NYC's Oldest abandoned underground station + The Park Avenue / Murray Hill Tunnel

The Murray Hill Tunnel is one of the oldest tunnels in NYC, containing the oldest abandoned station in NYC.
Currently, the tunnel is closed to vehicular traffic and has become a strange ly accessible oasis of self-autonomy in the middle of Manhattan.
The first time I visited, it was a roaring loud subterranean speedway.
Presently (2023) it’s dead quiet-until someone with a boom box shows up, or dudes on motorcycles and scooters spin around wilding out. Every time I’m down there something different pops off.
The next iteration of this tunnel will be far more boring than the current situation. The walls will apparently be cleaned, and carbon-death-spiral polluting vehicles are slated to return. So let’s enjoy this blip in the swagger matrix while we can.
#abandoned
#abandonedtrains
#trains
#urbanexploration
#urbanexploring
For more Urban Exploration (mostly NYC), check out ltvsquad.com
All photographs & video copyright 2024.
Sound effects courtesy:
VS Pop_8.mp3 by Vilkas_Sound -- freesound.org/s/463392/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

[@user-nl7we4fq1e]

After reading all of the comments I guess I must add mine. Just after the 33rd st. station on the IRT North look to the left and you can see the curved entrance to the Original stop at Grand Central station! Now it is the Shuttle stop. The IRT went from the lower east side to the upper west side; now the 123 line…

[@ltvsquad]

Indeed! There's a similar track on the southbound side but it's harder to spot. Some of the trackway of this original iRT route was turned into work spaces. I haven't been back there in ages but it's a cool 'dead' tunnel.

[@user-nl7we4fq1e]

@@ltvsquad back in the 90’s I went thru there on a museum excursion!

[@1575murray]

@@ltvsquad The southbound local track has a track connection to Track 1 of the shuttle. At Times Square the northbound local track has a similar connection to Track 4. There is no connection between the two shuttle tracks.

[@andydickey]

Nice video, but a correction - the express tracks on the IRT Park Ave line are not lower - the local tracks are higher at the stations. When designed, the IRT used gravity to help slow their trains into stations by going a bit uphill, then used gravity again to help get the trains up to speed by going downhill. Back then the traction motors that drove the trains were not as powerful as they are now. Ride the express and you can see the local tracks get higher for each station and then lower again out of the station.

[@ltvsquad]

That's part of it. The rest is this tunnel right above it.

[@pilsudski36]

Yes. The old elevated structures were designed the same way.

[@trainluvr]

I made a video thoroughly showing the art exhibit in 2013. It is one of my least viewed videos. Most people simply do not care. Thousands enjoyed that day yet no decent videos appeared the time I searched a few days after it happened.

[@ltvsquad]

I bet it would have gotten way more traction if they didn't do it as a one off show vs. having it a regular space that people become curious about.

[@davidjaslow6458]

They should make it a permanent art gallery for unknown artists in a r monthly rotation .

[@JuanJDumeP]

Kids have ebike races down there

[@AbandonedCityCamoCrewExplorers]

Nice to see this ,we explore stuff like this .thank you

[@AbandonedCityCamoCrewExplorers]

4.05 in seen this in movies ,now know this tunnel

[@jesussavesnyc]

Wow! U did your research..I enjoyed it

[@davejefferynf]

Nicely done.

[@edwordwhy9491]

Mayor Swagger, bwa hahahaha!!!!!

[@tommyholiday9880]

Now Joe you do know that the Atlantic Ave tunnel that was Bob Diamond's playground is the cities oldest dating back to 1844.

[@ltvsquad]

I DO know that, but it had no station, and Brooklyn was still its own city at the time.
(I knew you'd call this out, so I was ready and waiting lol)

[@blankface_]

Love this spot as well. Any idea about future plans for the tunnel?

[@ltvsquad]

I was bummed to learn that if & when the city gets around to fixing some water mains in and around it, they intend to simply reopen it to traffic.
It would be a far better split cycling/pedestrian path filled with art.

[@Urbex_Undergroundexploring22]

Where is this place

[@celebrityrog]

Should be used as a bike and walking path to get through midtown faster.

[@ltvsquad]

I'm 500% for this.

[@Mr.A_nyc]

That's what it's been used for the past few years.

[@mattkennedy6115]

Or even for emergency drainage for flooding

[@jugandoclasicos]

Great place for Banksy Masterpieces