100-year-old tunnels at Niagara Falls [PICS]
 

Someone was mentioning earlier in another thread about the existence of a network of tunnels behind Niagara Falls...and I said I'd post pics when I dug'em out.

These were shot last fall during one of three midnight trips - throughout the 100-yr-old tunnels and valve chambers at Niagara Falls. The tunnels connect the old decommissioned turbine station at the base of the Horseshoe Falls to the (former) generating station high atop the cliffs (where the new Fallsview Casino is now built).

These tunnels are extremely hazardous to navigate, especially using only flashlights (they have no hydro or lighting)...and several of the shots were lit using just flashlights. Camera flash is totally absorbed much of the time and results in bad pics.

Check out the 100-yr-old calcium stalagmites hangin' from the ceiling in the first pic.

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cool pics

wow... i never knew about those tunnels before

I can see lighting in every pic :winkwink: nice pics, thanks for sharing

neat stuff...you travel in ontario a lot?

Neat shit, how do you get into them?? :thumbsup

Wow! Now that'd really be something to see. looks pretty creepy!

What you see as bad photos, I am seing as art.

Someone should PhotoChop Freddie Krueger into some of those pics....lol

I was thinking that as well!

Did people use to work in those tunnels every day years ago?

Just to give ya's an idea of perspective, here's a few additional shots.

This pic is taken from the American side, showing the generator station at river level (on the Canadian side). The tunnels connect this building through the cliffs to the new highrise hotel directly above (Fallsview Casino).

http://www.fetishopolis.com/kap-images/86001.jpg


A few historical shots during construction...along with a good cross-section drawing showing the tunnels and how they connect to the generating station above. We made the hike from the bottom all the way to the top through this network of tunnels, ladders and very old catwalks.


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The building to the left in this shot still exists - its now known as the illumination battery where they house the giant colored spotlights that light up the falls at night. Next to the battery is what's called a 'surge tank', a big moss-covered circular structure once used as a safety valve tank to relieve water pressure in the tunnels in case it got too high.

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Heh, yeppa. But ironically...no hydro to any of them. The plant has been mothballed for a few years and mostly abandoned now. They're in the process of gutting all the old equipment outta the place.

Yeah, all over during the summer.

But I live about 15 mins. drive from the Falls - so its handy for photography and explorin'.

I'd assume so, yeah.

Not the greatest working conditions, of course. One night during a visit we actually got fogged in. The air outside was cooler than the tunnel air, and we ended up with a heavy fog in the tunnels...the flashlights barely penetrated it...and we had to switch to using blue LED light to navigate around.

Hehe...don't ask. :winkwink:

They're no longer accessible. We took advantage of a very brief window of opportunity.

Dammit SilentKnight, I'm not gonna tell you again, if you're gonna visit my evil secret lair... NO Photos!

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

Now for the real kicker - one of the trips we made was strictly for a bondage photoshoot. What a blast that night was. :winkwink:

Ooooooooh, that is a GREAT setting for a bondage shoot :thumbsup

So they light up the falls at night? Have you done any long exposure shots of that?

More times than I can remember, yep.

Here's a few taken from the roof of the turbine station on one of the trips (handheld, I'd left the tripod above in the tunnels).


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down far enough and away from everyone that no one can hear someone scream for help....

Cellphones won't even work in the tunnels. We tried. Couldn't even get a signal.

Basically once you're down there, you're effectively cut off from the world. Not a good place to be if you fall down a shaft, break a leg or whatnot.

The first trip I made was with half a dozen other buddies. Then I made a second trip myself solo. The third trip we had a few other people with us.

it sounds cool - have to make a trip this summer when I have some time.. awesome pictures as always coming from you my dear friend.

btw - shedevil and I cant come to the party at the end of feb - we are moving at that time to another condo, but please keep us in mind for future parties. Peace.

Damn, too bad. Its gonna be a helluva shindig. Was lookin' forward to meetin' up with you guys, too.

You'll hafta' settle for just the vicarious pics. :winkwink:

awesome pics... hard to find pics.. thanks for shariing

Never knew that..great pics man..you sure have a good eye at capturing things

Woah that's neat. I had no clue thoses existed... never heard about them

Cool Pics of the Falls at night

Cool pics..awesome stuff

A few more shots (mostly winter).


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as ALWAYS... your pics amaze me... Thank you for sharing.

WOW... amazing pictures !

Looks like a great place to shoot some content !

DAMN, those are some sick pictures....Very good stuff, especially the night shots

Very nice I didnt know about the tunnels

Everyone's generous compliments are always very much appreciated.

Thanks, glad ya's enjoy them :)

Damn, intriguing shots there. I am now thinking of a possibility Hollywood making a disaster movie set on this tunnel. How's that guys?

Pics are amazing, thanks for sharing.

creepy...

i expected some pics of old porn models next to a waterfall....

BTW - excellent photography skills...

There WAS a movie shot in the place in '95 (in the generating station, not the tunnels) - think it was called 'Canadian Bacon' - with John Candy.

We spotted a framed and autographed photo of Candy (taken in the station) on a wall in the main control room.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109370/

Nice:thumbsup :thumbsup

fuck, great PICS, For the first time I have seen Niagara Falls in winter!

it was a pleasure viewing those pictures.

Wow!
 

looks very scary!

Thanks for sharing the photos, very interesting!
What camera did you use for these shots?

Pretty cool pictures.

badass pictures!!! one of the coolest threads I've ever read on here

Nice pics man. Is there a way to rob the casino from this tunnel? :P

Very cool pictures, thanks for them.

awesome pics