He Lived 25 Years in a Train Tunnel!
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Published 2023-01-12
Check out these books about life in the tunnel before Amtrak began clearing it out.
(Amazon Affiliate links may earn me a small commission)
The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City: amzn.to/3JjBw0L
Tunnel People: amzn.to/3UfwMzB
#molepeople #homeless #underground #documentary
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On the west side of Manhattan, under the Westside Highway is an Amtrak train tunnel, known as the Freedom Tunnel. For decades homeless people lived in this tunnel. Over the years, these people became commonly known as "mole people."
In the early 1990s the tunnel became active again, and the authorities threw everyone out. A few people remained hidden in the tunnel, and continued to live there, but most did not return. Walter was one of the people who remained, and was one of the last of the original mole people.
Additional people moved into the tunnel in the early 2000s, but they were much fewer in number than in the 1980s and 90s.
I met Walter and filmed this interview in 2008. I posted a short video from this footage one year ago, and decided to share more of the footage now.
In this interview Walter talks about his time living in the tunnel beneath New York. He lived there for 25 years, and saw the tunnel at it's peak. Sadly Walter passed away in 2012.
Around that same time Amtrak began cleaning up the tunnel. They painted over the old graffiti, and threw out the few remaining residents.
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All Comments (21)
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He kept the newspaper from the nineties with him and his brother. Kept it clean and safe and found it no problem. That’s really sweet.
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Quite a unique guy, quite a character. I respect him for his ingenuity. It's great that you captured his story on video before he passed. Rest in peace Walter.
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Rest in Peace Walter. He's free now. No more health issues, no more hunger, no more cold nights.
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You never know why someone is homeless. I knew a guy that had everything in the world. A wife and kids, good money, good job. Horrible accident took his whole family. He left everything and went and lived in a tent by the highway. He didn't have to be homeless but I guess no where felt like home without his family. Don't judge people based off their living situation, you never know why they are there to begin with
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It's sad that he passed away. I like the setup he made for himself in the tunnel. He seems like a guy who was just trying to make his way in the world like everyone else. I hope he rests in peace. He's earned it.
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Mental freedom is a priceless gift.
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I was a television cameraman for about 15 years and I absolutely LOVE how you let Walter talk and didn't interrupt him. Fantastic job getting Walters "Story" on video. Job well done, good sir.
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"I'm pretty well off. You won't find many down here who have as much as I do."
WOW! That is truly a hard hitting statement.
I was on the streets for over 15 years. I raised my son on the streets. The statement he made is, sadly, quite true. In the world of street life, he does have a mansion.
He is someone I would have enjoyed knowing. -
Walter was very proud of his home. Rest in peace Walt
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I was homeless for a few years, wandering around California, staying in places for a few months here and there, and I was lucky enough to be taken under the wing of a couple people like Walter. You can make true connections with real, good, intelligent people who just did the best they could with what they had and aren’t out of their minds on drugs or something. I met some amazing people.
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I have a lot of respect for this guy. Some people probably look down on him, but if society ever collapsed, this is the kind of guy that would survive. Hats off to you my brother 😮
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Dude thanks to you you’ve made him immortal
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RIP. He scratched out a place for himself in this world, and survived for years living a minimalist lifestyle.
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Didn't know Walter personally, but passed by him several times. Just a short greeting as I spent a lot of time under the tunnel further up and abusing substances, drinking and the whole 9 yards. Thank God I don't live like that anymore. I didn't know Walter passed.
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As a person with Cancer, I can spot another. He definitely had Cancer. Rest easy Walter, I’ll see you soon.
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I don't know why but watching this interview made me emotional. Walter seemed like a really cool guy, well collected in thoughts. I just pictured what he could have been through and seen and the heartache after losing his brother. I know now he is reunited with his brother.
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Nothing sad about his passing. He lived his life HIS WAY....something many, many people only dream of. Greetings Walter from the Oregon Coast
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Soon as he whipped out the newspaper I could tell he missed his brother. Carries alot of pain.
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This country is morally bankrupt
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I respect him a lot for not taking from the system and forging his own way. Kudos to the filmmaker for letting him share his story. RIP Walter.
