For my 400th geocache, I decided to do something memorable right here in Rochester. I would explore the old subway before it gets filled in, and make my 400th find in the process. The old subway runs right through the heart of downtown Rochester. In the past, and maybe now too it was a haven for vandals and the homeless. While the city decides what to do with it, renovate it, or fill it in, I decided to give it a look.

Panoramic Photo from under the Broad Street Bridge - Rochester's old Subway Line

I should say I thoroughly researched this trip, and though the possibility of meeting "undesirable" persons existed, I felt that if I left them alone, they would leave me alone too. None the less, I still took a large heavy flashlight, and war a orange work vest so as to appear more "official". I entered at the South entrance near South Ave and the Dinosaur Barbeque. There is a chain link fence with No Trespassing signs, but I didn't let that bother me. This is an area where the subway meets the surface. There is a staircase that now goes nowhere, and looks like it goes to the bottom of the dinosaur. Enter the darkness and you will see a reservoir type area to the left. Continue on and you will round the corner to the old aqueduct under the Broad Street Bridge.

Rochester Subway - South Avenue Entrance Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	The way in, South Ave Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Starting Down Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS
Rochester Subway Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Some of Many Graffiti Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Hey, they are smoking! Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS
Stairs up to Dinosaur? Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Underground Reservior near the Library Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Nearing the old Aqueduct Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS

Here you will find a wide variety of "urban art". It is quite interesting, and probably the neatest area on this old subway line.

Graffiti in the Aqueduct Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Looking West under Broad Street Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Graffiti in the Aqueduct Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS
First I thought he couldn't spell "Society" Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Graffiti in the Aqueduct Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Big Boy BBQ Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS

Continue West and you will descend into darkness. Eventually approaching a doorway that will lead to a large hall. It is very dark in here. Pitch Black. In this area the Democrat and Chronicle used to store newsprint. It is very dark and there are lots of remains of the old subway here. Continue to follow the tunnel and you will pass old loading bays and scaffoldings. Continue farther, and you will make it to some open areas nearby to the downtown Nick Tahos.

Entering the main tunnel Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	REALLY REALLY DARK! Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Old Stairs Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS
Where do they go? Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Light Again! Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	A Troll? Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS
	North Entrance to the Subway Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS

Not much farther there is another dark area and then an opening again to the North entrance to the subway. Not a lot of neat graffiti here, and in the past few years this has been a site of drug activity. After reaching this area, I worked my way back through the subway to the start. Taking pictures as I went and finding my 400th geocache. I estimate the length of the subway tunnel to be about 1.25 miles. It did not take too long to walk it, but it was a very unnerving experience, and I recommend it be done with a group of friends, probably 4 or more.

Looking Back on the Way Out Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Graffiti in the Aqueduct Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Graffiti in the Aqueduct Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS
Graffiti in the Aqueduct Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	VooDoo Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS	Near the Reservoir, Broad Street Aqueduct Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS
The Causeway Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS		Almost Out Photographed: 06-21-2008 Camera: Canon S700IS

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