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.

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.

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