I first discovered this drain in February of 2020 after what was likely several hours of online research. I finally dug up an old document that contained all the information I needed, including the location of the entrance to the drain. I later learned, through firsthand exploring experience, that this one entrance serves as the gateway to an entire network of tunnels that run for several miles underneath many residential streets and parks.
I've visited this drain many times, so I'll be including photos from a couple different cameras and multiple different trips. 1.
A small, unassuming wooden fence right next to a sidewalk conceals this hidden gem at the end of an overgrown creek. The foliage is thick and the path well-traveled; with this drain having been here for nearly 100 years.
2.
A closer view of the entrance.
3.
An iPhone shot of the main tunnel. That small pipe near the top of the tunnel made strange creaking noises after a nearby resident flushed their toilet...
4.
5.
After traveling through the 7' main tunnel for maybe 5 minutes, one will encounter this sharp bend. The tunnel briefly changes from an arched to a rectangular shape, and appears to return to its normal size and shape after the bend. I've never actually made it beyond this point: this tunnel leads directly into a river, and as such tends to become quite flooded. I really need a good pair of boots!
The First Offshoot Tunnel 6.
This is an older long exposure shot of the odd-looking entrance to the first offshoot tunnel, which is only about 15 or 20 feet past the main entrance. It was pretty uncomfortable walking through there, as the rectangular section was only about 5 feet high and I got my shoes VERY wet. The ground level here is unfortunately lower than the rest of the drain, so it's incredibly prone to flooding.
7.
The change in tunnel shape as seen from the RCP section that was probably about 6.5 - 7 feet high.
8.
It may not look that big, but it felt incredibly spacious in here.
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11.
The junction that I referenced in my
previous draining post. The left entrance leads to that tunnel, while the much smaller one straight ahead eventually leads to another creek.
The Second Offshoot Tunnel 12.
This is the entrance to the second "offshoot", complete with a mini waterfall. I suspect this offshoot tunnel was constructed around the same time as the main tunnel, considering the old-style red brick construction.
13.
I've still barely explored this tunnel due to how short it is, though I do have an idea of where it leads. If I ever fully explore it, I'll drop the photos here.
I still have tons of photos from other draining adventures waiting to be posted. I'll try to get around to doing it more often in the future. Thanks for reading!