Adventures on the 6 line...

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After a few glasses of sangria, one is most apt to do the strangest things. Today, I think I broke the law.

I've heard rumor of late that if you ride the 6 line downtown and stay on the train after the last stop, you can catch a quick (illicit) peek at the old City Hall station as the subway makes it's U-turn to return to the uptown track. Today, I tried it. After a meeting some friends at ABC Carpets for a few drinks (there's a great cafe there, by the way), instead of heading home on the uptown 6, I took the downtown route to the Brooklyn Bridge station... and beyond...

Located under City Hall Park, the City Hall Station is reputedly one of the world's most beautiful former subway stations. Closed to the public since 1945, no trains have stopped and no passengers have boarded or disembarked here for over 60 years. Stay on the train (provided the motorman allows you to do so) and you can get a peek at it. I picked a seat in the far end of the car, and against the wall of the train, in case there were transit officials looking out for me... (either they didn't see me, or they just didn't care) and you can glimpse just a fleeting moment of its beauty.

Not too long ago, the Transit Museum conducted occasional tours of the old station, but these were eliminated in mid-1998 because of growing concerns of the Giuliani administration over possible terrorist attacks on City Hall, which stands above the station (see photo below.) Tours picked up again until the September 11th, 2001 attacks when they were shut down completely. Officially, there are no tours available. However, twice a year, members of the NYC Transit Museum have opportunities to access the station during a special, otherwise unadvertised tour.

Tonight, I took the unauthorized - and illegal - tour. And since no lights were on at the station, I couldn't see much, nor could I snap any photos... All I could see (by cupping my hands against the window) was the City Hall lettering on the station platform, and a beautifully tiled archway leading into what looked like another room. It looks like I missed quite a bit, though...

Aaah, a peek into the unknown... What a tease! It's almost worth the $40 membership fee to join and see if I can get into the official unofficial tour. Judging from these photos I've found on the web, it may well be worth the effort...

P.S. Hippo Birdies to my most fabulous bro-in-law, my most fabulous nephew #4, and boneyard.

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