So a couple of weeks ago I was walking down the street and PSE&G was doing some maintenance underground. I asked one of the workers what it was like down there and he let me take a look down the manhole he was working in. Inside there seemed to be a pretty large room, so I decided to come back later and take a look. I went back after the crew had left to do a little recon. The manhole cover had a bell on it, which is what makes me think it was once used by Bell telephone. After Bell broke up other telecom companies probably started to use it, and they just never changed the manhole cover. Is my assumption correct that it is for some kind of telecom cables? Has anyone ever been in one of these types of tunnels? Is it worth taking a look? (On a side note, the manhole is not in the middle of the road, I'm not that crazy)

Usually it’s sometimes a room with just small access holes to run wires through. I doubt it goes anywhere but you never know. Grab a manhole hook and take a look!

Posted by Rinzler Usually it’s sometimes a room with just small access holes to run wires through. I doubt it goes anywhere but you never know. Grab a manhole hook and take a look!

Does a crowbar work as well as a manhole hook? I'm sure I can get a manhole hook at any hardware store, but I already own several crowbars.

Posted by Nihil Novi Does a crowbar work as well as a manhole hook? I'm sure I can get a manhole hook at any hardware store, but I already own several crowbars.

That is active communication infrastructure.
If you get caught there, during or -after- the fact you may get more than you bargained for.
The FBI still makes house calls... if it seems like a bad idea, it probably is.
&
Make sure to post the pics here

Posted by blackhawk That is active communication infrastructure. If you get caught there, during or -after- the fact you may get more than you bargained for. The FBI still makes house calls... if it seems like a bad idea, it probably is. & Make sure to post the pics here

Do you think I can get the arresting agent to take a selfie with me?

Posted by Nihil Novi Do you think I can get the arresting agent to take a selfie with me?

Pics or it never happened... a mugshot will suffice in your case.

Posted by Nihil Novi Does a crowbar work as well as a manhole hook? I'm sure I can get a manhole hook at any hardware store, but I already own several crowbars.

Probably not. You can try but most of the time you need a small hook to slide under the manhole and lift it. Try looking for a hay bale hook also. They’re like 8 bucks...

Posted by Rinzler Probably not. You can try but most of the time you need a small hook to slide under the manhole and lift it. Try looking for a hay bale hook also. They’re like 8 bucks...

I might actually own a hay bale hook, I'll give it a shot

Posted by Nihil Novi I might actually own a hay bale hook, I'll give it a shot

$18.99 at Home Depot.

https://www.homede...uOZ9oaAijkEALw_wcB

In any case...

There aren't actual tunnels between manholes. There are precast concrete ducts which consist of several 4" diameter tubes to pull the cables through.

Under those manhole covers is basically a concrete box with a bunch of holes in the wall for cable to go through.

Even the ConEd electric tunnels under the rivers are just ducts with cables in them.

The basements of TELCO buildings are about as interesting as it gets for underground cable infrastructure.

Posted by Radio2600 $18.99 at Home Depot. https://www.homede...uOZ9oaAijkEALw_wcB In any case... There aren't actual tunnels between manholes. There are precast concrete ducts which consist of several 4" diameter tubes to pull the cables through. Under those manhole covers is basically a concrete box with a bunch of holes in the wall for cable to go through. Even the ConEd electric tunnels under the rivers are just ducts with cables in them. The basements of TELCO buildings are about as interesting as it gets for underground cable infrastructure. click to view

Well, that's disappointing. Cool picture, though. I'll probably look anyway, once the opportunity presents itself.

Posted by Nihil Novi Well, that's disappointing. Cool picture, though. I'll probably look anyway, once the opportunity presents itself.

Definitely.

It never hurts to look.

If you have an interest in telecom, look up the "Miracle on Second Ave". That's NY Telephone miracle, not the Hare Krishna story of the same name.

The TELCO miracle was effort to get the phone network back online after a lower Manhattan CO caught fire.

This will get you started:

http://techchannel...enue-Bonus-Edition

Posted by Radio2600 Definitely. It never hurts to look. If you have an interest in telecom, look up the "Miracle on Second Ave". That's NY Telephone miracle, not the Hare Krishna story of the same name. The TELCO miracle was effort to get the phone network back online after a lower Manhattan CO caught fire. This will get you started: http://techchannel...enue-Bonus-Edition

Sounds cool, I'll look into that.

Posted by Nihil Novi Sounds cool, I'll look into that.

I would confine your looking to what's on the Internet.
In NYC and other large urban areas you can run into smart cam networks.
They can be very hard to spot.
If so, you can bet that manhole is zoned to set off a breach alert as the network cams/computer documents your every move.
This is a 911 hotspot; critical com infrastructure.


This is what they are revealing however these systems are capable of much more like near instant facial ID. You have a photo DL?

Interestingly the author of this article doesn't fully convey smart cam technology's full capabilities. There are glaring omissions.
The cam is not what makes it a smart cam; it's the computer(s) that network them together. So his assertion that there's only specific police smart cams may erroneous. There maybe specific image size requirements for the cams but this technology is well beyond the trial development stage. Any fixed position cam most likely can be integrated into the system if they take the time to program it in. Remember this; you'll most likely never spot a cam unless they want you to.
It was the FBI that at least initially set up these urban networks in the early 2000's. It's very likely they still are actively involved. In other words it's a complete crap shoot what you'll be walking into.

https://www.reuter...SL2N0EV0D220130621

Coming from a fellow New Jerseyan, I wouldn't be messing around with that stuff in Essex County especially. That's just me. I've never had any interest or desire on drains and tunnels. But I know Essex County and this type of thing would not go over well in that area.