One might think this station is an outcast deep in Brooklyn or forgotten up in the Bronx. Alas no, Chambers Street station sits right across the street from City Hall and many of the most powerful courts in New York City. The problem with this sad station is it is home to the worst lines in the subway, the M and J trains.
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Underground Exhibition
27 February, 2006 • Express Train
Photography © Travis Ruse • photoblogs.org • listed
the rate of decay of this station is terryfing, nice capture of it that process though, hard to believe that this station used to be one of the most important terminal in lower manhattan. Shame!
The contrast between the smooth, sleek sign with it's modern typeface is in start contrast with the horrible decay of the station. Even that "M" train appears as a rusted hulk. As Peter said the decay appears terrifyingly dangerous, the beams on the ceiling appear to be made of something that's crumbling. The tile, once white and gleaming now a set of coffee stained rotting teeth.
Is there a tipping point for some of these stations, at which time they will become dangerous and uninhabitable?
This is one of my favourite stations. I'd like to see more photos here! I used to live off the J.
travis....great work...and the soup at the lunch counter is always more real...cheers mark
my eyes went straight to the guy at the bottom right.
If I were to sum up this picture in one word it would be: RUST. I went through this station a couple of weeks ago on the J and it's just amazing to see how horrible this station is. The name of the station, Chambers St, is so appropriate because it looks like a dirty chamber. Even the trains look like they are falling apart.
It would be interesting to contrast the shot you took of this station with the one you took of Grand Central earlier in the month.
Great capture, by the way.
These shots really reveal the terrible state of the place! I thought you'd found your way into a long abandoned station!