive...", by Edward Ashley LAMB

Todger: 16th Jul 2008 - 17:02 GMT

I wonder if "rouge mathematicians" perform calculations using the red numbers that are often found on calendars ...? :-)

Silo: 20th Jul 2008 - 07:18 GMT

Hey stan when the guy was talking about it being dangerous at a certain point did he describe anything?

Also did he mean south from 116th street? im thinking about going down there and i dont wanna end up a missing persons lol

BILROCK 161: 21st Jul 2008 - 21:18 GMT

FREEDOM is a big fake. He was a toy who never paid his dues(what?, 10 pieces, maybe?), never got up, got his ass beat at NOGA, and hung out with other toys(eg. AW.). His perpetration into the annals of graf history is only now being scrutinized. FREEDOM aka.Chris Pape is also persona-non-grata with SA., RTW., and TR. He perped being an SA. member and sold unauthorized SA. swag. He didnt even give any of the bank to ALI's dieing mother. Yeah!, come back on this stuff FREEDOM??!!!!!

New Jack Hater: 22nd Jul 2008 - 00:39 GMT

But Bilrock, everyone knows who he is and has seen his stuff. Which is the exact opposite of you, which makes you a HATER.

Hate, hate, hate. Thats all you do on here. None of us have seen any of your stuff, and probably few (if any) would want to, assuming a single piece of your stuff is up anywhere (again, Pape's got you beat there, too). Apparently, over 100,000 people have seen and appreciated this post, not to count other websites and the cats who have gone down into the tunnel to see it for themselves, which is once again far higher than any number you can boast.

Nobody likes a hater, son, so don't be one. Just bud out and don't start some ego battle here. No one wants to see you whine in public.

BILROCK 161: 23rd Jul 2008 - 17:27 GMT

new-jack hater!!, the punk-bitch is back!!!. Man you are a sucker-assed toy if you think FREEDOM is someone. The joke is on you toyboy!!!. This proves that you are no one and know nothing about the real history of graf. Your words are pathetic. I quit writing probably before you were even born, I dont expect you to have seen my stuff. Like I told you before, I wrote with some of the best, TKID-170, MIN-ONE, QUIK, IZ, KEL, SHY-147, etc.,anyone and everyone that matters knows me. And who are you anyway?? you toy-assed coward. Ask ZEPHYR about FREEDOM, ask MIN about FREEDOM?, ask any oldskool writer and they will tell you the truth. Who the f___ are you anyway?!. I am a lover not a hater, I am interested in truth not perpetrations. However I think I actually do hate your cowardly racist toy-ass. Deal with it, I am back and I will enlighten some of the ignorant so deal with it.

caleb smackmedoo: 26th Jul 2008 - 18:23 GMT

i think this is awesome
that's all i have to say

Robert Taylor: 28th Jul 2008 - 22:46 GMT

BILROCK you are a hater, don't be upset because you didn't bomb hard enough to get your name out.. either that or no one had enough respect for you to leave your shit up.

Robert Taylor: 28th Jul 2008 - 22:53 GMT

How can you call someone a toy when you said
"I started writing because all the kids in the hood
and in school were doing it."
How unique and creative of you.

BILROCK 161: 30th Jul 2008 - 22:01 GMT

Robert Taylor/New Jack whatever your name is, Every writer started writing cause of their peers, be for real fool. I guess it matters not to you that any oldskool writer from the time will clearly say the same about Chris Pape. It means nothing that he lied about being a member of the Soul Artists(SA.)after ALI died??!!. Then sold SA. t-shirts and didnt give a dime to ALI's mother who was at the time dieing of cancer??!!. What is wrong with you?. I know....you are a nobody/nothing racist bitch, what do you possibly know about graf history. I was there-where were you?. So go ahead and suck FREEDOM's limp twizel stick, you are the clown here. Whats that.....ohh I can hear the world laughing at you. By the way, the only hater bloggin I have ever done is for you my lil racist toyboy. I have an idea?, go get Chris Pape and the both of you come see me at the RTW show coming this winter/2009 to NYC. The place and time will be announced. Then you can try to run your ignorant end game on me in person???????

Kenneth: 31st Jul 2008 - 13:35 GMT

Dear me, Bilrock. You would appear to have some anger management issues. Such profoundly bellicose sentiments suggest little more than a deep-seated resentment and apoplexy. Try counting to 10 before your next posting.

jd@thebestpartdesign.com: 31st Jul 2008 - 17:37 GMT

Beautiful stuff...I just added "Dark Days" to my Netflix queue.

JON RAWLINSON: 31st Jul 2008 - 20:25 GMT

brilliant photos!

cheers,
JON.
jonrawlinson.com

Leah Q: 31st Jul 2008 - 20:44 GMT

I have been through this tunnel yet only on a moving train... nice photos too! I love the different artists and their work - so sad so much is forgotten, yet you revive it all right here....thanks for sharing!

Movie Place: 7th Aug 2008 - 21:17 GMT

I vividly remember the yard south of 72nd Street. I remeber standing on top of a ventalation opening (all those grates that give the tunnel it's beautiful lighting effects) watching the fan on top of an engine turn. I counted cars as they moved by (Sesame Street for my generation). There was an exit at 101rst in the playground that is now a soccer field. We were always warned not to go down the stair as it was incredibly dangerous. Depending on who was giving the warning we would either be electricuted or run over by the trains. Everybody knew somebody who had a cousin that got his legs cut off by a train. Were where all these legless kids?

The tunnel's last frieght train was 2 box cars of frozen turkeys in 1980. The tunnel covers tracks that have been in pretty much the same spot since the mid 19th century. At one point they also served passengers as well as frieght.

Before I forget, THANK YOU FOR THIS SITE.

Man, I used to have some nice pieces up in there....: 11th Aug 2008 - 14:16 GMT

Man, Back in the early 90s... I used to have some nice pieces up in there.... XerxesOne, Central Park Posse (CPP)... )Sigh( No respect given to Freedom's art, from what I can see... Used to be almost gallery-like in there. These photos don't even cover 10% of what's down there.

Dam, was it the late 80's too...?: 11th Aug 2008 - 14:24 GMT

Shit, I guess late 80's too, my crew laid the base wall paint down for a lot of the pieces under the light shafts north of Freedom's pieces... So, my old works are probably under a few layers of new work... but hey... if you peel it back, we were still the first layer :)

burcu: 24th Aug 2008 - 12:44 GMT

great story, great photographs and great grafitti installations.

Maz, Netherne: 25th Aug 2008 - 00:24 GMT

Hi all,
I found this site quite by chance a couple of days ago. I found it when I Googled the name of my village not expecting to find anything much but boy was I wrong. I found out about something 5 minutes from my house that I had never seen and a whole lot more.
http://citynoise.org/article/4322
I went and found the place and took my own photos and added them. BUT . . .
Now I keep coming back to read all the other posts from around the world and this is my favourite so far. Very clever photography in a place I would of otherwise never seen. I can't walk round the other side of my village to see this like I did the grave yard I posted about. So thank you Peter, it's amazing.
I am now going to try and get hold of the film some of you mentioned and watch that too.
Maz
Netherne-On-The-Hill,
Surrey,
England,
U.K.

Aimee Hannon: 2nd Sep 2008 - 21:00 GMT

Just wanted to say the pictures are brilliant. So interesting and mysterious. Are there any pictures of the shanty towns that used to be there?
Galway, Ireland