Next Stop Atlantic

In 2000, the NYC Transit authority joined forces with an artificial reef building program, dropping stripped and decontaminated subway cars off barges into the Atlantic Ocean. These barren hulls would soon become colonized, providing refuge for several fish and crustacean species. Photographer Stephen Mallon chronicled the grand endeavor with a series of stunning yet haunting photographs as these iconic New York City figures made their way to their last stop: the Atlantic Ocean.

(via Saturdays Surf)

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19 Comments

  1. Jessie wrote:

    wow. thats pretty crazy. great pictures!

    http://wordbyjessie.com

    3.14.11
    Reply
  2. Meghan wrote:

    This is so strange and interesting

    3.14.11
    Reply
  3. wow these photographs are beautiful.

    http://www.fashionablecollections@gmail.com

    3.14.11
    Reply
  4. That’s crazy. An artist did something similar but with statues of people down in the Caribbean I believe.

    3.14.11
    Reply
  5. klaudia wrote:

    wow these pictures are amazing. theres just something about them

    3.14.11
    Reply
  6. MaryKate wrote:

    This is awesome. I’d be interested to see any divers go down and take some underwater shots! I’m sure it’s awesome down there.

    3.14.11
    Reply
  7. While these pictures are pretty amazing, I am not quite sure I’m for chucking big hunks of metal into the ocean. Even though it will inevitable be occupied by sea life, it’s still littering our ocean floor. It seems like a waste. I think these cars could be reused or used in some other way (i.e. art project, restaurant space, for exhibits, metal, etc). What do you think?

    3.14.11
    Reply
  8. Nina P wrote:

    Oh my! Those pictures are definitely something. I think I’ll agree with squiggles & scribbles. It seems pretty wrong to throw chunks of metal into the ocean. They can be recycled whcih would in a small amount, decrease the demand pressure there is in the global market for metal…

    3.14.11
    Reply
  9. Heather wrote:

    say what?! personally i think this is awful. sounds like they had them piling up in a yard somewhere and didn’t know what to do with them so they came up with a stupid idea to just throw them in the ocean. i’m with squiggles&scribbles. they could have put these to better use or even sold them to people to refurb themselves. using them for scrap metal would’ve been better also.

    3.14.11
    Reply
    • erica wrote:

      At first, I was stunned as well – it’s alarming to see such huge pieces of metal dumped into the ocean. But artificial reefs have had a long history of promoting marine life in areas bare of reefs. Let’s hope that these cars can provide a source of protection and food source for sea life . . .

      3.15.11
  10. Rebelle Fleur wrote:

    These are so beautiful. I am obsessed.

    rebellefleur713.blogspot.com

    3.15.11
    Reply
  11. Nomadic D wrote:

    I love it. Thanks for finding this. For some reason, the fact that humans would dump these train cars into the ocean to create strange new homes for fishes, I don’t know, it’s just really heartwarming in some strange new way.

    http://nomadic-d.blogspot.com/

    3.15.11
    Reply
  12. Donatella wrote:

    I’m a diver and wrecks of all kind are on the bottom of our oceans. in a very short period of time, all kind of marine creatures make these wreck their own homes. Diving in a wreck is one of a kind experience. to see more google ‘wreck diving’ and look at the pictures!
    <3 this blog, btw!

    3.15.11
    Reply
  13. wow these photos are totally haunting!! i can’t wait to see what they look like underwater in a few years!

    xx,
    Sonia

    http://RunwayHippie.com

    3.15.11
    Reply
  14. Marlo M wrote:

    I can imagine far-future generations finding these subway cars at the bottom of the ocean and making up some crazy theory about how they ended up there! haha! Thanks for sharing this 🙂

    3.17.11
    Reply
  15. This is amazing. I hate NYC subway cars so much, I wish that this had been MY job to do!!

    3.19.11
    Reply
  16. january wrote:

    i’m confused and i like it.

    january, x
    jessicajanuary.com

    3.22.11
    Reply
  17. Susannah wrote:

    wow. that’s crazy. and amazing. you have such awesome posts! keep em coming!!

    xo,
    susannah

    http://stylepourlavie.tumblr.com/
    http://lavieetme.blogspot.com/

    6.9.11
    Reply
  18. Anna wrote:

    this is the stupidest idea ever!it’s a waste and they’re throwing it into the ocean!for how long? until we all drown in toxic water!idiots,this is the stupidest idea they’ve ever come up with!

    6.18.11
    Reply