The Ghost Ships of Coney Island Creek

Franny Wentzel: 30th Apr 2009 - 23:55 GMT

Forgotten NY.com has info on that submarine...

www.forgotten-ny.com/YOU'D%20NEVER%20BELIEVE/yellowsub/yellowsub.html

Was intended to be used for salvage on the Andrea Doria but crane operator disregarded launching instructions and botched the launch. Investors backed out and the poor little sub never saw a day of work.

Peter: 1st May 2009 - 00:25 GMT

heh, franny... i linked that exact url in the post :P

Mercystars: 1st May 2009 - 00:54 GMT

sings: Nobody lives in the abandoned submarine, abandoned submarine, abandoned submarine!

Sorry.

CartLegger: 1st May 2009 - 00:58 GMT

i was wondering when you'd get around to posting these amazing flicks!

Peter: 1st May 2009 - 01:02 GMT

i had forgotten about them! i was scrolling through iphoto tonight, saw them, and was like "oh snap, i should finally post these", hahaha...

musicboxwaltz: 1st May 2009 - 01:28 GMT

aw, that sub should mate with the abandoned clown train and make beautiful babies

anon (ool-18ba953e.dyn.optonline.net): 1st May 2009 - 02:01 GMT

This is most fascinating selection of images. A perfect set for a horror movie.

Shaolin Fox: 1st May 2009 - 03:07 GMT

Was waiting for you to get to this. Extra points for getting the Parachute Jump in the submarine shot. =D

*arg* I wish I had a working scanner. Have some nice shots of the Thunderbolt before they killed it and would love to share them here.

Franny Wentzel: 1st May 2009 - 07:16 GMT

You must have the ability to edit your posts as the links weren't there when this was first up.

Peter: 1st May 2009 - 10:54 GMT

ha, franny... to get text-links like that, i have to add them after the fact. you must have viewed this in the one minute between when i posted this and when i added the links. youre quick on the draw!

Afroblanco: 1st May 2009 - 13:06 GMT

WOW. I grew up in Brooklyn and didn't even know about this place. That submarine, the shipwrecks -- just all so amazing. Who'd have ever thought it??

Yall know me!: 1st May 2009 - 16:09 GMT

This is a website on the designer of the sub and the building process.
www.lserecords.com/YellowSub/theman.htm

Twitch: 1st May 2009 - 19:33 GMT

A few down from the sub:

"S'up dawg? We heard you like to boat. We put a boat in your boat so you can boat while you boat!"

Sara: 2nd May 2009 - 20:34 GMT

Cool. Can anyone just walk over to this? (non city country mouse from Va...)

Sanzay: 9th May 2009 - 20:44 GMT

Peter, thanks for the pictures from the Coney Island Creek nautical graveyard! My 2.5 year young daughter and I been there today - she recognized all places you photographed. The trail is relatively walkable however kids should wear rain boots.

Area seems to be gated from cars however some dude with a small boy on the huge "Sprinter" van opened the gate and drove in. Nearby, on the west-most point of the park there are enthusiasts (or terrorists) flying their radio-controled helicopters which might be a cool attraction for your kid. I saw them on Saturdays at least from 11 AM to 1 PM. So far I did not see them doing the "evil stuff" in the air, but having the ability to come closer and see how they tune their aircraft was pretty exciting for both of us.

Surprisingly, the south-west shoreline (one, that on Peter's pictures) is seeded with Home Depot shopping carts that are still in the fair condition. I have no idea why would person drag the cart half the mile, then hundreds of feet over the mud and grass and then finally throw them down the hill. Any thoughts?

Sanzay: 9th May 2009 - 21:00 GMT

Sara, yes, this site is pretty accessible (I did not mean wheelchairs) and has big unpaved parking about 100 feet away from the closest barge (pictured last). Parking has one entrance from the Belt Parkway service road (take Bay Parkway exit). I do not know much about your area but in the NYC municipality cares less about blocking access to abandoned or unmaintained areas like this letting maniacs like we snap the photos and enjoy the serenity of the decay. Similar half-maintained area spans around Home Depot store that less than a mile sowth-west from this park. It called "Public Waterftont" and has paved walkways, benches and tables here and there. My wife and I walked younger daughter there last summer. Mosquitos enjoyed the blood fest ;-)

Sanzay: 14th May 2009 - 04:31 GMT

And here are less romantic (in terms of decay and graffiti) views in this park

and five brave RC amateurs with their fleet of helicopters

Sanzay: 14th May 2009 - 14:41 GMT

Look what city wants to do with Calvert Vaux Park www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_divisions/capital/parks/calvert_vaux_brooklyn.html
As per diagram sunken barges are staying there but will the city actually retain them?

Some history here: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/calvertvauxpark

jack: 18th May 2009 - 13:11 GMT

i enjoyed this posting. we used to call this creek, 'perfume bay' when i was a kid. i believe the el on mcdonald avenue runs over the top of it at its beginning. i used to gas up my boat at the boat station in that creek back in the 50's.

Sanzay: 19th May 2009 - 15:53 GMT

Jack, is that boat station stays alive now or not anymore? There are several boat piers along the Neptune Avenue behind the parking lots and car shops.

james bianco: 25th May 2009 - 04:41 GMT

yeah that sub was built by my great uncle gerome bianco...cant believe no-one in my family steped in to keep this hand made piece with history and pride..its sad.hymanslizer@yahoo.com

James Bianco: 7th Jul 2009 - 17:39 GMT

My name is James Biance, born 5/25/49 I wonder if my family is the Bianco family who built the sub.