| smack in the middle of atlantic and court streets is a manhole you may not have noticed |  |
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it leads down into the atlantic avenue tunnel |
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| built in 1845 and abandoned in 1861, it is considered the world's first underground train tunnel |  |
| tours are being offered again, led by bob diamond, who discovered the tunnel in the 1980s after many had forgotten and denied its existence |  |
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the arched brick ceiling of the cut-and-cover tunnel |
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| a crowd gathers around bob to listen to tunnel history |  |
built as part of the Long Island Railroad, this tunnel was originally intended as part of a system to facilitate faster travel between New York and Boston. you can still see the railroad ties and whitewashed ceiling. |
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| the tunnel stretches off not into infinity, but to hicks street |  |
| improvised lighting |  |
| a view down the tunnel from the court st. side |
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humidity fogging up the entrance portal.
amazing. please go on the tunnel tour; brooklyn is lucky to have it. |
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