A Tale From the Underground – Touring the Remains of the Los Angeles Subway System

Once there was a girl named Melanie. She loved historic buildings, Los Angeles, and adventure. One day, she received in her email an invitation from one deLab regarding a tour of the Subway Terminal Buidling in downtown Los Angeles. “Subway building?” she thought, “I never new Los Angeles had a subway????” Intrigued, she immediately told her good friend and they both signed up. After all it was a historic building, it was in Los Angeles, and it sounded like a potential adventure. Oh. And it was free. Always a plus.

Soon, Melanie received another email detailing the tour. Apparently, it would not merely be of the Subway Terminal Building but also of the long closed down subway. “Aha!” she thought, “this will be an adventure!”

So, on a clear day in May just as the evening began Melanie and her friend found themselves at 417 S. Hill Street ready to see what excitement awaited. They entered the building with a group of fellow enthusiasts and found….a mess. They learned that the building now houses offices and lofts on the upper floors but, pending the addition of a retail establishment, the ground floor is currently being used for storage.

“No worries,” Melanie thought, “this is what adventure is all about.” Finding an open space amidst all the…well…junk she listened to the tour guide give a history on the building. Apparently, early in the last century Los Angeles had a booming subway system (NOT, the famed Red Cars but an honest to goodness subway). This system reached its zenith in World War II accommodating thousands of riders. Sadly, after the war years the subway grew out of favor and was closed down.

After the lecture, exploring commenced. Walking around the ground floor provided a glimpse into the splendor that once existed –

But, alas just a glimpse as it had been many, many years since this particular area was in use. Soon, the group descended some stairs and found themselves in the former terminal. Small signs of it’s former days soon became apparent.
Melanie and her friend began to converse excitedly, amazed at what they were seeing. Glimpses of the past! Remnants of forgotten days! It was like a scavenger hunt where every clue was a prize!
And yet…yet there was more! For soon the group was traveling down a ramp deep into the bowels of the Terminal Building. The light grew dim, the air became warm and muggy, and the past began to form, for here was where the passengers would board the subway trains.
The tracks were long gone and only the signs remained. Clues to a past long forgotten. As Melanie and friend explored they came upon a large opening with only darkness beyond.
Filled with the spirit of adventure they gamely proceeded and found themselves entering the subway tunnel.
On and on they continued into the abyss with only the flash of their cameras guiding the way (causing Melanie to obtain many fascinating shots of the ground).
The way was slippery with hazards at every step
but on they continued for this was adventure!
And then! The end of the line. Or rather the end of the tunnel as it is today.
Long since filled in, this was as far as the tunnel would take them. But what an experience! What an adventure!
Thank you deLab for making this possible. Be sure to sign up for their mailing list so you can go on one of your own adventures.
Oh! And lest you think the entire building is in ruins. Have no fear, for it has been lovingly restored.

1 Comment

  1. Rina k6art.com May 19, 2012 at 3:57 pm
    Reply

    I love it! I can’t believe they let you down there, though. Liability city!

    Last summer, my son and I traveled from Downtown L.A. to Universal Studios on the Red Line subway. My friends were shocked to find LA had any kind of subway! P.s. you can ride the entire sprawling subway/bus system in LA for just $5/day.

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