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The Abandoned Railway Tracks of Paris
Documenting the repurposed train tracks that directly inspired New York's High Line
While walking to the dentist a few months ago, I stumbled upon something that caught my attention. It was an old railway track, but it was not just any old railway track. This one was out of service. Abandoned. A piece of Parisian history left to fend for itself.
The discovery made me keen to explore it. So one day, after my teeth had faced the wrath of disapproving eyes, I retraced my steps. There was a stairway leading down into the track, which was a good few feet below the earth’s surface.
Walking the line was a surreal experience. I couldn’t help but feel as if I were doing something naughty. Down here, the walls were covered in moss, soot, soil and the occasional piece of graffiti, while underfoot the track still had its stones intact. Every so often, I felt as if I were in imminent danger, the way you sometimes do when you cross the road, but of course, no trains ever proved forthcoming.
I mean, it’s not like the railway was in operation. And it certainly wasn’t off-limits: the city council literally advertises them as sites of interest. But you don’t tend to see tourists down here — more locals, urban explorers and the occasional bum.
