Subways

[kcdusk]

In twilight chronicles a few years ago now, i had a whole series of encounters planned to entice the PCs underground. I dont think we quite got there though.

But yes, in general, i think tunnels would be great for the reasons you mention. And even if there isnt anything you can see, its often the thought of "whats in the dark" that builds the tension.


There was that show on pay tv, and more recently on commercial tv in australia (where i seen it). It was called "Earth after humans" or something.

In it, they said the NYC subway system has 4 million gallons (!) of water pumped out of it each day.

I guess most subway systems, being underground, are "below the water line".


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[kato13]

Originally Posted by kcdusk

In it, they said the NYC subway system has 4 million gallons (!) of water pumped out of it each day.
.

The math nut in me had to do this, and I figured I would share.

Ok the New York Subway system has 443 miles of Track tunnels and about 300 miles of supporting tunnels. Assuming a diamter of 16 feet for the track tunnels and 7 feet for the supporting tunnels. Gives about 60,959,463 cubic feet. I am going to round up to 65 million including stations. A gallon is .133 cubic feet. So the system would have filled in approximately 122 days.

I would guess you could calculate other cities by comparing annual rainfall, but my guess is that most would be flooded by the time T2k rolls around.

[kcdusk]

I'm not arguing with your math kato. But i got the feeling from the show that the subway would fill with water within 7 days.

I quoted 4 million gallons below, but part of me is now thinking hte number was 13 million. It just sounds like so much water.

Even if after a few days there was a few inches of water, or ankle to knee high, it would make travel underground wet and discomforting. And once its at waist high, with water rats swimming around ... it'd be "shivver".

[kato13]

Originally Posted by kcdusk

I'm not arguing with your math kato. But i got the feeling from the show that the subway would fill with water within 7 days.

I quoted 4 million gallons below, but part of me is now thinking hte number was 13 million. It just sounds like so much water.

The volume of the tunnels is also massive. I remember reading that the mass of everything put on Manhattan Island. The steel, concrete, asphalt, people, wood, cars, buses, trucks, and everything else does not equal the weight of the granite removed to make the tunnels. And if the number is 13 million gallons then number becomes 37 days. New York could easily get the average rain of 37 days in only 7 days.

[General Pain]

Originally Posted by kcdusk

I'm not arguing with your math kato. But i got the feeling from the show that the subway would fill with water within 7 days.

I quoted 4 million gallons below, but part of me is now thinking hte number was 13 million. It just sounds like so much water.

Even if after a few days there was a few inches of water, or ankle to knee high, it would make travel underground wet and discomforting. And once its at waist high, with water rats swimming around ... it'd be "shivver".

Think about the alternative...above ground (after about 8 nukes over 15 years) LA is populated by

-radioactive dustclouds
-various human mauraders,former militarycanibals,gangs,etc etc
-fire(s)
-oops forgot to say any people is probably armed with automatic rifles or the like...I could go on,...

I got the inspiration to this thread after looking at Los Angeles in Google Earth...

My plan was to get an escape route out of LA downtown...

[kcdusk]

Originally Posted by General Pain

Think about the alternative...above ground (after about 8 nukes over 15 years) LA is populated by

-radioactive dustclouds
-various human mauraders,former militarycanibals,gangs,etc etc
-fire(s)
-oops forgot to say any people is probably armed with automatic rifles or the like...I could go on,...

I got the inspiration to this thread after looking at Los Angeles in Google Earth...

My plan was to get an escape route out of LA downtown...

Well ... yeah ... but at least your dry :-)

[WallShadow]

http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/5/528...-avenue-subway -- Atlantic Avenue abandoned subway tunnel in Brooklyn. 2570-ft long.

http://www.nycgo.com/slideshows/new-york-secrets/11/ Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) Bomb shelter and hidden chambers--restocked by the folks who brought you the Strategic Reserve stockpile(s) of Allegheny Uprising?

http://www.nycgo.com/slideshows/new-york-secrets/2/ -- "Lost Station" subway stop under NYC City Hall, something one of the Duke's opponents might pay well to learn of.

http://gizmodo.com/how-one-inventor-...nde-1123695775 Mr. Beach's Pneumatic Subway, on Manhattan Island.

[kato13]

Found this

http://www.nysun.com/new-york/inside...looding/35672/

13 million on a dry day. So you could pretty much guarantee that it would be filled in a under a month (perhaps much under) if there was any appreciable rainfall.