For whatever reason I’ve never bothered to post photos of this station, despite myself and Ntwrkguy being the first to explore the place mere hours after it closed.
Recent History
In the early 2000s, the MTA began ‘simplifying’ the J/M/Z tunnel through lower manhattan. This former 4 track route was being cut back to 2 in service tracks (the former southbound ‘express’ and local tracks), with a third being the former northbound (Queens bound) local track.
I say “Express” because all of the stations on this route had platforms for trains on the middle ‘express’ tracks to stop on.
The goal of the simplification project was to allow for the abandonment of two former Queens bound platforms – at Bowery and Canal.
Canal Street’s History
The Canal street platform was a particularly strange one. The two ‘express’ tracks ended here. At the south end of the station there was a walkway where passengers could cross between the Brooklyn and Queens bound platforms. This passageway was blown out in 2002 to make way for the new alignment of the Queens-bound track (into the former stub ended Brooklyn bound express track).
Wall and passenger walkway removed in 2002
By 2004 the former Queens bound platforms were closed to the public. We were the only crew actively exploring subway tunnels at the time, and those who occasionally went tunneling didn’t know these platforms were being abandoned – so it was a relatively easy win to get in first.
What we found were platforms left exactly as they were when the last passenger train rolled through: signs still in place, minimal graffiti.
Former Queens bound track, looking North/east.
The Brown M
Former Queens bound Express/stub track – the trackway here has been reduced in length by nearly half – and replaced with locked MTA rooms
We also found a subway entrance that seemed to have been abandoned in the late 1990s. The old token booth was left in place, and intact. This was a non-standard token booth, covered in orange tile very similar in look to those found at the Broadway/49th street station (which was renovated with them in 1973)
Today the station still sits in silence. The last time I tried to visit, the lights were still on, and I could see a strange combination of a seated man reading a paper and a shirtless man wandering around the platform, seemingly bored. Workers? Cops? Crazy people? I wasn’t about to find out – I don’t run subway tunnels to socialize.
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I myself will explore Canal and Bowery. I’ve been thinking of doing this for a while but the only problem was that I was rather young. Now since I’m older, I’m pretty sure I can get my first taste of Exploring the Nyc subway tunnels like I’ve always intended to. But if my chances better, I do have some whom are willing to ride the tunnel night with me.
Always good to go with someone else. Canal-Bowery is nice & wide as long as you’re not on the active tracks for long it’s pretty safe. I heard rumors about cameras on bowery (have not seen them myself), and I always see weird people at canal, but all things considered, it’s one of the best tunnels to start with.
I’ve actually have seen recent footage of a motion sensor on the platform on some locked up doorway to the mezzanine. Best thing to evade it I guess is move slowly on the track. Thinking of calling off Canal-Bowery this weekend tho. Construction is active on the J in Manhattan so I’m switching it up and going to hit City Hall and 174th st Yard.
Last time I went here, my and my boys left someone at canal to watch for any cops that were around. Minutes after we went into the tunnel, an mta employee or cop(can’t remember), asked my friend if he saw us go into the tracks. They have to have some kind of camera or motion sensor.
Huh. I’ve heard similar stories about a camera at Bowery. I walked past a sensor in that area and nothing came of it (not sure if they sent anyone to look).
I had visited Bowery not too long ago, I checked and there wasn’t a motion sensor anymore on where it was located. I got unlucky when an employee had seen my presence as he walked down the stairs. Asked me if I was MTA employee myself. He was very kind for letting me off the hook so easily, just asked me to leave or cops might catch you. It’s ridiculous on how unlucky I got especially when Canal st was hotter that day as well.
I went to Canal like a month or so back. It was the middle of the night, and the abandoned side was devoid of life. Signs are still in place, and there’s a moderate amount of graffiti. I didn’t observe any motion sensors or cameras, and I stayed for a while and nobody came looking. If they were there, they’re gone now.
The token booth was part of an entrance on the southeast side of Canal and Centre street (see it briefly in The Devils Advocate with Pacino and Keanu Reeves). It was closed in 1996-7 as part of the Station Rehab of the Complex ahead of the track realignment that allowed for the closure of the uptown layup and active track platform. The downtown layup side was not active during the station rehab (tracks cut north of the station). During the rehab only infrastructure and essential repairs were undertaken. The JMZ complex has a lot more hidden areas too…
This spot is probably the creepiest spot I’ve ever checked out. My friend and I checked out the emergency exit with the escalator provision and then found the abandoned exit with the token booth. The emergency exit staircase was cool but the one with the red token booth though…it still gives me chills. Ridden with trash, the air was stale as hell and we were in and out to minimize our exposure to mold and asbestos. But I’m glad we were finally able to find those hidden relics.
Anybody down to show me a tunnel? I’m from an Indian reservation in SD and have been here in NYC with a Williamsburg gal(old williamsburg) settled down, for the past 3 years. lakotafuturevisions@G