Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours Saved! BP Markowitz Prevails Upon Bob Diamond

On Wednesday, Bob Diamond — discoverer of the long-lost Long Island Railroad tunnel under Atlantic Avenue — informed the Brooklyn Eagle that he was packing it in and leaving Brooklyn.

Diamond has been long frustrated by the city's bureaucracy in his attempts to break through a back wall of the Atlantic Avenue tunnel in search of a long-rumored historic locomotive, and in his dream to rebuild Brooklyn's trolley system.

“The last public tunnel tour will be on Sept. 12. After that, I’m discontinuing them and leaving Brooklyn,” he told the Eagle. The monthly Atlantic Avenue Tunnel tours, where flashlight-bearing urban spelunkers climb down into a half-mile ling, cavelike tunnel deep under the avenue (near Trader Joe's), attract hundreds.

Many were disappointed and shocked by this news, including Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.

So yesterday, Markowitz called Diamond and prevailed upon him to continue the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel tours, according to the Brooklyn Eagle.

This is a great news. When we heard that Diamond was leaving we said, "Whatever the reason, Brooklyn loses when Diamond moves out."

Now we can say, "Brooklyn gains when Diamond stays!"

The latest from the Eagle here. 

UPDATE: Bob Diamond comments here.


- Atlantic Tunnel's Bob Diamond Leaving Brooklyn? Say It Ain't So!
- Quite a Crowd for Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour 
- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Is Probably Haunted
- What's Behind the Wall? Atlantic Ave. Tunnel Mystery
- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel: What's Behind the Wall?
- Let Them Laugh: Bob Diamond's Brooklyn Trolley Idea Gains Traction
- Mole People Back in Brooklyn?
- Lineup For Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour
- Brooklyn Spelunking: Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours Return

Photos copyright MK Metz
Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Atlantic Tunnel's Bob Diamond Leaving Brooklyn? Say It Ain't So!

Bob Diamond — discoverer of the long-lost Long Island Railroad tunnel under Atlantic Avenue — informed the Brooklyn Eagle Wednesday that he is retiring and leaving Brooklyn. (See update below.)

Diamond's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel tours, where urban spelunkers climb deep into the cool, cave like tunnel under one of Brooklyn's busiest streets, attract hundreds (to the intersection just steps away from Trader Joe's) every month.

Diamond discovered the tunnel in 1981, after hearing about the legend of a Civil War era rail tunnel on a radio show. After an eight-month search (during which he was repeated advised by City officials to give up on his lost cause) he dramatically uncovered, intact, the world's first subway tunnel.

“The last public tunnel tour will be on Sept. 12. After that, I’m discontinuing them and leaving Brooklyn,” he told the Eagle.

Diamond has been long frustrated by the city's bureaucracy in his attempts to break through a back wall of the Atlantic Avenue tunnel in search of a long-rumored historic locomotive, and in his dream to rebuild Brooklyn's trolley system.

He accused Joseph Palmieri, the city Department of Transportation’s Brooklyn commissioner, of "sitting on grants" secured by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and others that could have been used for a streetcar system in the borough.

National Geographic Television had expressed interest in filming a TV show in which crews would break through one of the Atlantic Avenue tunnel’s walls to see if the historic locomotive was hidden there. Diamond blamed city bureaucracy for holding up the necessary permits.

This is just sad. Perhaps it's Diamond's fault, or perhaps the city just doesn't have the energy or money for a quirky dreamer anymore.

Whatever the reason, Brooklyn loses when Diamond moves out.

Full story at the Brooklyn Eagle.

UPDATE: BP Marty Markowitz may have just saved the day! See here. 

- Quite a Crowd for Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour 
- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Is Probably Haunted
- What's Behind the Wall? Atlantic Ave. Tunnel Mystery
- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel: What's Behind the Wall?
- Let Them Laugh: Bob Diamond's Brooklyn Trolley Idea Gains Traction
- Mole People Back in Brooklyn?
- Lineup For Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour
- Brooklyn Spelunking: Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours Return

Some video and photos of the interior here.

Photos copyright MK Metz
Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Quite a Crowd for Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour This Past Sunday

The crowds seemed to be bigger than ever this past Sunday for Bob Diamond's famous tour of the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel. Folks were lined up all along the length of Trader Joe's at Atlantic and Court Streets in Cobble Hill.

Maybe they came after reading the recent article in the Brooklyn Eagle suggesting that the tunnel is haunted. (Seriously.)

Every once in a while a group would detach and move to the center of Atlantic Avenue, protected from traffic by a few sawhorses and a couple of plastic barriers (just a bit more substantial than the simple orange cones used in days past).

Diamond discovered the long-lost tunnel -- which runs under Atlantic Avenue between Boerum Place and Hicks Street) in 1981, after hearing about the legend of a Civil War era rail tunnel on a radio show. After an eight-month search (during which he was repeated advised by City officials to give up on his lost cause) he dramatically uncovered, intact, the world's first subway tunnel.


Once you actually see what you're getting into, it might give you a moment of pause. You do have to climb down a hole which leads deep under Atlantic Avenue!

But you can (probably) do it!

(These tours are for the relatively hardy. Wear sneakers and bring a powerful flashlight.) Also, visit the web site of Diamond's Brooklyn Historic Railway Association.

Some video and photos of the interior here.

- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Is Probably Haunted
- What's Behind the Wall? Atlantic Ave. Tunnel Mystery
- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel: What's Behind the Wall?
- Let Them Laugh: Bob Diamond's Brooklyn Trolley Idea Gains Traction
- Mole People Back in Brooklyn?
- Lineup For Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour
- Brooklyn Spelunking: Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours Return

Photos by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Is Probably Haunted

We at McBrooklyn have written often about Brooklyn's amazing Atlantic Avenue Tunnel, discovered by Bob Diamond. (See links below.)

Diamond discovered the long-lost tunnel -- which runs under Atlantic Avenue between Boerum Place and Hicks Street -- in 1981, after hearing about the legend of a Civil War era rail tunnel on a radio show. After an eight-month search (during which he was repeatedly advised by City officials to give up on his lost cause) he struck gold -- uncovering, intact, the world's first subway tunnel.

Now (just in time for Halloween) an article in the Brooklyn Eagle reveals what may be evidence that the tunnel is haunted.

Fact: There have been sightings of a hovering green orb with a “sickish color."

Fact: Sleuths from both the Long Island Oddities and Paranormal Society and the Long Island Society for Paranormal Research have taken their voice recorders, electromagnetic field detectors and cameras into the tunnel, hoping to capture concrete proof of the haunting.

Fact: Numerous souls have met an unpleasant demise in the lonely tunnel deep below Atlantic Ave., including one body that was chopped up and embedded in the tunnel wall.

Fact: Huge spikes on electromagnetic field detectors have been recorded in the tunnel.

Fact: We still don't know What's Behind the Wall . . .

And there's more. Read all of the hair-raising details at the Brooklyn Eagle.

- What's Behind the Wall? Atlantic Ave. Tunnel Mystery
- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel: What's Behind the Wall?
- Mole People Back in Brooklyn?
- Lineup For Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour
- Brooklyn Spelunking: Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours Return

Photo by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Let Them Laugh: Bob Diamond's Brooklyn Trolley Idea Gains Traction

For years, they laughed at Bob Diamond for his "crazy" plan to bring trolleys back to Brooklyn -- but they're not laughing now.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave his support last month, and now Brooklyn Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez is calling for funding for a Red Hook trolley system. According to the Brooklyn Eagle, in her request for funding in the 2010 surface transportation bill, she has included $10 million for “design and construction of a light rail system along the Brooklyn waterfront from Red Hook to Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn, N.Y.”

Mr. Diamond (famous for discovering the long-lost Atlantic Avenue Tunnel, the world's first subway tunnel) suffered numerous setbacks in trying to bring trolleys back to Brooklyn. The trolley cars stacked up behind Fairway in Red Hook (shown above, as they looked in 2007) are left-overs from an attempt of Diamond's that came too early in Brooklyn's redevelopment.

Some folks are against the trolleys. When we wrote about Diamond's idea two years ago, one commenter remarked, "If Mr. Diamond wants to play with trains, he should do it at home, with his little conductor hat on." (None-the-less, the majority who commented were in favor of bringing them back.)

Diamond told the Eagle that “This idea [mentioned by Velázquez] is precisely what I called “Brooklyn Heritage Trolley Project [BHRA] Phase 3” back in 2002. In fact, I believe the $10,000,000 sum comes from a TEA-21 [Transportation Equity Act] grant application we submitted at that time, but the city declined to sponsor it.”

Red Hook Trolley Idea Picks Up Support Brooklyn Eagle

- He Might Be Crazy -- But Wouldn't You Love to Take the Trolley in Brooklyn?
- What's Behind the Wall? Atlantic Ave. Tunnel Mystery
- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel: What's Behind the Wall?
- Mole People Back in Brooklyn?
- Lineup For Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour
- Brooklyn Spelunking: Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours Return

Photo copyright MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

'What's Behind the Wall?' Atlantic Ave. Tunnel Mystery Picks Up Steam With CNN Coverage

CNN's Eric Landford (video above) has picked up on the amazing Bob Diamond/Atlantic Avenue Tunnel story, which we've followed here at McBrooklyn over the past couple of years (see links below).

Diamond discovered the long-lost tunnel -- which runs under Atlantic Avenue between Boerum Place and Hicks Street -- in 1981, after hearing about the legend of a Civil War era rail tunnel on a radio show. After an eight-month search (during which he was repeatedly advised by City officials to give up on his lost cause) he struck gold -- uncovering, intact, the world's first subway tunnel.

Diamond is Brooklyn's keeper and historian of this historic, cave-like expanse. Down in it's cool, otherworldly recesses, he tells of its building (by hundreds of Irish workers in seven months, including one murder), how it was used and where it led.

Trey Nelsen and Jerry Kolber are producing a movie about the tunnel and what Diamond believes is hidden behind a bulkhead wall at its west end: a steam locomotive from the 1830's -- and (possibly) some pages from the diary of John Wilkes Booth. (See WhatsBehindTheWall.com)

Diamond is now trying to get permission and funds to knock down the wall. Even if no train is found, the movie is about a regular guy who pursued his dream, the filmmakers say.

(Aside: We at McBrooklyn once spoke to an old timer who told us that he had seen a bit of a train, when he was a boy, from a hole in the wall of an Atlantic Ave. basement.)

The next tour takes place June 7. (Wear sneakers and bring a powerful flashlight.) Visit the web site of Diamond's Brooklyn Historic Railway Association.

- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel: What's Behind the Wall?
- Mole People Back in Brooklyn?
- Lineup For Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour
- Brooklyn Spelunking: Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours Return

Read the history of the Bob Diamond discovery of the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel at the Brooklyn Eagle.

Photos copyright MK Metz, 2009

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel -- What's Behind the Wall?

Bob Diamond's famous Atlantic Avenue Tunnel tour took place again Sunday (the open manhole cover at Atlantic and Court Streets is the only outward sign of all the activity taking place in the tunnel under the street).

Diamond discovered the long-lost tunnel -- which runs under Atlantic Avenue between Boerum Place and Hicks Street -- in 1981, after hearing about the legend of a Civil War era rail tunnel on a radio show. After an eight-month search (during which he was repeatedly advised by City officials to give up on his lost cause) he struck gold -- uncovering, intact, the world's first subway tunnel.

Diamond is now trying to get permission and funds knock down a wall at the west end of the tunnel. He thinks there may be a perfectly preserved locomotive from the 1800s behind the wall -- or even the missing pages of Booth's diary that list the conspirators involved in Lincoln's death.

Trey Nelson (WhatsBehindTheWall.com) is producing a movie about the tunnel. Here's a snippet from the film:



Story UPDATED HERE.

- Mole People Back in Brooklyn?
- Lineup For Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour
- Brooklyn Spelunking: Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours Return
- He Might Be Crazy -- But Wouldn't You Love to Take the Trolley in Brooklyn?
- The Tunnel Rats of Atlantic Avenue NY Times

Photo by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Mole People Back in Brooklyn?

Naw -- it's another Atlantic Avenue Tunnel tour, captured by correspondent Lucien on his cell phone.

He wrote in: "Thought you might find this interesting - I saw a child climbing out of a manhole in the middle of Court and Atlantic as I went by . . ."

Interesting, you betcha! The Atlantic Avenue tunnel is one of our favorite pieces of Brooklynalia. Back in July of 2007, we discovered that Bob Diamond's famous Atlantic Avenue Tunnel tour had started up again, after a hiatus of roughly five years.

Diamond discovered the long-lost tunnel -- which runs under Atlantic Avenue between Boerum Place and Hicks Street) in 1981, after hearing about the legend of a Civil War era rail tunnel on a radio show. After an eight-month search (during which he was repeatedly advised by City officials to give up on his lost cause) he struck gold -- uncovering, intact, the world's first subway tunnel.

To see photo and video of the tunnel, see here.
More about the tunnel, see here.

Photo by Lucien

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Line Up for Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour

The crowds lined up all day Sunday for Bob Diamond's famous tour of the Atlantic Avenue tunnel.

The tour started up again last summer, after a hiatus of roughly five years.

Diamond discovered the long-lost tunnel -- which runs under Atlantic Avenue between Boerum Place and Hicks Street) in 1981, after hearing about the legend of a Civil War era rail tunnel on a radio show. After an eight-month search (during which he was repeated advised by City officials to give up on his lost cause) he struck gold -- uncovering, intact, the world's first subway tunnel.

- Brooklyn Spelunking: Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours Return
- He Might Be Crazy -- But Wouldn't You Love to Take the Trolley in Brooklyn?

He Might Be Crazy -- But Wouldn't You Love to Take the Trolley in Brooklyn?

Brooklyn's authentic trolley aficionado Bob Diamond, discoverer of the Atlantic Avenue train tunnel (see McBrooklyn's photos and video of the awesome underground tour here) wants to get Brooklyn's trolleys running again through the famous tunnel under Atlantic Avenue, as shown below, from the waterfront to Boerum Place.

Mr. Diamond has suffered numerous setbacks. The trolley cars stacked up behind Fairway in Red Hook (photo, above) are left-overs from a previous trolley attempt of Diamond's that came just a little too early in Brooklyn's redevelopment.

The powers that be don't appear to be jumping on the concept of real, live trolleys (not those buses painted to look like trolleys) running a loop from, say, Jay Street/Borough Hall, along Atlantic to Brooklyn Bridge Park. According to a recent article in the Daily News, officials say shuttle buses to the park have worked just fine.

But there's something that doesn't want a dream to die. Okay, he might be crazy -- but wouldn't it be fun to take a real trolley in Brooklyn?

See Diamond's Brooklyn Historic Railway Association web site.

See Forgotten-NY Trolleys, Diamond in the Rough, for a tiny glimpse of the history behind Diamond's trolley adventures.

Photos of Atlantic Avenue tunnel and trolley cars by MK Metz

Brooklyn Spelunking: Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours Return

Bob Diamond's famous Atlantic Avenue Tunnel tour has started up again, after a hiatus of roughly five years. Diamond discovered the long-lost tunnel -- which runs under Atlantic Avenue between Boerum Place and Hicks Street) in 1981, after hearing about the legend of a Civil War era rail tunnel on a radio show. After an eight-month search (during which he was repeated advised by City officials to give up on his lost cause) he struck gold -- uncovering, intact, the world's first subway tunnel.



Diamond is Brooklyn's keeper and historian of this historic, cave-like expanse. Down in it's cool, otherworldly recesses, he tells of its building (by hundreds of Irish workers in seven months, including one murder), how it was used and where it led, and what may lie under the unfinished end.

Call 718-941-3160 to reserve a spot on a tour. See the video for a snippet of Sunday's excursion. (These tours are for the relatively hardy. Wear sneakers and bring a powerful flashlight.) Also, visit the web site of Diamond's Brooklyn Historic Railway Association.

UPDATE: The Brooklyn Eagle has more about the tunnel and this tour here.

FURTHER UPDATES:
- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Is Probably Haunted
- What's Behind the Wall? Atlantic Ave. Tunnel Mystery
- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel: What's Behind the Wall?
- Let Them Laugh: Bob Diamond's Brooklyn Trolley Idea Gains Traction
- Mole People Back in Brooklyn?
- Lineup For Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour

Photos and video by MK Metz