New York subway secrets: Track 61, ghost stations and hidden bars

New York’s subway carries millions every day. It’s loud, fast and, at times, far from cozy. Yet beneath all that rush lies a hidden world: shuttered platforms, aging tunnels, secret corridors and even bars you won’t stumble into by accident. For anyone willing to look closer, the system turns from mere transport into a quiet adventure.

Secret route beneath the Waldorf Astoria

Beneath the storied Waldorf Astoria sits a closed platform known as Track 61. It was once used for trains carrying high-profile guests — the idea was that a president, for instance, could arrive without fanfare. The platform still exists, but it’s off-limits to regular riders.

Money trains and forgotten platforms

Near 370 Jay Street there used to be platforms where special money trains pulled in to move subway tokens around the system. That era ended in 2006, when tokens were retired. The sites are sealed and largely forgotten now, though the story lingers.

A deep station once eyed as a shelter

190th Street station is among the city’s deepest, sitting almost 43 meters below ground. During the Cold War, there was talk of turning it into a bomb shelter. A later modernization plan surfaced, but in 2024 the project was put on hold.

Hidden corridors at Grand Central

Grand Central Terminal is not just a landmark; it’s a maze. An extensive web of underground passages, built in the 1990s, links the terminal with surrounding streets, dressed up with mosaics and elevators. Walking them, you sense how the network breathes beyond the main concourse.

Abandoned ghost stations

Some stations no longer serve trains at all. City Hall, Worth Street, 91st Street and others sit in the dark, remnants of earlier layouts. With a knowing eye, you can still glimpse several from a passing car — quiet markers of the subway’s past.

Old tunnels and odd passageways

Beneath the city are tunnels built for everything but everyday commuters — for freight, for animals, for utilities. Some once channeled livestock to slaughterhouses, the so‑called “cow tunnels.” They’re closed now, but many persist out of sight.

Mosaics — and bars — in the subway

The system doubles as a gallery. Through MTA Arts & Design, many stations feature mosaics and sculptures by well-known artists, including Yoko Ono and Nick Cave. And there are less obvious finds: actual bars tucked into passageways. Spots like Nothing Really Matters or La Noxe operate like bona fide venues, though they’re hardly easy to track down.

Why this matters

Because New York’s subway is more than trains and transfers. It’s a living underground chronicle: presidential pathways, disused platforms, public art — and yes, cocktails by the rails. It wouldn’t be surprising to see tours of these hidden corners one day; interest in them only keeps growing.