Living 25 Years in a Train Tunnel - Man Shares His Amazing Story

Walter was the last of the Mole People from the 1990s - a time when dozens of people lived in a tunnel beneath New York City.

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On the west side of Manhattan, under the Westside Highway is an Amtrak train tunnel, known as the Freedom Tunnel. For decades homeless people lived in this tunnel. Over the years, these people became commonly known as "mole people."

In the early 1990s the tunnel became active again, and the authorities threw everyone out. A few people remained hidden in the tunnel, and continued to live there, but most did not return. Walter was one of the people who remained, and was one of the last of the original mole people.

Additional people moved into the tunnel in the early 2000s, but they were much fewer in number than in the 1980s and 90s.

I met Walter and filmed this interview in 2008. I posted a short video from this footage one year ago, and decided to share more of the footage now.

In this interview Walter talks about his time living in the tunnel beneath New York. He lived there for 25 years, and saw the tunnel at it's peak. Sadly Walter passed away in 2012.

Around that same time Amtrak began cleaning up the tunnel. They painted over the old graffiti, and threw out the few remaining residents.

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[ErikKSwanson]

Support my gofundme for a documentary about the Anchor-outs in San Francisco Bay

[chasjetty]

He kept the newspaper from the nineties with him and his brother. Kept it clean and safe and found it no problem. That’s really sweet.

[guymerritt]

Quite a unique guy, quite a character. I respect him for his ingenuity. It's great that you captured his story on video before he passed. Rest in peace Walter.

[jeffdurall]

I was a television cameraman for about 15 years and I absolutely LOVE how you let Walter talk and didn't interrupt him. Fantastic job getting Walters "Story" on video. Job well done, good sir.

[heyhunniesbrookehere]

You never know why someone is homeless. I knew a guy that had everything in the world. A wife and kids, good money, good job. Horrible accident took his whole family. He left everything and went and lived in a tent by the highway. He didn't have to be homeless but I guess no where felt like home without his family. Don't judge people based off their living situation, you never know why they are there to begin with

[bluize]

Walter looked great for 60. He seemed genuinely happy where he lived so simply. He used his own ingenuity and didnt feel sorry for himself. RIP Walter

[RodneyFreeman]

It's sad that he passed away. I like the setup he made for himself in the tunnel. He seems like a guy who was just trying to make his way in the world like everyone else. I hope he rests in peace. He's earned it.

[kennethvenezia]

I have a lot of respect for this guy. Some people probably look down on him, but if society ever collapsed, this is the kind of guy that would survive. Hats off to you my brother 😮

[NimbusAdrift]

I was homeless for a few years, wandering around California, staying in places for a few months here and there, and I was lucky enough to be taken under the wing of a couple people like Walter. You can make true connections with real, good, intelligent people who just did the best they could with what they had and aren’t out of their minds on drugs or something. I met some amazing people.

[stevengallant]

Walter was very proud of his home. Rest in peace Walt

[brentmast]

I was on the street at 16 and homeless (1991). I remember the first time I was caught cleaning up in an office building. I felt immediately ashamed. Later, that same day, he tipped me $10 as I served him lunch at the cafe I worked at. Point is, that tip told me I could be more than a homeless high-school dropout. These days, I'm a retired Army Sergeant Major. Amazing what a little bit of kindness can do to turn your life around. Be blessed everyone and be kind.

[MakoRuu]

Rest in Peace Walter. He's free now. No more health issues, no more hunger, no more cold nights.

[viylangager]

"I'm pretty well off. You won't find many down here who have as much as I do."

WOW! That is truly a hard hitting statement.

I was on the streets for over 15 years. I raised my son on the streets. The statement he made is, sadly, quite true. In the world of street life, he does have a mansion.

He is someone I would have enjoyed knowing.

[rpm]

Didn't know Walter personally, but passed by him several times. Just a short greeting as I spent a lot of time under the tunnel further up and abusing substances, drinking and the whole 9 yards. Thank God I don't live like that anymore. I didn't know Walter passed.

[korndizl]

RIP walter, im glad he had a place where he felt at home so many years.

[robbiewright]

RIP Brother Walter. You can see the intelligence radiating behind his eyes. Good man he was❤🎉

[hatita]

Very impressive...!! So sad to read he passed away quite some time ago, this unique person...R.I.P. Walter!

[paraguaymike]

RIP. He scratched out a place for himself in this world, and survived for years living a minimalist lifestyle.

[TherealestJedi]

I don't know why but watching this interview made me emotional. Walter seemed like a really cool guy, well collected in thoughts. I just pictured what he could have been through and seen and the heartache after losing his brother. I know now he is reunited with his brother.

[AJ-jkbo]

Thank you so much for sharing this man's story. I'm glad I got to "meet" Walter through your interview with him. Some people just need to live their own way.