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Welcome Ladies & Gentlemen to the Brooklyn Basements archive, today we are tipping our hat to the late Bob Diamond who started BHRA back in 1982 in Brooklyn NY,and was very adamant about bringing trolley service back to Red hook and even laid down tracks and acquired old trolley cars as well. He was a real dreamer and visionary! if you have made it this far you should know of this man and his discovery of the old Atlantic Avenue tunnel that dates back to 1844, He use to give guided tours of the tunnel and there was even an art show down there once! Real Brooklyn History! but unfortunately as some things come to an end and Bob ended up passing on in 2021 but his legacy still carries on. and now they are talking about using the old LIRR Bay Ridge branch for customer service again under the IBX The Interborough Express. This sticker is the logo for BHRA which never existed and was something I always wanted so I decided to make it myself. I have been on his tunnel tours many times and learned the history now it is your time to carry the story on!
The Brooklyn Historic Railway Association (BHRA) was a non-profit organization dedicated to returning trolleys to the streets of Brooklyn, NY.
The BHRA\'s origin began with the rediscovery of the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel by Bob Diamond in 1980. BHRA was formed in 1982 to restore the historic tunnel. The Atlantic Avenue Tunnel (constructed in 1844) is the world\'s oldest subway tunnel. BHRA successfully filed and received designation for the tunnel on the National Register of Historic Places.
As of June 30, 2003, BHRA was ordered to remove and fill in all trolley tracks on public streets by the DOT. The DOT revoked consent for the project to proceed or exist on city streets. Shortly thereafter, BHRA completely ceased operation. Most of the PCC trolleys were removed from Brooklyn. Only the trolleys that are on the Beard Street Pier itself remain. The disposition of the last few trolleys is pending. The BHRA organized tours of the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel have also ended. A new, separate organization,Brooklyn City Streetcar Company, has been formed to attempt to return trolleys to other parts of Brooklyn.
