By now, you’ve probably already seen a sneak peek at some images from my adventure into the Freedom Tunnel. It truly is a magical and peaceful place that really is as cool as everybody says.

My recount of the day’s events is inside, but if you really just want to see pictures, you can head over here to the Freedom Tunnel gallery.

So on Saturday, Simon and I decided to go to the Freedom Tunnel around late morning/early afternoon so we could get the best light. When we got there, we climbed up the small hill between the offramp and the train tracks and before we knew it, we were in. The hardest part was done.

Walking along the tracks and before you hit the entrance to the tunnel, there is absolutely no covering from the cars driving by on the highway, so expect at least some stares. A few yards from the fence entrance, we were both greeted by the so-called 125th Street tunnel entrance with litter strewn about everywhere. As soon as we entered the tunnel the temperature dropped dramatically and the sunlight began to fade quickly (gloves and a good jacket are a must during the Winter). With the exception of the  grates along Riverside Park above us, there was no other source of light. A flashlight is a must if you want to see anything beyond those grates.

Depending on when you go, you may encounter a homeless person who calls the tunnel their home. Simon and I talked briefly with one and he seemed rather friendly and inviting of people like us who were in there to explore. He told us that there were approximately 7 homeless people living near the 125th Street entrance to the tunnel. There were sections along the wall that looked like homeless dens, but I honestly could not see a person (I guess my eyes weren’t adjusted yet).

We asked the man how often cops come down here to check the place out for trespassers and he said they hardly ever come down when the weather is cold, although they are known to drive their van into the tunnel to pick up homeless people and get them out of the tunnel in the Summer (there was proof of this along the tunnel sides where you could clearly see tire tracks — a picture of this is in the gallery link below).

Anyway, as you walk further into the tunnel, you become enveloped with graffiti and debris spanning several decades. The amount of garbage leftover from the initial clearing of the tunnel is astonishing. There are bicycles, newspapers, bottles of all sorts, stuffed animals, blankets, clothing, and electronics all compacted and stuck together by the passing of time. At one point near the middle of the tunnel, there’s a trash mound that probably has not been moved for decades.

Two of the things I thought I would see but didn’t were rats and cats. Instead, Simon and I came across several dead raccoons, one of which was sliced in half by the train (pictures of this in the gallery, too).

Which now brings me to the topic of trains. A common misconception about this tunnel is that it is abandoned, but it isn’t. Amtrak actively uses the tunnel which means that we had to be pretty alert and careful of inbound and outbound trains. I mentioned it briefly in a previous post, but these Amtak trains are hard to hear sometimes, especially with the noise from the park above and the random dripping water noises all along the tunnel. The first train Simon and I encountered freaked the heck out of us and I didn’t even know it was coming until I saw the light. However, when the train is right in front of you, it is quite loud, but the rush of being relatively close to such a train is pretty neat. We just didn’t want to be like those raccoons.

Simon and I walked down to about maybe 100th Street before turning back around to head back out. The tunnel continues further, but we didn’t keep going this time around. The one thing that’s peculiar about the tunnel is that it’s hard to get a sense of time down there. We spent about 2 and a half hours down there walking approximately 50+ city blocks.

So if you’re interested in going in, I suggest wearing good shoes (the rocks are hard to walk on and there’s lots of hazardous debris that you probably wouldn’t want cutting you) and bringing a flashlight. Of course, a camera would be nice too and if possible, a tripod and an extra battery depending on how much you plan on shooting. I’d probably suggest a hat too to protect yourself from the dripping ceiling, but it’s pretty easy to avoid if you’ve got a flashlight.

Check out my set of photos from the Freedom Tunnel here (taken March 21, 2009).