Drains: On Urban Exploration Canada

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The Trashy Drain

Drain type: Relatively old, quite large downtown drain canal, draining directly into the lake
Year: 1965
Region: Stretches through most of downtown, entrance is in a residential downtown suburb
Drain accessibility: High. The trashy drain entrance is easily found (it's about eight feet high and next to a heavily-used footpath), and this is demonstrated by the extensive urban artistry that has built up on it. The initial back-breaker, though, which begins immediately after the entrance chamber and runs several hundred feet, seems to be sufficient to prevent further intrusions by the non-determined.
Drain exitability: Can you swim? The trashy drain eventually joins the lake (the tunnel submerges completely), but above-ground estimates seem that it wouldn't be more than a full minute's swim to the exit -- although that exit may be barred. We don't know. Grab some scuba gear and go find out for us, yes? Some of the manholes are possible to pop subside (we've done it). Failing that, you'll be leaving the way you came -- and it's a damn long drain. Good luck.
Traversability: The Trashy Drain begins with a very long and mean-spirited backbreaker stretch that can't be more than, oh, let's say four feet (although I may be hyperbolizing a bit). Damn, it hurts. However, the tunnel begins to mercifully open up after not too long. The ceiling gets higher and the floor gets lower and eventually, by the time it turns into a Round Concrete Pipe, it's at least six and a half feet high. Also, the rectangular canal sections are very wide, and you could fit five or six people abreast. Be warned, though, that it's quite long, and you will definitely get your feet wet.
Interesting features: Trash! The Trashy Drain (ironically-named, as it's probably one of the best we've found) is loaded with solid garbage. Bicycles, powerbars, tape players, old walkie-talkies, name it. Also, watch for crayfish. If you step on one, may the draining gods strike you down. The drain also has a crawlable pipe that joins into another drain which I have yet to personally see or explore -- this will likely be the subject of a future excursion. Anyway, it's high-ceilinged, long, twisty, deep, and runs downhill -- what more do you need?
Hazards: The backbreaker stretch is exhausting, try not to die. We had a brief incident once with what might have been a gas of some kind but we can't confirm for certain, and we didn't have any trouble on subsequent outings. The trashy drain is actually pretty safe, so long as you have lots of spare lights and batteries. (I assume it's understood that when I use the word "safe", I use it in the context of "safe as far as traversing subterranean passages not meant for human life which no natural light can touch and in which any manner of deadly gases or microorganisms may be present goes". For god's sake, draining is dangerous. Don't die.)
Recommendation: Do it. Put aside two hours and do it.

The Grand Trashy Drain Excursion
There is a Trashy Drain Photo Gallery.

One fine day Asher, Dain Bramaged and I discovered and extensively explored the Trashy Drain. Our excursion was more or less uneventful, except that a building near one of the drain's catch basins caught fire and the fire-suppression activities caused a drain entrance right behind us to start pouring out a great amount of water into the drain, leading us to believe that the city was flooding it (as they are rumoured to do now and then around the spring). We panicked and ran further into the drain for some distance, but eventually all was good. At any rate, this was the first drain we'd seen in Barrie with truly extensive stretches in which the average person could walk upright, and we were pleased. We made it to the exit, then went back to the entrance (trying to escape halfway through the backbreaker through a tiny culvert going off to the side. The exit was barred. It sucked. Don't do it). Hooray!
Several weeks later we decided to re-visit the Trashy Drain. Asher, Grebin and I took Asher's sister, then picked up some other guy named Chris who'd never even thought of entering a drain before, and proceeded to drive around until we found Dain Bramaged, who we also picked up.
With six people, we divided up the flashlights and went on our way.
Chris and Asher's Sister (heretoforth referred to as "Asher's Sister"), who were more or less normal people who would never entertain the notion of "draining" per se, did very well throughout the extent of it. We took some pictures of things this time (which I'll put up later) and, when we came to the drain exit, Grebin managed to pop a manhole on the side of a busy street with his back. We exited through it, and I must admit to being vastly entertained by the dumbfounded looks we were given by people driving by, watching six young people who were most certainly not dressed like city workers haul themselves out of a manhole. Grebin waved a prybar at them. Then we were all very entertained, we did some things, I had a double whopper with cheese, and we went home. Hooray for the Trashy Drain!
Um. Go do it.
Photo gallery? Yes please!
-Flame0ut

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