Washington D.C.'s Secret Government Subway System Explained | The Senate Subway

[@patrickmuhwheeney6518]

I actually toured this subway...Well, it was in Fallout 3, but still...

[@roberthoople]

Dammit! I really should try to finish that game, because I did not know this... But ugggghhh... Frickin Preston, and all his "tasks." Like, dude, go defend a settlement yourself once and awhile.

[@static_bolt]

@@roberthoople those are two different games lol

[@roberthoople]

@@static_bolt ha. I should stay off the internet when I'm tired.

[@vmdpt]

@@static_bolt These Fallout games are really confusing. I don't understand why the developers change the game genre to action-RPG in parts 3 and 4... The first two parts (and Fallout: Ultimate carnage) were my favorite racing games! I loved the explosions and destruction of cars. But what I loved most were the stunts where you had to launch the driver from the windshield into the target to earn points.

[@higgsbosonman610]

@@vmdpt That's just flat out weird. Makes no sense.

[@zombieshoot4318]

hahaha I love the article headline at 5:23 "Lawmakers expect to easily avoid constituents..." Some things never change..

[@JohnThomas-lq5qp]

They use it to get insider stock tips and numerous kickbacks.

[@whereswaldo5740]

Small wonder they think they are above us when they are actually below us.

[@michael-michaelmotorcycle]

These days they just call it interview avoidance…. cough cough kamala.

[@savage.4.24]

The only subway on the East Coast that is clean and comes on time I'll bet.

[@joshuawilson7023]

Are you kidding, it's govt workers.... They're paid to be late 😂

[@ccubsfan94]

Still full of criminals though

[@boatyboatyy]

From personal experience it doesn't really have a schedule and moves extremely slow. I usually just walked the route. Its only like 250m or so.

[@charleskavoukjian3441]

@@boatyboatyyI’ve been in the tunnels but never seen the subway system. Walking from building to building wasn’t hard at all.

[@boatyboatyy]

@@charleskavoukjian3441 only certain buildings have them and they are direct to the capitol building. The tunnels between office buildings don't usually have them but if i remember right the house office buildings had stops like a subway. Idk its been like 4 years and i only worked in the senate.

[@noahguerra8847]

Love how the government can have public transit for a few of their office buildings but cities of over a million in the us hardly have busses…

[@joeb5316]

The only thing US politicians are supremely adept at doing are giving themselves pay raises, perqs, and exempting themselves from laws.

[@mattg8787]

That's because they don't want to be out in public because of the things they vote for

[@MarkGovern]

@@noahguerra8847 The senate subway is not really comparable to any cities public transport system. It would likely be the responsibility of the state government to provide public transport in their cities and not the federal government.

[@dirtbike662]

It's because we send our tax dollars overseas to "nationbuild" infrastructure in other countries

[@2838Steve]

@@noahguerra8847 hardly anyplace that it’s feasible vastmajority of the country is rural

[@albertjones1386]

Sometime in the early to mid 1950s, my Dad took me on a tour of the Capitol. During the tour, my Dad knew where to go to find the subway and I rode over to the Senate building and back on the car. At the time we were alone on the car.

[@dannydaw59]

Was your dad a senator?

[@BrassandPowder]

I rode this tram with Senator Boozman of Arkansas in 2013, had a whole tour it was amazing! Thanks for this wonderful video!

[@boatyboatyy]

yeah he says its secret and off limits but is usually in the tours you can schedule for free

[@BrassandPowder]

@boatyboatyy I'm unsure to be honest, I didn't go for the tour we were there on business. Didn't notice anyone but staff and our party, security was tight I know there's 3 underground lines, the public has as access to at least one of those lines.

[@MrRyan-fd9rd]

Boozman? What a name, I hope he lives up to it😂

[@BrassandPowder]

@@MrRyan-fd9rd I remember it as "bozeman" had to look it up, but fr 😂

[@MrRyan-fd9rd]

@@BrassandPowder I’m sure you’re correct, now that you pointed that out😆 Good day to you brother.

[@HoneycuttVintage]

About 10 years ago one of my coworkers was neighbors with the head of the Capitol Police Department, and he was able to arrange a tour of the Capitol building for some colleagues. I brought my oldest son along, who was learning US History at the time in school. This wasn't a typical public tour, we were taken to a lot of areas that are usually off limits to the general public or normal tours. The subway was one of the things we were able to tour. The other interesting thing we got to see and sit in that isn't as well known are the marble Senate Bathtubs in boiler rooms.

[@stevengill1736]

So if the Senators misbehave they're taken to the boiler room and steamed a little? 😮

[@HoneycuttVintage]

@@stevengill1736 sadly no haha.. these tubs date back to the mid 1800's. I believe there were six originally and would be used while Congress was in session since the boarding houses did not have indoor plumbing at that time. Eventually they fell out of use and four of the tubs were removed. The space that the last two are in was converted to a boiler room / mechanical room in the 1930's. There's actually a mechanical unite mounted on top of one of the tubs, but the other is fully accessible, although I don't think the plumbing works anymore. My son got to sit in the tub, and thought it was pretty cool to sit in a space where Presidents once bathed over 100 years ago.

[@markleach116]

My parents came to visit me shortly after I moved to Virginia in the mid80's. Somehow we got passes for the Senate subway and sat with Se Bob Dole. My dad was in heaven!! It was a really cool experience!

[@prudencepineapple9448]

London's underground also has a secret railway that runs in a loop around London. Its purpose was for moving mail and packages to various stops along the way. I don't think it's still in use, but you can ride on it a few times each year. There was a film produced in the 1930s that tells the mail trains history and the need for such a service.

[@davidbutton3500]

It is called Mail Rail. It still exists but is no longer used. It is now part of the national postal museum, and you can take rides on it in small purpose built passenger cars.

[@prudencepineapple9448]

@@davidbutton3500 I have a bit of a nerdish side that loves trains especially the London Underground and the Paris Metro. Moscow's stations are interesting too.

[@MarkGovern]

It wasn’t a secret! It stopped being used to distribute mail in 2003.

[@alecvowles8253]

According to my English uncle (an electrical engineer it used LIMs for propulsion and braking just like Vancouver's SkyTrain. Linear Induction Motors. I wonder why it was taken out of service. Seems like an efficient way to move the mail in a busy metropolis like London.

[@caroleast9636]

That’s not secret either, just that it wasn’t advertised and it doesn’t run now anyway. It served a number of mail depots and Paddington station in the west. Most of these places have closed so it now doesn’t have a reason to continue. There is a small part of the system that you can visit on specially built carriages. The rest is just “mothballed” and closed down

[@AdventuresonTour]

This is very much open to the public if you know how to request access. Lots of other videos here on YT from transit Vloggers who have ridden and filmed it, it recent years.

[@jimperry74]

I rode on this back in the 80's when I was in the Boy Scouts.

[@stevengill1736]

I didn't know that the Boy Scouts were an arm of the government. ;*[}

[@EdwardHart]

This capital subway is also featured in a video game, called Fallout 3 which is where I learned of this subway, though I didn't realize it was real!

[@richardperkins3460]

I was in high school in 79 when I went on a Close Up trip to DC and we got to ride on the senate subway. 😊

[@Holgerdanske688]

My parents and I rode this train in summer '00 when I was 13 and we had special passes but walked in with no security checking us and hopped the train near the Holocaust Museum and took it to the capitol budling. We walked around the 2nd floor and back halls of the house and senate with no escort for hours. This was a year before 9/11

[@-FALKOR]

I rode on it as a kid during a field trip in the 80's.

[@k.r.baylor8825]

A video on the even more super-secret tunnel between the Pentagon and the White House would be fascinating. Built secretly in the late 2000s after 9/11 to link these two top national security areas, no known public photograph of it exists.

[@MaryHarper-x6r]

How did you find out?

[@colormedubious4747]

It's a myth.

[@christopherjohnson1803]

@@k.r.baylor8825 Under the Potomac?

[@JoeOvercoat]

I’m skeptical, at best.

[@profligatepassages]

​@christopherjohnson1803 this tunnel definitely exists. It is connected to the Blue line of the DC metro most likely though. Farragut West to Pentagon Station is primarily underground. Until you reach the Arlington cemetery portion. It doesn't attach to the pentagon, but is more of an escape route out of DC if needed from what I heard around the block. My parents worked for the government in DC and the pentagon, and even before 9/11 the farragut to cemetery escape route was known then.

[@DB-thats-me]

When carrying The President is the train designated TRAIN ONE?

[@savage.4.24]

Not if it's only one train😂

[@benjamindehr3179]

gravy is its call sign

[@profligatepassages]

Trains are typically just designated as POTUS call sign, or CITY HALL.

[@DB-thats-me]

@ Doesn’t that include all passengers? Carrying the cream. Fat bloaty stuff. 😳😂

[@gavinmoody8174]

I had the opportunity to ride along the Senate subway with Senator Lamar Alexander when I was 15. Awesome experience. Cleanest subway system I've ever been in. The open air cars was a strange feeling. Almost felt like we were riding the people mover at Disney World. The level of security was intense. We went through I think 4 different areas of metal detectors and, since we were members of the public, lots of pat downs. Still one of my favorite memories from our trip to DC

[@nchistorytravelerandrelich801]

I have been on that train several times. My first time was with then Senator Jesse Helms from the capital to his office. Great experience!

[@mikenixon2401]

Sssh. I knew about this, but I appreciate your report. Thanks.

[@georgesenda1952]

In the early 1960's my Mother was dealing with a Congressman and US Senator from Pennsylvania on an issue about my Father's military service & she and I got to ride the Senators only elevator and on the subway. I was around 8 at the time. I was always a big rail & streetcar fan so I was very happy to get the special ride.

[@chadhauze1683]

I had a chance to ride on this years ago when my grandparents took me to DC on a trip.

[@ElSantiagoBonilla]

Senate staffer here! After a Capitol tour, ask the office tour guide to escort you back to the office building through the subway. They might be able to show you! Just not the tour guides in red coats.

[@cobra02411]

This is cool! I knew about the walking tunnels and actually have used them, but I didn't know about the subway.

[@ScottysAir]

I never knew that they had senate subway in Washington, DC. That’s very interesting to see it all. Thanks so much for sharing this! You have a great day today.

[@TheRuben_music]

I always had this feeling they had something like this. Good luck over there

[@mgratk]

Fortunately we've just voted and our republic trumps their oligarchy for at least 4 years.

[@TheRuben_music]

@@mgratk Well, good luck with that! Four years can pass faster than you think. Really hope it’s the republic, not the oligarchy, running things the show this time around aswell ;)

[@1979RoadFan]

I have rode on the Senate Subway. Nothing fancy and it is quick.

[@tjadams8]

"Not for the Public to ride" Just to fund. Sounds about right.

[@fortythreenorth2518]

Not much has changed over the centuries. We're still tax chattel for our rulers.

[@tjadams8]

@ yep & the golden grease that keeps the machine running.

[@OscarVaughn]

We was there this past summer we was allowed to ride down there it's really neat as hell

[@SimerCCC]

I’ve ridden the Capital subway. I think it’s just as cool as the Capital itself.

[@mikebritton8798]

I rode this subway in 1998 when my best friend was giving a week-long seminar to the FAA. He paid for my plane tickets and hotel. I was a bus driver and he knew I couldn't afford it. Senate minority leader Tom Daschle was a friend of his, so he told us to go to his office. From there, we rode the subway to the Capitol and met Daschle there. Then, got a special tour. I was feeling pretty special that day. Of course, this probably couldn't happen now. A few years later, my buddy told me that Daschle asked how I was doing. I was blown away that he remembered.

[@DemocracyDiesInDarkness]

I got to ride it a few times when I was a kid. I tried to tell people about it and so many folks thought I was lying

[@SKYREAPER30]

Holy crap I got a private tour with some connections I have in Washington, didn’t know you would find out about this. But it’s not big of a secret and it was awesome to ride on one of these.

[@Madwonk]

But it is accessible to the public... you can reach out to you representative and they give tours from someone in their office (usually an intern) I've literally been on it twice

[@dieseldragon6756]

I highly doubt that's something my local M.P. (Labour) is likely to be able to arrange... 🗳🇬🇧😋

[@JeffDeWitt]

@@dieseldragon6756 Likely not, but who knows, maybe he's a friend with a Congresscritter and can work something out.

[@dieseldragon6756]

@@JeffDeWitt Admittedly, the flight to Washington DC would be a bit of a challenge for me as well. Not just because I don't have much cash, but the only company I've ever felt comfortable „flying“ with is Eurostar, who don't serve the USA yet. 🚄🇪🇺💨😇 (And knowing how terrible my airport navigation is, I'd probably wind up in the other Washington - The one close to the Canadian border - If I attempted the journey. 🙃)

[@mgratk]

I'm on it right now, figuratively.

[@wogfun]

I love their logic. The challenges of getting to and from their offices, traffic, and weather. You mean like the challenges literally everyone else has commuting to work?

[@danieljustdaniel9550]

Been on that subway many times during my 20 years on the Hill.

[@dkf435]

At one time the public had access, in the early 80s while on a Closeup trip to Washington DC we went to the Senate office buildings to get the passes to sit in the galleries while in session.

[@arthurhammeke8296]

One of the only infrastructures in the US that's well maintained.

[@mgratk]

Hey we usually have to pay for both sides of half a dozen wars.

[@94steadman]

I may be one of the very few people who’ve ridden this and never served in politics 😅 Definitely a one of a kind experience

[@CapStar362]

There is a video game that also features part of this system - Tom Clancy's 'The Division 2' a specific mission in the looter-shooter genre game. The mission is the NSA Bunker, that starts right where the Subway station is, and part of it has collapsed, the first portion of the mission has you walking down the subway itself.

[@CapStar362]

@IT'S HISTORY I will email you screenshots of this

[@perfgeek]

Circa 6:50 "This new system featured enclosed cars..." - so what then is being shown at that point in the video??

[@niri2506]

@@perfgeek makes me think this is just AI generated content. Some other indicators as well IMHO 😅

[@gcycaas]

At 6:10 it obviously an automobile, he called it a tram running on track...

[@markwrichards]

Was a boy scout on my way to fort A P Hill for a national jamboree back in 1980. A bunch of us were roaming around the capital building unsupervised. We found our way down to this subway and scared the crap out of the security guard who could not figure out how we managed to get down there. All good. We were wearing our scout uniforms and were as harmless as we looked. Good times and great memories

[@victorgallardo4399]

I was on that a few times when I was an intern!

[@bearprower]

I have rode this subway while on a tour of DC back in the late 80s

[@JohnMcGing1]

It used to be open to the public, I've ridden on it many times without an escort. But increasing security concerns placed these limitations on it.

[@sparkey1021]

My self ,wife, and kids rode this when we visited the capital for a tour. When the tour was done, we had lunch in the cafeteria that is also on that same line underground. And we're Canadians.

[@Techno-Universal]

Even the vehicles on one of the lines was designed and built by Walt Disney Imagineering during the brief period Disney tried producing transit systems for third parties in the late 1970s and early 1980s! :)

[@mattpellico5255]

I rode the subway from the Hart building to the capitol in mid 2001 as the guest of a senator. Just three months prior to 9/11.

[@johnfarr2738]

I was born and raised in the DMV and for many from the DC metro area many know about the senate subway system.

[@slick4922]

well it is kinda open to public they do have tours and they were taking people into that from across the street from the capitol . when we went there security was very lax and we were surprised there wasnt more security. the medal dectors werent even on

[@dake4629]

In the late 90s, I did a contract with the capitol police, and for several days got to ride the subway several times. Its odd though, it only ran about 300 ft end to end. The train I rode, was open topped, and had to be driven by a woman who moved the train back and forth when you ran a bell at the other end.

[@dmac716]

If they have this railway that no one can see or use; it is guaranteed they have more lines for use in emergencies

[@dieseldragon6756]

But can we be _sure_ there are additional lines (Though aye, probably. This *is* the United States government... 😉) if we cannot see them? Do those lines exist, or do they not? 🙃 Oh dear...I fear the U.S. Senate might have inadvertently created _Schrödingers' Railway..._ 🚆❓😋

[@G_Machine_Joe]

I've ridden that train when visiting DC. It's not restricted to government officials. Tourists can ride it

[@corneliuswowbagger]

Back when the public was welcome in the Capital I rode this little subway every month from the Capital to the Rayburn Building and back. I remember being in a car with Teddy Kennedy once. There wasn’t even a metal detector at the Capital door until the Reagan assassination attempt.

[@snicketysnickerdoodle8484]

Buiiding subway systems provides perfect cover for the construction of secret underground bunkers.

[@PolyesterMoustache]

I actually rode on this train on a school field trip tour in 2004. Definitely not supposed to normally, but Senator Mark Pryor chanced it and let us on to get to the other wing quickly. He was a chaperone on the field trip because his son was in my class

[@haywoodyoudome]

Now do a video on the tunnel system from DC to Raven Rock.

[@zwerdlingdribble6041]

I've ridden it, it was very nice

[@Pop-GodFamilyCountry]

In August 1978 my family visited Congressman Conte, and one of his staff took us on an underground subway like you showed in this video. I was 11 years old. As I recall, we went to either the White House or the Capitol Building, but it's been too long for me to remember. We were given a private tour though. Was this the same subway or did the Congressmen have their own? I still have my Visitor Pass from 8/22/78.

[@badgerpa9]

In the 1980s we got to ride one of the lines I do not remember which.

[@cornpowa]

While vacationing in DC, I almost got to ride it. After asking some rando staffer the quickest way out of the offices to the capital building, he told me to just take this. I spotted a sign saying something along the lines of "not for public use," but I figured since someone told me to take it, I'd have that and ignorance as an excuse. If I had just walked more confidently and not made eye contact with a guard, I could have got on. He was really cool about it though and didn't question my story about a staffer telling me it was ok to use. It actually really surprised me that I didn't get grilled about it since I was just some guy trying to get on the "special" government employee only train. Of course, this may have also been the same building that had an open unguarded loading dock that anyone could have walked in through. I can't remember if it was a different building or not. It was definitely a different building I went by that had a sleeping cop by himself in the guard shack.

[@JeffDeWitt]

The first "tram" (I'm not sure that's the correct term), was what we would now call a BEV, a Battery Electric Vehicle, made by Studebaker. At least one of them survives and I believe it is currently at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana.

[@brithgob1620]

The Senate subway also appeared in the 1962 film Advise and Consent, directed by Otto Preminger.

[@karstenschoenberg9736]

We got to ride on it on our visit to the capital

[@warhawkjah]

In the 1990s I was 12 years old when my parents took us to DC, this would have been summer 1995. We were one of the uncommon cases when the general public is permitted to use it. We were going to see the senate in session and to get tickets we had to go to the office of one of the Ohio Senators (I think it was DeWine at the time) to get tickets from his staff. I don't remember the specific circumstances beyond that; it might have been us just being allowed to ride as a courtesy. In this case it was the open top tram that we rode, though I do remember seeing the closed one as well at the capitol station.

[@WonkNRoll]

Prior to 9/11 it was generally pretty easy for the public to ride it. If you had tickets to view the House or Senate galleries, you could ride it. Obtaining tickets was as simple as asking for them in any senators’ or reps’ office. As long as you said you were a constituent, you would be handed them no questions asked. Some offices just left stacks of gallery tickets in the office reception areas.

[@sasharich9763]

There's an identical system at the Houston international airport. Both of them are based on the same magnetic drive system that is used by the people mover in Walt Disney World.

[@elrobo3568]

I rode this many times when I lived in DC, Barry Goldwater gave me a pass.

[@grantromriell4970]

I’ve been in this subway.

[@funkyandcoolmoves]

Something to note: there is a very loose connection between this and Disney's People Mover. Walt Disney originally had the ride created as a demonstration of how the technology could efficiently move people around in contrast to cars or a traditional subway.

[@allenm5443]

Not exactly secret - just little known. My dad took me on it in 1958, and in those days, anyone could ride it.

[@williamscoggin1509]

I've seen a little bit on this before on another video a few years back but there isn't much around on it to be seen.

[@brianv1988]

They are not as secretive and restricted as I thought from what I heard you can actually get a tour and even ride on these shuttles you have to book a tour with your representative and set it up there's a couple of streamers that actually done it and documented everything one good KZbinr is. trains are awesome. he has a really good high-definition video on it from last year

[@john316godlovesyou5]

Thanks for the great video! Great job and God bless you (John 3:16)!

[@ssimon84]

12:25 What episodes mentioned the subway? I binged the show a while ago and kinda wanna watch it again

[@tomjohnson5700]

It was open to the public in 1987 when I rode if from my Reps office to the capitol building. Al you had to do was ask.

[@7horsefan970]

In the 90s, the public could use it only if the Senate was not in session or voting on bills. And maybe only when accompanied by Senate staff. I was there in 1997 and we were going to ride it but then members got called for a vote and it was off limits.

[@jbar4ranch]

Aren't the Russell and Hart buildings right across the street? Like 200-300 yards? I guess the paper article was correct, an easy way to avoid their constituents.

[@mrcmoes]

0:33 is that Don Rickles?

[@rickradix7464]

Is that you're wife sir? Jesus...what was it a train? Don Rickles

[@---bs8dp]

@@rickradix7464 Gerald Ford me thinks

[@DOUBLEDEFENSE]

Now we know why half of them waddle around

[@Bob-cx4ze]

Seeing how much we end up paying for public transportation when they are charging, I can't imagine how much this is ACTUALLY costing us.

[@martyober4833]

I road on it in the 1960s when it was brand new.

[@chrisk7626]

I wonder if they had to use the public streets were they actually improve them so traffic congestion would ease up I think so😮

[@user-ut8yp6lx5b]

Secret? My friends and I use to play all around and in the Capitol all the time. We'd ride the subway over to the Senate building to go to the cafeteria. There are a lot of tunnels all around Capitol Hill and we knew them all. One time we were playing hide and seek and I hid in the cambers of the Supreme Court. I had no idea what it was, only that it was dark and my friend would never find me. Years later while visiting the Supreme Court I saw the court room and it was identical to what I remembered.

[@Terinije]

The only thing surprising about the Senate subway is that the House hasn't insisted on their own subway, too.

[@jaydaves4310]

I've ridden the subway before.

[@MySavageDynasty]

I would like to see Benjamin Banneker being added to the video due to his contributions to designing along with LeFant.

[@BigGuy10Points]

This may very well be the most efficient thing about our government.

[@rexoliver7780]

As a govt employee I was allowed to ride this system for govt business to take me to places where I had to do my govt jobs. If the people on the car gave you permission I could ride. Was very handy! The time I rode this was more than 25 yrs ago. I am no longer in Washington DC my new job still in govt involved a move to another area.

[@FranklinDelanoDonut]

The subway was also a location in a Fallout 3 DLC although it was called the presidential subway and it went to the airport during the final moments of the game.

[@bobgomez9481]

Also used for child trafficking. Film at 11...

[@lenna629]

Fascinating 🤔🤔

[@bene4623]

I got lost in DC and ended up here in 2009

[@belindaknox5007]

I noticed that you didn’t mention Benjamin Banneker the surveyor who carried out L’Enfant’s plans after he died

[@danquigg8311]

Secret???? NOT HARDLY!!! Back in the early to mid '60's, and then in 1971, it was open to tourists visiting the capitol building & the senate & house office buildings. I've ridden it a few times.

[@timshowalter4076]

There are 3 operating subways. The Rayburn/Capitol subway is on the House side. The Russell/Capitol and the Hart/Dirksen/Capitol subways are on the Senate side. I've used them many times, and the Cannon tunnel. I've had to laugh when they have recorded interviews on the automated Dirksen/Hart subway. They would have a camera crew, interviewer and interviewee in a subway car that holds 4. They go back and forth, opening and closing doors all automatically. The interview may take 10 to 30 minutes. The trip from the Hart building to the Capitol takes about 8 minutes. Watching an interview on TV one could have thought there was a huge subway system. Riding for 30 minutes and still not arriving at a destination....?

[@RaymondHng]

The U.S. Capitol subway consists of three lines: two on the Senate (north) side, and one on the House (south) side.

[@corbycobb2449]

I didn't know this was a secret. I rode on it for a high school trip.

[@jbenjamin59]

1:20 Maryland is a southern state technically , not northern. So the between the north and south is not accurate, it was because it was at the time the center of the nation

[@again5162]

Cool as fk thanks for the vid

[@joshdobson2737]

If you live in the DC area, rumor has it that there is no Metro stop in Georgetown because of the government rail system going to the FBI headquarters

[@davidaldinger113]

No, some residents opposed a subway there due to paranoia about crime coming to the area.

[@timshowalter4076]

Now Georgetown needs a metro stop. It's not the shopping draw it once was.