smack in the middle of atlantic and court streets is a manhole you may not have noticed | |
it leads down into the atlantic avenue tunnel |
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built in 1845 and abandoned in 1861, it is considered the world's first underground train tunnel | |
tours are being offered again, led by bob diamond, who discovered the tunnel in the 1980s after many had forgotten and denied its existence | |
the arched brick ceiling of the cut-and-cover tunnel |
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a crowd gathers around bob to listen to tunnel history | |
built as part of the Long Island Railroad, this tunnel was originally intended as part of a system to facilitate faster travel between New York and Boston. you can still see the railroad ties and whitewashed ceiling. |
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the tunnel stretches off not into infinity, but to hicks street | |
improvised lighting | |
a view down the tunnel from the court st. side | |
humidity fogging up the entrance portal.
amazing. please go on the tunnel tour; brooklyn is lucky to have it. |
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