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November 1997 Going Underground By Julie Hughes

The air was crisp and smelled like Fall as I zipped up my sweater and walked down Lafayette Street. My destination? A Train Master Tour, sponsored and run by the New York Transit Museum. I had no idea what to expect; I only knew that we would be exploring the abandoned Worth Street subway station between Canal Street and City Hall. Two museum workers in orange MTA vests were standing on the corner of Canal and Lafayette waiting for us to show up. I paid my $9 and was handed a flashlight.

By 1pm, the two MTA leaders, myself and about 10 others headed underground to the 6 train to begin our tour. Taking the train for a short ride, we suddenly stopped and were told to step out onto a pitch black platform and turn on our lights. Now, as a born and bred New Yorker, it takes quite a bit to amuse, scare or shock me. But this was an experience I will not soon forget. Once our train pulled away, we were immersed in total darkness -- the only light being the faint glimmer from the next station in the distance and our own dim flashlights. Frank Klimasc, the tour leader, warned us to watch for the abundant debris underfoot. He explained the history of the station, how after 58 years it was closed in 1962 because it didn't serve a use anymore. We touched the signal sign, built right onto the platform, as well as the remains of the wooden token booth and signs, all covered in soot and dust. I asked Frank if he had ever seen any "mole people" (the homeless who live in the tunnels) and he replied that he had -- in this station! Hoping to meet some of them, I wandered down the tunnel, reading the massive and in some cases beautiful graffiti that festoons the walls.

We ended the tour at the Brooklyn Bridge station, where we toured the tower, control area and dispatcher's office. Traveling and exploring the abandoned station was one of the spookiest things I've ever done. Tours take place every Wednesday at 1pm at different locations and with different topics. Be warned: tours are scheduled to last for only 50 minutes but tend to run late. The Transit Museum also runs longer tours, lasting about four hours, on the weekend. There are seven abandoned stations: City Hall Station, 18th Street-Park Avenue South, Myrtle Avenue-Flatbush Avenue, 91st Street-Broadway, Worth Street, and Dean Street. The Transit Museum is located at Brooklyn's Court Street Station. For tours, call the Transit Museum, 718-243-8601.

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