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Shit Track

May 10th, 2012 by



You might be surprised to learn that most NYC subway tunnels are devoid of rats. The rats, you see, only live around the station platforms - because that is where the food is. Deeper into the tunnels, where few humans go and less carry their lunches, there's no food to live off of. That is, unless a homeless person has been present.


Most of the homeless have been removed from the NYC subway tunnels, but a few still go in and live for awhile - and sometimes, their trash doesn't get scooped up on the way out.

This is one such location, which I've come to call the 'shit track'. Removed from service a decade ago, this stub track has been severed at the switch from parallel tracks - creating a long unused, broken down trackway where hipster tourist photographers enjoy a relatively safe trip underground and where a homeless person can set up camp right in the middle of the track and cart in all the garbage they want.

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  • About The Author

    Bad Guy Joe

    Bad Guy Joe
    Bad Guy Joe knows more about the NYC underground than anyone else on or below the surface of this planet. He has spent nearly 30 years sneaking into NYC's more forbidden locations. When not underground, he's probably bitching about politicians or building something digital. 
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