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Viper
 
location:
Vancouver, BC Canada
Gender: Male
Trespassing On!
 |  |  | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 20 on 9/28/2005 11:48 PM >
|  | | | Posted by nobody
doesn't the discharge outlet at Iona Treatment Plant look interesting? Has anybody ever looked into that? N. |
Hundreds of thousands of litres of almost raw primary-treated sewage rushing through a tunnel is not my idea of fun. But that's just me. Plus the actual discharge point at the end of the 4km jetty is a few hundred metres under water.
Earth, the world's most dangerous planet!
"The will to do, the soul to dare." -Sir Walter Scott |
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Mowgli-dog
  
location:
Vancouver, B.C.
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 21 on 9/29/2005 5:22 AM >
| | | | Nobody,
Is that moss covered portal at Waterfront Station nearer to the east or west side of the station? If you look at maps that show the present day alignment of the Skytrain line, it heads west from the Waterfront platform, then turns south right at the foot of Thurlow Street (into the portal in the photo presumably) on it's way to Burrard Station.
If you get on the train, you are underground immediately after leaving the Waterfront platform. The line goes under all the buildings built since that photo was taken. I think it is possible that the portal in the photo is still there. Perhaps that is where the Skytrain begins to align one over the other.
If that is the case, the moss covered portal that you saw is not related to this tunnel system, perhaps it's related to the mail tunnel?
I like that photo because it shows just how much things have changed since then. Not only buildings, but those steep cliffs are not there anymore.
"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." -George Orwell
Rest in peace, my pal Mowgli - the best dog there ever was. |
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nobody
   
location:
VANCOUVER B.C.
Gender: Male
5:55 is a state of mind
| | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 22 on 9/29/2005 4:46 PM >
|  | | | It is west by a couple of blocks,I don't think that it resembles the architecture in the second picture that you posted but it really seems to be in the right area. I do not have the Skytrain maps at present but I believe that when you enter the west or north portal from the Waterfront station that that is where it should be. There is a picture in the Vancouver Archives that is another angle of the second picture that you posted and it shows the Marine Building in it . I studied that shot and some aerial maps, and that along with tha google satellite image of the area puts me in the right spot. Without the picture of the Marine Building I would not be so sure. Also when you get to the opening to the west or north portal just look inside the upper access door (you can do this safely from the laneway ) the walls look to me as they would if the
tunnel was old.N.
[last edit 9/30/2005 3:04 PM by nobody - edited 2 times]
Operating Entirely With Bad Intentions |
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nobody
location:
VANCOUVER B.C.
Gender: Male
5:55 is a state of mind
| | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 23 on 9/29/2005 5:40 PM >
| | | |
| Hundreds of thousands of litres of almost raw primary-treated sewage rushing through a tunnel is not my idea of fun. |
You never know N.
Operating Entirely With Bad Intentions |
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Mowgli-dog
location:
Vancouver, B.C.
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 24 on 9/30/2005 2:46 AM >
| | | | Was at Special Collections at the main Vancouver Library again today. 3 hours of my life gone just like that....
"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." -George Orwell
Rest in peace, my pal Mowgli - the best dog there ever was. |
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nobody
location:
VANCOUVER B.C.
Gender: Male
5:55 is a state of mind
| | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 25 on 9/30/2005 4:06 PM >
| | | | I have a friend here at work that is 53 years old and he used to play around the tunnel portal that we have been discussing as a child. I showed him the material that I have been looking at ( maps etc ) and he told me that from what he can remember the entrance , at that time ( late 60's ), no longer looked the way it does in the posted photo.Though he did tell me that his memory was a little foggy. I have the # for a C.P.R historian but he is on vacation until the 5th of October, we will see if he has some input.N.
Operating Entirely With Bad Intentions |
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nobody
location:
VANCOUVER B.C.
Gender: Male
5:55 is a state of mind
| | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 26 on 10/6/2005 10:00 PM >
| | | | So anyhow I figured that I was in the right location for this portal, but apparently not. The historian from CPR contacted me and has told me that in 2002 a highrise was built and now obstructs the original tunnel mouth. I imagine somewhere along the line the original portal was moved. He said that he did not know wether any of the original portal exists but gave me some #'s for local railway historical associations. N.
Operating Entirely With Bad Intentions |
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followthewhiterabbit
location:
Lower Main land
Gender: Male
| | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 27 on 10/7/2005 3:21 AM >
| | | | Jester,
The dunsmuir tunnel look so nice and clean, definitely a nice place for a meeting.. and big. hard to get into?
It seems you've just been looking with your eyes closed. |
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Jester
location:
Vancouver,B.C. Canada
Gender: Male
Always just out of sight...
| | | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 28 on 10/7/2005 3:56 AM >
| | | | Posted by followthewhiterabbit
hard to get into?
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It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf. |
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followthewhiterabbit
location:
Lower Main land
Gender: Male
| | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 29 on 10/7/2005 4:23 AM >
| | | | lol that is hilarious, is that pre arrival of Jester? or Post? I'm guessing the homeless probably did all that to get a dry place to sleep given all the drug para ... if its open like that id definitely be into checking it out. any other clues would be appreciated.
It seems you've just been looking with your eyes closed. |
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Jester
location:
Vancouver,B.C. Canada
Gender: Male
Always just out of sight...
| | | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 30 on 10/7/2005 4:28 AM >
| | | | Last time I saw it, it looked like you'd need to have a crane or the incredible Hulk to get in...
It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf. |
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followthewhiterabbit
location:
Lower Main land
Gender: Male
| | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 31 on 10/7/2005 4:53 AM >
| | | | looks to me like the incredible hulk is what got in there the first time
It seems you've just been looking with your eyes closed. |
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Mowgli-dog
location:
Vancouver, B.C.
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 32 on 10/7/2005 5:22 AM >
| | | | I still don't really understand why the Dunsmuir tunnel was built. Seems rather pointless to bore under the city when you can just go around like it is now. Trains now go from the CN station on Main Street, head north, cross under Hastings Street between Raymur and Glen and get to the CP station without hindering traffic. I've seen the West Coast express trains do it tons of times going for service at the CN station. Unless they needed trains right downtown years ago?
"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." -George Orwell
Rest in peace, my pal Mowgli - the best dog there ever was. |
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Mowgli-dog
location:
Vancouver, B.C.
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 33 on 10/7/2005 5:35 AM >
| | | | Jester,
When you went in there, did you go in as far as you could, is it just bricked off at the point where the Skytrain starts using it? Or is there some sort of access door there?
"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." -George Orwell
Rest in peace, my pal Mowgli - the best dog there ever was. |
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observer
| | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 34 on 10/11/2005 7:42 PM >
|  | | | Posted by Mowgli-dog
I still don't really understand why the Dunsmuir tunnel was built. Seems rather pointless to bore under the city when you can just go around like it is now. Trains now go from the CN station on Main Street, head north, cross under Hastings Street between Raymur and Glen and get to the CP station without hindering traffic. I've seen the West Coast express trains do it tons of times going for service at the CN station. Unless they needed trains right downtown years ago?
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FYI: the Dunsmuir tunnel was built to move the freight trains from the CPR's yards which used to lie on the north side of False Creek - the CN and Great Northern yards are the ones east of Main Street. Prior to the tunnel's construction the freight moved across Pender and Hastings Street near Carrall at all times of the day blocking traffic including the streetcars. The City demanded a solution and the tunnel was dug. (The old right-of-way from Pender to the waterfront still can be seen by looking south from Powell or north from Pender.)
Both of the original tunnel portals exist. The Dunsmuir entrance location and condition has been discussed here. The Waterfront portal now sits under the Cordova Street extension west of the Marine Building, but is still visible by walking down the ramp in front of the Shaw Tower. Look and listen for the Skytrain and you'll soon see the portal looking much like one of the posted photos, albeit surrounded by columns and concrete.
[last edit 10/11/2005 7:47 PM by observer - edited 1 times]
always looking |
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nobody
location:
VANCOUVER B.C.
Gender: Male
5:55 is a state of mind
| | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 35 on 10/11/2005 8:53 PM >
| | | | That is where I was, I too say it is there, even though recently I had my doubts.N.
Add: The highrise that I referred To earlier IS the Shaw building. n.
[last edit 10/11/2005 9:07 PM by nobody - edited 1 times]
Operating Entirely With Bad Intentions |
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baish
location:
Toronto, Ontario
Gender: Male
| | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 36 on 12/7/2005 5:43 AM >
| | | | Okay... I may have some information to whether there is a tunnel leading from E. Van to W. Van, but this is just a rumour. An acquaintance of mine has mentioned something about an "old escape tunnel" or something like that near the lions gate bridge on the w. van side around the rail yard. I've checked over some West Van District maps of the city [I have my connections ;)] and they dont show anything... but this acquaintance is half believable considering he has explored this area a fair bit. He is only half believable because he tends to be a cronic liar. SOOOooo... if anyone feels up for a recon mission, there ya go. A couple warnings to give you... if you do decide to go:
1. CN Rail Pigs: Have better guns than west van's finest... don't piss them off if you get caught!
2. West Van's Finest: are trained in emergency response, don't piss them off either... although the day shift guys tend to be really slack. Night shift, not so much.
3. Trains: Avoid trains!! Obvious side effects of trains are the usual serious injury, dismemberment, or even DEATH!! Please be careful.
Now... a couple ways to get to the rail yard. You could jump the fence at the train bridge at the dog walk south of park royal south and walk across the bridge (once again, watch for trains), or you could park your car south of the RV. park to the south east of park royal south and attempt to walk right in the front door... watch for rail pigs! Anyways, if you decide that this would be an interesting thing to do but you want a local guide or just more info, feel free to email: walkingtalkingspoon@hotmail.com
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Viper
location:
Vancouver, BC Canada
Gender: Male
Trespassing On!
| | | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 37 on 12/7/2005 6:18 AM >
| | | | Posted by baish
He is only half believable because he tends to be a cronic liar. |
Call me naive. But I tend to not believe chronic liars at all. This claim seems to be another local urban myth. Not to say it doesn't exist however. Also, you could just walk into the rail yard from Bridge Road.
Earth, the world's most dangerous planet!
"The will to do, the soul to dare." -Sir Walter Scott |
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Kleio
location:
Vancouver, BC
Gender: Female
| | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 38 on 12/7/2005 6:22 AM >
| | | | Posted by Mowgli-dog
Was at Special Collections at the main Vancouver Library again today. 3 hours of my life gone just like that....
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Find anything especially interesting?
"You must be the change you want to see in the world." - Gandhi |
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Mowgli-dog
location:
Vancouver, B.C.
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Tunnels in Vancouver City
<Reply # 39 on 12/7/2005 7:47 AM >
| | | | I love old historical photographs, and theres more than you could see in a year up there...
Bomb damage of my beloved Royal Theatre circa 1933:
100 East Hastings circa 1920's
The old Greyhound Depot (since demolished) on Dunsmuir street where I had my first real job (circa 1040's):
I could spend all day up there....
[last edit 12/7/2005 7:49 AM by Mowgli-dog - edited 1 times]
"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." -George Orwell
Rest in peace, my pal Mowgli - the best dog there ever was. |
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