NYC Subway, a bittersweet burial at sea (12 HQ photos)

March 14, 2011 | In: Auto, High-Res, Photography

Ever wonder where subway cars go to die? Photographer Stephen Mallon documents hundreds of de-commissioned subway cars being dumped into the Atlantic to become underwater wild-life reefs. Check out more of Stephen's photos at his website HERE

someguy

I am not last

ryan

yes you are

freakscene

"Underwater wildlife reefs"? Just sounds like a way to justify dumping their trash into the ocean.

Dude

No it actually is very good for the fishes, mayeb too good.

Here's just one of many articles
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/08/us/08reef.html

freakscene

I don't doubt the results, it just sounded "fishy" (if you will)

Poppin Fresh

boooo

Just Sayin'

Whoa whoa whoa…so the New York Times posts an article explaining how dumping New York Subway Cars is good for the environment, and you see absolutely no chance they made it up to cover up their own city?

Yup

Thats probably what it would sound like to someone who cant think.

THAT Guy

LATER SUCKA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NYC FTL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#1

I WIN THE INTERNET !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THAT Guy

AND MY PENIS IS REALLY SMALL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Poppin Fresh

weird… is there just a random pile of subway cars at the bottom of the sea? that can't be good, can it?!

http://www.twitter.com/justin_speedo facebook

THEY'LL NEVER KNOW YOU'RE GONE!!

THAT guy is a douche

I wish they would show some pictures of what they look like after they have been down there for a while … does it actually work?

Kellen

http://tinyurl.com/4c4mklp

They do it frequently with naval ships too.

Poppin Fresh

I love that site. ick… pictures of shellman of china make me ill… back to hot chick posts.
alohaboy

Well done Kellen, great link! thank you

Kellen

It's not just a random piling, they do strip out anything that would be harmful to wildlife, and the cars become the framework for coral to grow on, we've destroyed so many coral reefs that habitats for creatures that need places to hide from larger creatures have diminished.

You could say they're just using it as an excuse to dump trash in the ocean, but it would cost them a lot less to just throw it in a landfill, or be worth more to them if they melted it down for recycling. In reality it actually is environmentally friendlier than a landfill.

https://www.facebook.com/marksantiagorea Mark Santiago Rea

I don't wanna be a dick, but I'm sorry to inform you that there aren't any coral reefs by New York. Its not tropical, thus no reefs. Its just not warm enough.

On the other hand these things look like giant soda cans, why don't they just recycle them?

bender

I don't wanna be a dick either but http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redbird_Reef

https://www.facebook.com/marksantiagorea Mark Santiago Rea

haha oh crap. Did not know they grow in such cold weather. Well thats pretty awesome.

Jake

Not trying to be a dick also, but actually it still supports the base organisms in that level of depth of water. Tons of invertebrates now have a home instead of just sand bottom and they are prey for fish. They aren't completely the same ecosystems as the tropical coral reefs but they do provide similar ecosystems. By the way, coral reefs have been found to grow in some deep and cold waters too. Google it.

xXbeermonkeyXx

how thoughtful, now people who drown can take the subway back to shore.

cheers *chugs another beer*
slutifer

what abou recycling that steel??

YEAH!

Because re-using it to better the environment is wasteful?

b-ry

metal sunk in the ocean can't possibly better the environment…unless your being sarcastic.

der

seriously?

Chocolate Shake

I agree with der. You're a moron.

Kilroy

his name is b-ry

Werd

its called science bro. use it

Urban

#4 Hmm. Seems like they could recycle all of that metal.
salverai

how many homes could those make? such a waste!

LOL

You live in a steel home. A trailer, I'm guessing.

WinningChiver

Would be better if THAT guy and Paula were chained up inside one of the cars…
tkbaha

there was a guy
an under water guy who controlled the sea
got killed by ten million pounds of sludge
from new york and new jersey
this monkey's gone to heaven

TomTheCameraGuy

Poetic

corbin

pixies

S12

Why not let the homeless move into these? Much better than a cardboard box and they need them more than the fishes.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Major-Fathead/100002190626773 Major Fathead

Underwater? I don't think the homeless could hold their breath that long

force kin

what an excuse …. might try 'no mate i didnt steal this car i borrowed it as its not energy efficient just parked up'

Nazz1962

We have no idea what you just said!

AZbtchs

why are these being thrown into the ocean? Recycle the metal, perhaps? What a waste.
Wolfmane

"In the Atlantic." I wonder where that happens to be considering I thought that coral prefer warm clear waters.
B-ry

this would be much more interesting in video form.
ROK247

there are vast stretches of the ocean floor that are like deserts – there is nothing down there at all. but plop something like these rail cars down and in a matter of days it will be teeming with new life. entire ecosystems will develop around and inside them. iron and steel are inert and won't harm anything. they will rust and iron oxide is actually food for microorganisms.

some of you chivers need to take a minute or two every once and awhile and use the internet for something other than fap material.

Someone gets it.

Clap, clap, clap.
Werd

Thank you, someone who knows what they are talking about!

TomTheCameraGuy

I like the shot compositions. Especially #11
pfulmtl

wtf, recycle motherfuckers
Mr RAger

try doing some research before posting next time…… googling this will provide you with info that shows this is very good for oceanic ecosystems
Carmine

THIS IS GOOD FOR THE OCEAN!!!! stop saying this is polluting cause you dont know what you're talking about! Just google it for God's sake

skylarrr

how is it good?

http://www.facebook.com/people/Billy-ONeill/1370730059 Billy O'Neill

Ive lived in NYC for 22 years and never knew where they went… Thanks chive
Eric

This post seriously needed the follow-up pictures. These "wreck reefs" can be pretty fascinating.
Robinis

got to hate the Americans..

Werd

you best be trollin
Carmine

Those damn Americans, using old subway cars to create artificial habitats for thousands of species of aquatic life…….. what a bunch of jerks

1 2 Next »